Sunday, January 13, 2013

Crewel Review (Ps. I'm back!)




Date Published: October 16, 2012
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Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux


First Thoughts:
This book just blew me away with the creativity of the world and conflict. It was both a unique and creative world that made the situations both life-like and unrealistic at the same time. The pureness of this world was so astonishing that I was thinking about this books days, weeks after I finished it. I know there were some negative reviews for this book but I personally thought it was one of the best books I read in 2012.
Plot:
The plot was thought-out and through. I found that the situations and conflicts involved with the characters were well timed and created. I did not feel any forced conflict on the story itself and the major conflict was easily explained and understood. As far as the pace of the book goes, it was rather fast, there was plenty of action to keep the reader on their toes but at the same time give the reader that much needed comic relief. I really did enjoy this book’s world. The idea of places and things being connected with a string of color was absolutely creative. I had not really seen any of the ideas presented in this books that I have had read. I thought this author really took the time to build a world that was both new and fascinating to the reader. I enjoyed the conflict itself and the building of tension throughout this book, it really made the climax that much more intense with the slow build up. So overall I really enjoyed the plot and I didn’t really see any major flaws in it.
Romance:

As far as romance goes there was some (No surprise there). This had to be one of the only parts that wasn’t perfect. There was kind of a love triangle in the story but by the end it kind of almost straightened itself out. And the love itself was nothing new, it’s the kind of romance you see in a lot of the young adult books today. You have the supreme guy and then you have a guy who is considered a “bottom feeder”. So overall I didn’t really enjoy the romance to the story and instead enjoyed the major conflict instead.
Characters:
The characters were beautifully creative though there was some that I considered cookie cutter character; meaning characters that we’ve seen in other stories/books. But the main character especially I found refreshing and very easy to connect with. From the first page you are already connected with her and want her to be happy. And within a couple of chapters the world really flips up and you’re introduced to more charming and charamastic characters. There is a few annoying characters but we’ve all had them in the books we’ve read in the past. So overall I enjoyed the characters in this book and aside from some unoriginal characters thought they were well created.
Transformation of the Character:
There wasn’t a lot of transformation happening in this book, it was all about setting up the world and introducing all of the conflicts and characters. So though you can see a trace of a transformation this wasn’t really an aspect that held any weight in rather I found the book enjoyable or not.
Description:
I loved, loved, loved the description in this book. I think this was one of the best aspects of the world because the author really zeroed in on describing the new world and all the little details that went along with it. I especially enjoyed how she explained the process of the strings of lights and how they fit into the story or conflict. I also enjoyed when she expressed the characters emotions, I could definitely feel the confusion, fear, and happiness of all that was happening. And as far as the amount of description I didn’t think there was too much of it because without all the description the world wouldn’t make sense. The details are the most important part of this book.
Style:
This was written in one POV and in first person. I found this to be the best way to tell the story. You want to be able to connect with the main character and at the same time get a good view of the world through her eyes (she is the one experiencing and telling the story after all). And as for the authors writing itself I found it smooth and beautifully crafted. I found some of the writing to be almost poetic and creative. So overall I did enjoy this aspect of the book and have to compliment the author on her writing style.
Quote of the book:
“I’ve touched pieces of a weave before, but never sections that contained people. There’s a charge running through the piece, and I realize that what I’m feeling is the energy of thousands of lives that rest under my fingers.”
Goodreads Summary:
Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl is in charge of other’s destinies, but not her own.

Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.

Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls.  Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power.  Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it.
Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to young adults and to anyone who has an open mind because this book does dig deep into the thinking process. I really enjoyed this book and hope that a few of you will give it a chance also. Go to the library if you don’t know if you like it, I’m sure the library would be more than willing to let you borrow this piece of a world for twenty one days. So overall I did enjoy this book and look forward to book two in this series.

My Rating:


3 comments:

  1. Hi, Found you on goodreads. I love your detailed reviews! Happy to be following.

    http://amberabardan.blogspot.com.au/

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  2. Hi, I found you on goodreads as well and became a follower. You might enjoy having a look at my blog and maybe following me back. It isn't a review site but my book I'm posting chapter by chapter as I run through the final edit. The story is a mix of fantasy, myth and fairy tale as well as a little sci-fi and magical realism. If you're interested here's a link to the prologue and first chapter: The Black Dionysia.

    Regards,
    Edward

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  3. I really enjoyed this one! I thought the plot was so fresh and creative especially for YA, I can't wait to continue onto the next book and see where Adelice's adventures take her! Thanks for your thoughts!

    Kristin @ Young Adult Book Haven

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