Posts mit dem Label fantasy werden angezeigt. Alle Posts anzeigen
Posts mit dem Label fantasy werden angezeigt. Alle Posts anzeigen

Samstag, 4. August 2018

REVIEW | "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs

source

Title: Hollow City
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Random House UK
Genre: YA paranormal, fantasy
ISBN: 978-1594747359
Page Number: 416 pages






Blurb
This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.
Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerising) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.


Execution
While I did like the first book, I didn't LOVE it (which I totally blame me for because I watched the movie first and that kind of destroyed my experience with the book a bit) but the second book doesn't have anything to do with the movie anymore, so the plot was a complete surprise.
And a very pleasant surprise, to be exact. 
From start to finish, this book was gripping, enthralling and full of plot twists that I didn't see coming at all. Especially the end had me gasping because I was so shocked and I cannot wait for the third book.

Characters
The more you read about all the characters, the more you fall in love with them.
They are all so incredibly well created and I loved how we got to see them develop and go through all that stuff together. Their group dynamic is exactly how I want a good friend's group to be in a book - realistically, they do disagree and fight from time to time, but in crucial moments, they all stick together and don't let anything or anyone come between them.
All of them are special and important to the story in their own way and everyone serves a purpose in the book, which I really liked as well.

Emotions
This was kind of an emotional rollercoaster for me. I swear, I was literally biting my nails out of excitement sometimes because I was so invested in the story.
It's hard not to be emotionally invested in a story if you care so much about the characters, and I cared a lot!
(And I'm so scared something bad might happen to one of them in the next books!)

Overall
Altogether, Hollow City wasn't just a solid sequel in this series, it also exceeded my expectations and absolutely met the high standard that was set in the first book.
If you're not sure whether to continue with the series after the first book, I highly recommend doing so! Absolutely loved it! (If I didn't make that clear enough yet haha)

Sonntag, 29. Juli 2018

REVIEW | "Our Dark Duet" by Victoria Schwab


Title: Our Dark Duet
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Genre: YA, fantasy
ISBN: 978-0062380883
Page Number: 528 pages





Blurb
THE WORLD IS BREAKING. AND SO ARE THEY.
KATE HARKER isn't afraid of monsters.
She hunts them. And she's good at it.
AUGUST FLYNN once yearned to be human. He has a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.
THE WAR HAS BEGUN.
THE MONSTERS ARE WINNING.
Kate will have to return to Verity. August will have to let her back in. And a new monster is waiting—one that feeds on chaos and brings out its victims' inner demons.

Which will be harder to conquer: the monsters they face, or the monsters within?


Execution
While I did like This Savage Song, I didn't LOVE it so I put off reading Our Dark Duet until I picked it up in the bookstore last week and started reading it on a whim.
And hell, it blew me away.
I hadn't even realised how much I loved Kate and August until I started Our Dark Duet. 
Victoria Schwab's books are always very character driven and this one is no excpetion.
We start off six months after This Savage Song ended but it was no problem for me getting back into the story whatsoever. Not only that, I even, head over heels, fell in love with the story.
Reading the whole Monsters of Verity duology was a very unique experience for me: it almost felt like falling in love with a human being - This Savage Song was the getting to know part and realising that you might have found someone you could potentially really love, and Our Dark Duet was the devoting oneself to someone else, the realisation that you've gotten yourself into something that won't be easy to get out of, but you still enjoy every second of your being together and don't ever want it to end.
Yep, that's what it felt like reading this book.
Needless to say I think the execution was exceptionally well done. Although 'well done' doesn't really cover it - that's what my English teacher used to write under my papers, so maybe 'masterpiece' would be more fitting.

Characters
I love, love, love Kate and August.
I love how fierce and strong and smart they are, both in their very own ways.
Kate is not easy to love but I did it anyway, although I feel like she wouldn't like how I feel about her - she's my precious baby (and she would totally kill me for writing that), and so is August.
August is everything to me and throughout the first half of the book, he kept breaking my heart.
I don't even know how to express my feelings towards Kate and August into words anymore.
Victoria Schwab is a master of creating characters that seem incredibly real and reflect the world and humankind in a way that I see very rarely in literature.
I just never want to stop reading about her characters, especially Kate and August. I just love them to pieces.

Emotions
I was warned before going into this book that it would destroy me.
Well, it did.
I really don't know how to move on with life now - I'm sitting here, writing this not an hour after having finished the book (I just NEEDED to express my feelings about it!) and I'm tearing up all the time because I can't get over it.
Throughout the entire book, I was anxious because I knew something was going to happen that would wreck me but when it finally did, it killed me nonetheless because nothing in the world could have prepared me for my feelings.
This was such an emotional read for me, I'm not sure I have any emotions left for other books right now.

Overall
Our Dark Duet has become one of my favourites, no doubt. It was everything I ever wanted a book to be, and everything I never knew I needed in a book.
I'm so sad this duology is over now but I'm so glad it exists and I read it and I want everyone else in the world to read it now.

Sonntag, 8. Juli 2018

REVIEW | "Legendary" by Stephanie Garber


Title: Legendary
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Macmillan USA
Genre: YA, fantasy
ISBN: 978-1250192226
Page Number: 451 pages





Blurb
A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.


Execution
I really loved Caraval, so I had very high expectations going into Legendary.
However, I was not disappointed. No, my expectations were even exceeded. 
I just loved everything about it, I don't even know where to begin.
I loved following Tella's viewpoint this time because it made me understand the story a bit better.
I loved how the world was expanded in Legendary and how you got to know so much more about how the magic works and also Caraval's history.
I loved how still, I could never be sure what about Caraval was a game and what was real and how it played with my emotions.
I loved all the intricate, devastating and shocking plot twists that always seemed to happen when you were least expecting them.
And I loved Stephanie Garber's beautiful, magical, unique writing style that made me wish I could write like her.

"He tasted like exquisite nightmares and stolen dreams, like the wings of fallen angels and bottles of fresh moonlight."

Characters
This time, we follow Tella's point of view which gives the reader a whole new perspective of the world.
While Scarlett is a bit naive and too scared to really question things sometimes, Tella is outgoing, daring and almost stupidly brave. 
I really fell in love with her character - also with Dante's character, whom you get to know a bit better in this book either.
Thinking about them, it just still makes my heart ache because they're so perfect and precious and I just love them so much.
All of the characters are, as in the first book, very well crafted and Stephanie Garber did an amazing job creating them and giving each and every single one of them their purpose. No character seemed to be there just out of randomness, everyone was there for a reasons and that's what I really liked about the book too.

Emotions
I was VERY emotionally invested in the story. 
Actually, I think it's impossible for someone not to be emotionally invested in a story if they love the characters as much as I love Tella, Dante and everyone else.
Also, that ending. I mean, THAT ENDING! 
Can I pretty please have the next book? Like, yesterday?

Overall
I can say for sure, Legendary is now definitely on my all time favourites list. There is no single thing I have to criticize about this book - everything is perfect just the way it is. And I want more. 

Montag, 2. Juli 2018

REVIEW | "Caraval" by Stephanie Garber


Title: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Macmillan USA
Genre: YA, fantasy
ISBN: 978-1250095251
Page Number: 407 pages





Blurb
Remember, it’s only a game…

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.


Execution
This was actually my second time reading Caraval. When I read it for the first time I wasn't really in the right mind set to read anything so I knew right away that I wanted to reread this some day and since the sequel, Legendary, just came out I thought hey, why not read it now?
And I am so glad I gave this book a second chance.
This is pretty much unique in so many ways. 
When the blurb says: Remember, it's only a game and beware of getting swept too far away - it's so true! Throughout the book, you find out so many things that later turn out to be false, in the end you can't tell what's real and what's not and I think that is exactly what the author intended.
The world of Caraval seems so magical and whimsical, you do get swept away quite easily and I absolutely loved the atmosphere. Stephanie Garber's writing is exceptionally beautiful and draws a very vivid picture of the world which is part of the reason why I loved this book so much.
The build-up is perfectly done: every time you think it can't get any more twisted and crazy, Stephanie Garber goes the extra mile. I adored how this was executed!

Characters
The entire book is told from Scarlett's perspective so you get to know her pretty well whereas the other character's motives are rather hard to comprehend because you never know what's real and what's an act.
Scarlett first appeared to be rather like the typical shy, nice girl from next door but as you get to know her better you understand her reasons for being how she is. Also, I really loved her character development and how she gets braver as the story goes on.
I also really liked Julian and what Stephanie Garber did with that bad boy trope which didn't turn out to be so bad boyish at all in the end. 
I was especially fond of Tella's character and I can't wait to get to know her better in the next book!

Emotions
Caraval really played with my emotions. I, very much like Scarlett, couldn't tell what was real and what was only a game at all and I definitely got swept too far away. But that's exactly what I want when I'm reading a book so I didn't mind☺
I did have an emotional bond to the characters, especially to Julian and Scarlett so Caraval definitely fulfilled my standards according to the emotional part.

Overall
Altogether, I think Caraval is a very unique book that may not be for everyone, but I definitely loved it and I can't wait to read more of Stephanie Garber's works!

Mittwoch, 20. Juni 2018

REVIEW | "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

source

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Random House
Genre: YA paranormal, fantasy
ISBN: 978-1594746036
Page Number: 384 pages






Blurb

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow-impossible though it seems-they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Execution
I had watched the movie first (which I know is a big sin and I am very sorry about that) so all the plot twists didn't really come as a surprise for me.
I know though if I hadn't known what would happen, I would have been very suprised by the plot twists. And very scared of the eerie atmosphere and all.
The book started a tiny bit slow at first but the pace picked up after a hundred pages or so and I got completely sucked into the world.
I love the idea and what the author did with it, the book is the perfect mixture of eerie, whimsical, fantastical and gripping.
I read it rather quickly and I was very invested in the world and the characters.

Characters
We follow Jacob as the protagonist. He's the narrator and through his eyes, you get a great perspective of the world and the other characters.
I especially loved all the peculiar children. Like, how cool are their abilities? I love how they all work together as a team and how nobody gets excluded. They're all lovely and although they have their flaws and are therefore realistic characters, I would kind of like to become part of their group because the group dynamic was absolutely awesome!

Emotions
Though there are characters I felt more strong about in other books, I can't deny I did establish an emotional connection to the characters in Miss Peregrine's. I really want to see them follow their paths in the next books and maybe we'll get a bit more of Emma and Jacob because, well... I'm lw-key shipping it☺

Overall
Altogether, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children was a solid first book in a series that I'm looking forward to continuing in the future. I can recommend it to anyone who likes creepy, eerie and yet gripping books!

Donnerstag, 24. Mai 2018

REVIEW | "The Kiss of Deception" by Mary E. Pearson

Title: The Kiss of Deception
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Square Fish (8/1/2015)
Genre: fantasy
ISBN: 978-1250063151
Page Number: 512 pages






Blurb
She flees on her wedding day. She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection. She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father. She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.
The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.
Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia escapes to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive - and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself in the brink of unlocking perilous secrets - secrets that may unravel her world - even as she feels herself falling in love.

Execution
The book picked up very slowly for me. Throughout the first half I was constantly debating whether I should dnf it and quite honestly, the only thing that kept me from doing this was that I had done it to so many other books recently and I simply didn't want to dnf another one.
And I'm so glad I didn't.
While almost nothing happened in the first ~250 pages, the second half of the book was filled with action, adventure and I finally began to establish an emotional connection to the characters.
I was told the book ended in a mind-blowing cliffhanger which I don't quite agree on but I still really want to know how the story is going to continue in the next books.

Characters
The story is told from the perspective of three people: Lia, the assassin sent to kill her and the prince she was supposed to marry. In the beginning, you don't know which one of the two mysterious, handsome men is the assassin and which one is the prince. Though I do agree it adds a kind of mysterious note to the story, I think it could have been done way better.
The biggest problem I had with the first half of the book was that the two men seemed characterless to me. They kind of blurred together to this one person which I know the author wanted you to keep guessing who was who so she didn't really give them outstanding character traits but that also made it incredibly hard to root for one of them.
In the second half though, as I knew who I was dealing with, I grew quite close to them and well, what can I say... I'm Team Rafe.
Lia on the other hand was a very interesting character. She was very strong-minded from the beginning on but throughout the book, she grew so much as a character and I'm really keen on seeing her further character development in the next books.

Emotions
Like I said, it was hard for me to find an emotional connection to the characters in the beginning, but now I'm all in. Both the characters and the story itself are well crafted so it isn't hard to be emotional involved (at least not in the second half).

Overall
Altogether, I can absolutely recommend the book to any fantasy lovers who don't mind the focus of the story being heavily on the romance (though I feel like that will change in the next books... maybe?). In the end, I gave the book a 3/5 stars and I can't wait for the next one!

Freitag, 27. Oktober 2017

REVIEW | "Heir of Fire" by Sarah J. Maas

scroll down for English translation

Bildquelle: *

Titel: Erbin des Feuers
Autorin: Sarah J. Maas
Übersetzerin: Ilse Layer
Verlag: dtv Verlagsgesellschaft (23. Oktober 2015)
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-3423716536
Seitenzahl: 656 Seiten






SPOILERWARNUNG!!!
Wer „Throne of Glass“ oder „Crown of Midnight“ noch nicht gelesen hat, empfehle ich, diese Rezension nicht zu lesen, da man sonst für die ersten beiden Teile dieser Reihe gespoilert werden könnte.

Klappentext (→)
Von den Salzminen Endoviers über das gläserne Schloss in Rifthold bis nach Wendlyn – ganz gleich, wohin Celaenas Weg führt, sie muss sich ihrer Vergangenheit stellen und dem Geheimnis ihrer Herkunft. Einem Geheimnis, das alles – ihre Gegenwart und ihre Zukunft – für immer verändern wird.

Umsetzung
Im Vergleich zu den ersten beiden Teilen der „Throne of Glass“-Reihe ist „Erbin des Feuers“ mit seinen 650 Seiten ein ziemlicher Klopper, was darauf zurückzuführen ist, dass man jetzt statt einem Handlungsstrang gleich dreien folgt: Der von Celaena aus Wendlyn, der von Dorian, Chaol und Aedion aus Rifthold und der von Manon.
Ich muss auch sagen, dass sich „Erbin des Feuers“ mehr wie ein Füllroman angefühlt hat, der die Vorgeschichte erzählt, bis sich im nächsten Band (hoffentlich) alles zuspitzt und ein bisschen Action passiert. Nicht, dass in diesem Band nichts passiert wäre – man lernt eine Menge über Celaena und generell über die Welt und deren Geschichte und man wurde auf keinen Fall nicht unterhalten, aber es fühlte sich dennoch ein bisschen an wie ein Aufbau oder eine Vorbereitung auf die eigentliche Geschichte, vor allem auch dadurch, dass die einzelnen Handlungsstränge nicht zusammengeführt wurden.
Obwohl ich eine ganze Weile gebraucht habe, wieder in die Geschichte hineinzutauchen, fand ich „Erbin des Feuers“ insgesamt doch sehr gelungen umgesetzt und es stand den vorigen Teilen in nichts nach.

Charaktere
In „Erbin des Feuers“ werden einige Charaktere neu eingeführt: Zuallererst Rowan, den ich am Anfang überhaupt nicht mochte, aber mittlerweile sehr gerne (und auch seine und Celaenas Freundschaft!). Als nächstes Aedion, von dem ich erst überhaupt nicht wusste, was ich von ihm halten sollte, der mir aber inzwischen so sehr ans Herz gewachsen ist!
Und, am wichtigsten, Manon. Oh, Manon – ich hab sie so geliebt und ich kann gar nicht erwarten, wie es mit ihr und Abraxos weitergeht! Endlich mal ein bisschen weibliche Unterstützung nach Nehemias Tod für Celaena (obwohl Manon ja theoretisch auf der falschen Seite kämpft, aber mal sehen, was die nächsten Bücher so bringen…)
Ich muss sagen, Dorian mag ich (wie schon in den vorigen Büchern) immer noch nicht so richtig, obwohl er langsam ein bisschen Feuer im Hintern zu entwickeln scheint – ganz im Gegensatz zu Chaol, der eindeutig Sympathiepunkte bei mir verloren hat, dadurch, dass er sich irgendwie nie richtig entscheiden kann, auf wessen Seite er nun steht.
Was mir in „Erbin des Feuers“ sehr gut gefallen hat, war Celaenas Charakterentwicklung. Obwohl sie mir stellenweise viel zu dramatisch war (aber was will man auch erwarten nach allem, was sie durchgemacht hat), hat sich hier ihre Kämpfernatur noch einmal gezeigt und sie hat sich tapfer durch alles gekämpft und man hat gemerkt, dass sie am Ende des Buches endlich bereit war, ihr Erbe anzutreten.

Emotionen
Ich muss sagen, dass ich bei allen „Throne of Glass“ – Büchern bisher Probleme hatte, mich in die Geschichte hineinzuversetzen und richtig in die Welt einzutauchen, weshalb es in der Bewertung immer einen Stern Abzug gab.
Auch bei „Erbin des Feuers“ habe ich wieder eine ganze Weile gebraucht, bis ich sozusagen „angekommen“ war und selbst dann hab ich nicht so viel für die Charaktere und die Geschichte empfunden, wie ich es von anderen guten Büchern gewohnt bin.
Dennoch reicht meine Empathie so weit, dass ich unbedingt den nächsten Band lesen möchte!

Insgesamt
Alles in allem war „Erbin des Feuers“ für mich ein solides Fantasybuch, das ich mit gutem Gewissen weiterempfehlen kann.


                                                                                                                          

Source: **

Title: Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publishing House: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (12/3/2015)
Genre: fantasy
ISBN: 978-1619630659
Page Number: 576 pages







SPOILER WARNING!!!
I recommend not reading this review to anyone who hasn’t read „Throne of Glass“ or „Crown of Midnight“ yet because you might be spoiled for those two books in this review.

Blurb (→)
Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak―but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life―and her future―forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

Execution
Compared to the first two books in the series, „Heir of Fire“ is a whopper with its 562 pages which is due to the fact that the book doesn’t only follow one but instead three different storylines: Celaenas from Wendlyn, Dorians, Chaols and Aedions from Rifthold and Manons.
I have to say, I felt like “Heir of Fire” was kind of a fill-in novel before the real stuff is going to happen because although some exciting things did happen in “Heir of Fire” it rather felt like the back story was told to what is going to follow in Queen of Shadows.
What I liked in “Heir of Fire” was that you learned a lot about Celaena and generally about the world and its story.
Although it took me a while to fully emerge into the story, I liked “Heir of Fire” a lot and I think it was executed really well.

Characters
In „Heir of Fire“, we get to know a bunch of new characters: first of all, Rowan, who I didn’t like at all in the beginning but my affection for him grew as the story went on (and also, his and Celaenas friendship is so friendship goals!). Secondly, Aedion was introduced. I didn’t know what to think of him first at all but somewhere along the line, he grew near and dear to my heart as well.
And, most important of all, Manon... Oh, Manon – I loved her so, so much and I can’t wait to find out how her and Abraxos’ story will go on! Finally a bit of feminine support for Celaena after Nehemias death (although technically, Manon fights for the wrong side… but maybe that will change in Queen of Shadows).
I have to say, I didn’t really like Dorian although he finally starts to have some guts – in contrast do Chaol who definitely lost sympathy points because he can never really decide on whose side he’s on.
What I really liked in “Heir of Fire” was Celaenas character development. Although party, she was a bit too dramatic (though you can’t really blame her after all she’s been through) you could really see what a fighter she is and in the end, she was finally ready to accept her inheritance.

Emotions
I have to say, I have always had problems getting into the “Throne of Glass” books and really emerging into the world which is why I always had to lower my rating.
Also in “Heir of Fire” it took me a while to get into the story and even then, I didn’t feel as mch for the characters and the story like I’m used to from other books.
Nevertheless my sympathy for the books is that much developed that I really want to read the next book!

Overall
Altogether, I can really recommend „Heir of Fire“ – it’s a solid sequel and I’m curious to see what’s going to happen in „Queen of Shadows“!


*https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51puK-RwwfL._SX354_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
**https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51BdinjHiOL._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Samstag, 7. Oktober 2017

REVIEW | "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

scroll down for English translation

Bildquelle: *

Titel: Der Nachtzirkus
Autorin: Erin Morgenstern
Übersetzerin: Brigitte Jakobeit
Verlag: Ullstein Taschenbuch (11. Oktober 2013)
Genre: Fantasy, magischer Realismus
ISBN: 978-3548285498
Seitenzahl: 464 Seiten






Klappentext (→)
Er kommt ohne Ankündigung und hat nur bei Nacht geöffnet: der Cirque des Rêves – Zirkus der Träume. Um ein geheimnisvolles Freudenfeuer herum scharen sich fantastische Zelte, jedes eine Welt für sich, einzigartig und nie gesehen. Doch hinter den Kulissen findet der unerbittliche Wettbewerb zweier verfeindeter Magier statt. Sie bereiten ihre Kinder darauf vor, zu vollenden, was sie selber nie geschafft haben: den Kampf auf Leben und Tod zu entscheiden. Doch als Celia und Marco einander schließlich begegnen, geschieht, was nicht vorgesehen war: Sie verlieben sich rettungslos ineinander. Von ihren Vätern unlösbar an den Zirkus und ihren tödlichen Wettstreit gebunden, ringen sie verzweifelt um ihre Liebe, ihr Leben und eine traumhafte Welt, die für immer unterzugehen droht.

Umsetzung
Insgesamt hab ich einen ganzen Monat gebraucht, um „Der Nachtzirkus“ zu lesen, was für meine Verhältnisse unglaublich lange ist, da ich sonst für ein Buch dieser Länge höchstens eine Woche brauche.
Ich kann zwar nicht behaupten, dass es mir nicht gefallen hätte, nur fiel es mir anfangs unglaublich schwer, in die Geschichte reinzukommen und zu verstehen, was vor sich geht. Am Ende ergab dann alles einen Sinn, aber zwischendurch hatte ich teilweise überhaupt keinen Schimmer, was da gerade passierte und das war wahrscheinlich der Grund dafür, dass ich keine Motivation hatte weiterzulesen.
Erzählt wird die Geschichte in zwei Zeitsträngen, die am Ende vereint werden – wo man dann auch versteht, was der eine Strang mit dem anderen zu tun hat.
Tatsächlich ist „Der Nachtzirkus“ eines dieser Bücher, bei denen man die ganze Zeit total verwirrt ist und dann am Ende diesen Aha-Effekt hat, wenn man versteht, wie alles zusammenhängt. Trotzdem hat es mein Leseerlebnis schon etwas gestört, dass ich die meiste Zeit über nicht verstanden habe, was vor sich ging.
Was mir an dem Buch gefallen hat, war die Atmosphäre – während man liest, fühlt man sich stellenweise wirklich so, als wäre man Besucher im „Le Cirque des Rêves“ und ich würde alles dafür geben, diesen auch mal besuchen zu dürfen.
Das Buch allgemein hat eine eher mystische, geheimnisvolle Atmosphäre – ein bisschen wie in einem Traum, wenn alles irgendwie keinen Sinn macht und ineinander verläuft.
Insgesamt ist das Buch aber unglaublich gut durchdacht und hat mir auf jeden Fall gefallen.

Schreibstil
Wie schon gesagt, war die Atmosphäre in „Der Nachtzirkus“ sehr besonders, was vor allem durch den Schreibstil verursacht wurde.
Erin Morgenstern hat die Fähigkeit, Dinge so zu beschreiben, dass man sie als Leser direkt vor sich sieht, wodurch sie auch die Sehnsucht in mir erweckte, den Zirkus auch mal in echt zu sehen.
Wenn ich ihren Schreibstil in einem Wort beschreiben müsste, würde ich wahrscheinlich „magisch“ wählen – manchmal ein bisschen verwirrend, sehr bildhaft und teilweise auch lyrisch.
Beim Lesen hat man den Eindruck, als schreibe die Autorin schon seit Jahrzehnten erfolgreiche Bücher, dabei ist „Der Nachtzirkus“ ihr erstes veröffentlichtes Werk.

Charaktere
Für mich waren die Charaktere sehr schwer zu durchschauen. Das Buch ist nicht aus der Sicht eines bestimmten Charakters geschrieben, sondern es erzählt mal aus jedermanns Sicht, wobei man aber nie ganz hinter die jeweiligen Motive der Charaktere kommt.
Auf diese Weise ist es schwer, sich in die Haut der Protagonisten zu versetzen beziehungsweise eine Beziehung zu ihnen aufzubauen.
Dennoch sind alle Charaktere – wie die ganze Geschichte – sehr gut durchdacht und ausgebaut.

Emotionen
Es gibt andere Bücher, die mich emotional mehr gepackt haben als „Der Nachtzirkus“, aber ich kann nicht behaupten, dass mich die Geschichte komplett kalt gelassen hat. Besonders gegen Ende hin habe ich dann mitgefiebert, aber ansonsten kann ich nur (mal wieder) sagen, dass mich das Buch vor allem wegen seiner Atmosphäre gefesselt hat.

Insgesamt
Wenn ihr ein actiongeladenes Buch für mal so zwischendurch lesen wollt, solltet ihr besser nicht zu „Der Nachtzirkus“ greifen. Wenn ihr aber ein Buch sucht, das voller Magie, Illusionen und mit einer wunderschönen Atmosphäre ist, empfehle ich euch das Erstlingswerk von Erin Morgenstern sehr.
Obwohl ich das ein oder andere Problem beim Lesen hatte, hat es mir am Ende doch gut gefallen.


                                                                                                                                          

Source: **

Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Publishing House: Anchor (5/24/2012)
Genre: fantasy, magical realism
ISBN: 978-0345802620
Page Number: 512 pages







Blurb (→)
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway - a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love - a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. 

Execution
All in all, it took me a whole month to get through „The Night Circus“ which is an incredibly long time compared to how long it usually takes me for a book of this size.
I can’t say that I didn’t like the book but it was really difficult for me getting into the story and understanding what was going on. In the end everything made sense but in between, I didn’t have a clue what was happening and that was probably the reason why I didn’t have any motivation reading it.
The story is told in two different time lines which are connected in the end – which is when I finally understood what the one time line had to do with the other.
Actually, “The Night Circus” is one of those books where you’re totally puzzled throughout the whole book and then, when everything starts to come together, you have one of those aha experiences. Nevertheless it did impair my reading experience that I didn’t understand the book most of the time.
What I really liked about the book was the atmosphere – while reading you really feel like you were a visitor at “Le Cirque des Rêves” and I would give everything for the opportunity to visit it someday.
In general, the book has a kind of mystical, gloomy atmosphere – it reminded me a bit of the feeling when you’re dreaming when nothing makes sense and everything is blurring together.
But overall, the book was amazingly well thought through and I really liked that.

Writing
As I said before, the atmosphere in „The Night Circus“ was really special what was especially due to the writing style.
Erin Morgenstern somehow manages to describe things in a way that you as a reader can really see them. This is how she avoke the longing to visit the circus in real life myself.
If I had to describe her writing style in one word, I would most definitely choose “magical” – sometimes a bit confusing, very vivid and partly lyrical.
While reading I felt like the author had been writing successful books for centuries when in real life, “The Night Circus” is her debut novel.

Characters
For me, the characters were very hard to see through. The book isn’t written from a specific character’s point of view, instead it’s told from kind of everyone’s perspective. Nevertheless you never fully understand the character’s motives.
This is why it’s really hard to put yourself in the protagonist’s places or to establish an emotional connection to them
Yet, all characters – as well as the whole story – are very well thought through and sketched.

Emotions
There are books that could grip me more than „The Night Circus“ but I can’t say that I completely didn’t care for the story. Especially in the end I was emotionally involved but other than that, I can jst say that it was really the atmosphere that made up the whole book.

Overall
If you want to read an action-packed, gripping story, you shouldn’t pick up „The Night Circus“. But if you are looking for a book that is full of magic, illusions and a whimsical and wonderful atmosphere, I can really recommend Erin Morgensterns debut novel.
Although I did have one or the other problem, I really liked it in the end.

You can buy the book here

* https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Yo8XJPsqL._SX314_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
** https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51gYNnVHgoL._SX288_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Montag, 2. Oktober 2017

REVIEW | "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

scroll down for English translation

Bildquelle: *

Titel: Das Lied der Krähen
Autorin: Leigh Bardugo
Übersetzerin: Michelle Gyo
Verlag: Knaur HC (2. Oktober 2017)
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-3426654439
Seitenzahl: 592 Seiten






Klappentext (→)
Ketterdam – pulsierende Hafenstadt, Handelsmetropole, Tummelplatz zwielichtiger Gestalten: Hier hat sich Kaz Brekker zur gerissenen und skrupellosen rechten Hand eines Bandenchefs hochgearbeitet. Als er eines Tages ein Jobangebot erhält, das ihm unermesslichen Reichtum bescheren würde, weiß Kaz zwei Dinge: Erstens wird dieses Geld den Tod seines Bruders rächen. Zweitens kann er den Job unmöglich allein erledigen …
Mit fünf Gefährten, die höchst unterschiedliche Motive antreiben, macht Kaz sich auf in den Norden, um einen gefährlichen Magier aus dem bestgesicherten Gefängnis der Welt zu befreien. Die sechs Krähen sind professionell, clever, und Kaz fühlt sich jeder Herausforderung gewachsen – außer in Gegenwart der schönen Inej …

Umsetzung
So gut wie jeder, den ich je über „Das Lied der Krähen“ habe reden hören – sei es auf Booktube, Bookstagram oder irgendwo anders – hat das Buch gehypt.
Und gehypte Bücher haben für mich irgendwie die Tendenz, enttäuschend zu sein.
„Das Lied der Krähen“ aber war genau das Gegenteil von enttäuschend.

Freitag, 22. September 2017

REVIEW | "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Bildquelle:*

Titel: Der Name des Windes
Autor: Patrick Rothfuss
Übersetzer: Jochen Schwarzer
Verlag: Klett-Cotta; Auflage: 16. (2012)
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-3608938159
Seitenzahl: 863 Seiten






scroll down for English translation

Klappentext (→)
In "Der Name des Windes" erzählt Patrick Rothfuss die Geschichte von Kvothe, dem berühmtesten Zauberer seiner Zeit. Damit ist ihm ein Roman von so viel Einfallsreichtum und solch sprachlicher Kraft und Authentizität gelungen, dass er die gesamte Fantasyszene aufhorchen lässt.
"Vielleicht habt ihr von mir gehört"... von Kvothe, dem für die Magie begabten Sohn fahrender Spielleute. Das Lager seiner Truppe findet er verwüstet, die Mutter und den Vater tot - "sie haben einfach die falschen Lieder gesungen". 
Wer aber sind diese Chandrian, die weißglänzenden, schleichenden Mörder seiner Familie? Um ihnen auf die Spur zu kommen, riskiert Kvothe alles. Er lebt als Straßenjunge in der Hafenstadt Tarbean, bis er auf das Arkanum, die Universität für hohe Magie aufgenommen wird. Vom Namenszauber, der ihn als Kind fast das Leben gekostet hätte, erhofft sich Kvothe die Macht, das Geheimnis der sagenumwobenen Dämonen aufzudecken.

Umsetzung
Bei vielen Fantasybüchern habe ich Probleme, in die Geschichte hineinzukommen, weil sie mir nicht glaubwürdig genug verkauft werden. So sehr wir sie lieben und in sie eintauchen, aber Fantasy bleibt eben immer nur genau das – Fantasie. Um eine Geschichte, die in echt nie so passieren könnte, glaubwürdig zu verkaufen, braucht es meiner Meinung nach schon viel schriftstellerisches Talent.
Patrick Rothfuss hat dieses Talent.
„Der Name des Windes“ ist definitiv kein Buch zum „eben mal weglesen“, aber dafür genauso, wie ich mir ein perfektes Fantasybuch vorstelle: mit einer gut ausgeklügelten und vorstellbaren Welt, einem epischen, tapferen und nicht unterzukriegenden Helden und einer Geschichte, die ebendieser Held erlebt und die abwechslungsreicher, spannender und fesselnder nicht sein könnte.
Der Roman hat an die 900 Seiten und ich habe ewig dafür gebraucht, ihn zu lesen, aber es hat sich so sehr gelohnt.
Ähnlich wie bei Harry Potter (ja, ich vergleiche dieses Buch mit dem unangefochtenen, absoluten Spitzenreiter Harry Potter – so gut war das es!) wurde mit Kvothe und seiner Geschichte eine Welt erschaffen, in die man immer wieder hinabtauchen möchte und die man nach dem Zuschlagen des Buches sofort vermisst.

Charaktere
Wie es sich für ein ordentliches Fantasybuch gehört, hat „Der Name des Windes“ eine ganze Reihe von (manchmal, immer wieder oder auch gar nicht) wiederkehrenden Charakteren, in deren Mittelpunkt Kvothe steht.
Kvothe ist das typische Wunderkind, wie es im Buche steht: schlau und gewitzt, frühreif und sich seiner Klugheit nur allzu bewusst, etwas leichtsinnig und vor allem neugierig. Er ist voller Macken, aber im Laufe des Buches kann man nicht umhin, ihn ins Herz zu schließen und auf jeder Seite mit ihm mitzufiebern.
Kvothe ist ein unglaublich gut durchdachter Charakter und macht im Laufe des Buches eine große Entwicklung durch, die im zweiten Band sicher noch fortgesetzt wird.

Emotionen
„Der Name des Windes“ ist auf keinen Fall ein Buch, das mich kaltlässt. Beim Lesen musste ich doch auch die eine oder andere Träne unterdrücken oder ab und an hinter hervorgehaltener Hand kichern, aber das war es gar nicht so sehr, was meine Emotionen bezüglich der Geschichte ausgemacht hat – vielmehr ist mir Kvothe sehr ans Herz gewachsen und ich werde sicher noch länger über ihn nachdenken und auch auf jeden Fall so bald wie möglich das zweite Buch lesen, um zu erfahren, wie es mit ihm weitergeht.
Das Buch hat auf jeden Fall einen nachhaltigen Eindruck bei mir hinterlassen und mich schon irgendwie berührt.

Insgesamt
Magst du Fantasy? Bist du ein Fan von Harry Potter? Liebst du epische, tolle Heldengeschichten? Bist du auf der Suche nach einem Buch, das dich nicht mehr loslässt?
Wenn du auch nur eine dieser Fragen mit „Ja“ beantworten würdest, lies „Der Name des Windes“.
Oder lies es auch einfach so, weil es toll ist. Muss man nicht mehr dazu sagen. Lies es einfach.


                                                                                                                         

Source: **

Title: The Name of the Wind
Author: Patrick Rothfuss
Publishing House: DAW (4/1/2008)
Genre: fantasy
ISBN: 0756404746
Page Number: 736 pages







Blurb (→)
Told in Kvothe's own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.
The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successfull bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature.
A high-action story written with a poet's hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.

Execution
In many fantasy books I have problems getting into the story because it’s not sold believably enough to me. As much as we love it and we love to dive into it, but fantasy often just stays exactly that – just fantasy. I think, to sell as story in a credible way, you need a lot of authorial talent.
Patrick Rothfuss has this talent.
“The Name of the Wind” is definitely not an easy book but it’s exactly how I imagine a proper fantasy book: with a cleverly designed and easily imaginable world, an epic and brave hero and a story that couldn’t be more exciting, gripping and varying.
The novel has almost 700 pages and it took me forever to read it but it was so worth it.
Similar to Harry Potter (yes, I’m comparing the book to the untouchable, undisputed frontrunner Harry Potter – it’s that good!), a world was built with Kvothe and his story that you would always happily dive into again and that you will directly miss after shutting the book.

Characters
As in every proper fantasy book, „The Name of the Wind“ has got a bunch of (sometimes, frequently or not at all) reappearing characters, whose epicentre is Kvothe.
Kvothe is the typical prodigy: smart and quizzical, premature and a little bit too aware of his cleverness, a bit reckless and especially curious. He’s full of quirks but while reading you can’t help but fall in love with him and root for him with everything he does.
Kvothe is an incredibly well crafted character who’s going through a huge character development throughout the book which will probably continue in the sequel.

Emotions
„The Name of the Wind“ is definitely no book that you can just read without feeling anything. While reading I had to hold back one or the other tear or chuckle to myself but this wasn’t what made up my emotions towards the book – rather, Kvothe grew so dear to my heart and I will definitely think about him for a long time and want to read the second book as soon as possible to get to know how his story goes on.
The book definitely left a lasting impression behind on me and touched me in some way.

All in all
Do you like fantasy? Are you a Potterhead? Do you love epic, great heroic stories? Are you looking for a book that will be held dear to you heart and that you will love and cherish forever?
If you answered just one of those questions with “yes”, then read “The Name of the Wind”. Or just read it anyways because it’s awesome.

You can buy the book here

*https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51n1tL5k3AL._SX314_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
**https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514LJcIGpfL._SX300_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Montag, 28. August 2017

REVIEW | "Siege and Storm" by Leigh Bardugo

scroll down for English translation

Bildquelle: *

Titel: Grischa - Eisige Wellen
Autorin: Leigh Bardugo
Übersetzer: Henning Ahrens
Verlag: Carlsen (25. Juli 2013)
Genre: Jugendbuch, Fantasy
ISBN: 978-3551582966
Seitenzahl: 448 Seiten






SPOILERWARNUNG! Da es sich mit „Grischa – Eisige Wellen“ um einen zweiten Teil handelt, würde ich jedem, der den ersten Teil noch nicht gelesen hat, empfehlen, diese Rezension nicht zu lesen!

Inhalt
„Eisige Wellen“ von Leigh Bardugo ist der zweite Teil der Grischa-Trilogie und setzt mit seiner Handlung nicht lange, nachdem der erste Teil aufhörte, ein.
Alina und Maljen befinden sich zu Beginn der Geschichte in Kofton jenseits der Wahren See, wo sie vor dem Dunklen Zuflucht gesucht hatten, aber bald schon findet er sie und verfrachtet sie wieder zurück nach Rawka.
In „Eisige Wellen“ verfolgt man also, wie schon im vorigen Band, Alinas Geschichte und ihren Kampf gegen den Dunklen, wobei dieser Teil viele unvorhersehbare Wendungen bereithält und auch neue Charaktere einführt, die den Verlauf der Handlung etwas aufmischen.