This is a book which came recommended to me from a number of sources, but which I struggled to get fully engaged with. But after the Christmas rush and post-Mr-Springs stealing it to read - who also recommended it - I got down to business and pushed on.
I'm very glad I did. It's a lovely book, redolent of Magical Realism where the fairy world blends with the real in a believable fashion. The main character, Mori, is likeable, once you get past an initial reserve caused by the events just preceeding the book. With a lost sister, an estranged, barely-coping father, and a mother Mori has ran from her beloved Welsh valleys to avoid, there is plenty to intrigue. Coupled to that the many and variant genre books Mori devours will spark enjoyment in any reader of the classics, blending her imaginary world with the real.
The author excels at lush description and creating rich, memorable characters. For me, the ending didn't quite live up to the promise - and foreboding - of the main story, but this was a small complaint about a book which will otherwise stay with me for a long time and was well worth being pushed to try again with.
I'm very glad I did. It's a lovely book, redolent of Magical Realism where the fairy world blends with the real in a believable fashion. The main character, Mori, is likeable, once you get past an initial reserve caused by the events just preceeding the book. With a lost sister, an estranged, barely-coping father, and a mother Mori has ran from her beloved Welsh valleys to avoid, there is plenty to intrigue. Coupled to that the many and variant genre books Mori devours will spark enjoyment in any reader of the classics, blending her imaginary world with the real.
The author excels at lush description and creating rich, memorable characters. For me, the ending didn't quite live up to the promise - and foreboding - of the main story, but this was a small complaint about a book which will otherwise stay with me for a long time and was well worth being pushed to try again with.
