Buddy Read Review - My Lady Jane

Coll's Rating: 3.75 Stars
Tiina's Rating: 3.5 Stars

T: This time we’re buddy reviewing My Lady Jane by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, and Cynthia Hand. These three ladies focus on one story in particular and then take vast liberties with it. I have to start with a confession, despite having studied English history, I couldn’t remember much about the actual Lady Jane Grey. So basically I went in with very little knowledge of the story: apart from the actual Henry VIII, his wives, and the succession issues. I did love how the E∂ians (pronouced Ethians) symbolised the Church of England. I think that was my favourite part. Such a clever twist.

C: Yeah I remembered a decent amount about Jane so I was excited to see how they would work that historical story into something more fantastical. There seemed to be a decent amount of research done by the authors before writing it, but it is a rather loose account of the story, which was the goal I guess. I am a HUGE fantasy fan so I loved the elements they used to twist the story into something more magical. E∂ians, people who could shape-shift into animals, and Verities, the people who opposed them, was a great way I think.

T: Exactly. I mean to take apart history like this you need to know the nuances well, and it worked in this case. The fantasy element was done well, it was really seamless. After reading the blurb I kept thinking how they’d work the horse thing into the story, and I was surprised as to how easily I accepted it. It is also interesting how the three authors worked well together. That can’t have been easy. Do you think each of them was in charge of one narrative voice (Jane, Gifford, and Edward)?

C: Oh yeah, I totally think they each wrote a certain character. I think that is why it worked so seamlessly for me. Usually I don't like author collaborations because they can be a bit choppy sometimes, but I think having each author voice a different character is a great technique to use. I also agree with you that the fantasy aspect was presented in a way that was believable to me, which is always a sign of a good fantasy story. Also is it just me or did this read a lot like a fairy take to you? The entire time I was reading I kept thinking "Hey this is so like a fairy tale for adults!"

T: Ha, good point about the fairy tale. It wasn’t my immediate thought, though. I got more Princess Bride vibes. And this reminds me of how I enjoyed the allusions to other more modern literature. I think it was a fun twist. By the way, they will also cover two more Janes: Jane Eyre and Calamity Jane. The first is my favourite book so I look forward to seeing how they fare with her. I don’t think the story needs too much changing, however.

C: Okay so as much as I did enjoy My Lady Jane, I did have a few issues while reading it. I don't want to give any spoilers so I will try to keep this vague but informative. Throughout the story there were little comments scattered about by the authors, usually relating to what was going on. While oftentimes I found these funny, they did start to grow tiresome at a point. I also found they went off on tangents sometimes that seemed unnecessary. So I had mixed feelings on that aspect. What did you think?

T: I agree. I’ll admit, for the first half of the book, they didn’t bother me all that much. I’m a huge fan of parenthesis, so I was definitely biased. However, in the second half (and especially in the last 50ish pages) they actually annoyed me. I understand they are meant to take you out of the story, but it wasn’t done perfectly, as it was more annoying that informative. Less would have been more in this case. Also, I think in general my hopes were too high for this book. I heard only good things and how hilarious it’ll be, so the whole novel actually fell a bit flat for me. Some of the jokes were even a bit lazy and obvious. They came

Cover comparison:
Paperback    vs    Hardcover

off as authors’ inside jokes, and those can be done well, but they didn’t all work here. My rating for this book is thus 3,5 stars. I liked it, I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn’t absolutely amazing. On Goodreads I rounded it down to 3 for a very superficial reason: I read the paperback and I just did NOT understand that cover decision. The hardback one is so crisp, lovely, and extremely striking. The paperback one comes off severely dowdy in comparison, although I see how it’s meant to look like paintings at the time. 
What about you, Coll? Rating?

C: Oh man I was so torn on my rating. I loved reading the book and was always looking forward to picking it back up. To me it was a great example of YA historical Fantasy (is that a thing?) and I did find it quite funny at times. I caught some ASOIAF references (GoT for those who didn’t read the book series) and that I really appreciated. I was at 4 stars until something at the end irked me. It had nothing to do with the author comments, or the cover (I had a very pretty cover on mine and Tiina was quite jealous), but with the way a certain influential and well-known historical writer was represented at the end of the book. Vague, I know, but I don't want to spoil anything. Is this petty of me? I don't think so, I just know how I felt and went with that. I actually give it a 3.75 (4 on GR). I feel like for me it was above 3.5 but not a full 4. To some, that .25 of a percent might be insignificant, but it is huge people!

T: I wouldn’t say it’s petty since I know what Coll is talking about and the same thing annoyed me. It seemed like a last minute decision as it’d seemingly been a huge plot point throughout the book, but in the end the resolution was mentioned in passing. Very unsatisfying. So yeah, not quite a 4 star read for either of us but I would definitely recommend it to others. Well, mainly because Jane is every book lover’s spirit animal ;-) (You will get it when you read the book). I did enjoy the reading experience, and it was definitely unique among the books I’ve read.

C: Yeah overall I really had a great time reading this book. It is worth the read and I am glad that I own a signed copy of it (thanks Uppercase Box!). I also think a wide range of people would enjoy this book. It is fun, an easy read, and you will learn something from it too. I think it will also prompt people to go look into the story of the real Lady Jane (be prepared to be depressed from that though, fyi). So yeah, to make a long closing short, My Lady Jane is a really delightful book and we definitely recommend it.

“Armies aren't very good about carrying libraries with them. I can't imagine why. We'd fight so much less if everyone would just sit down and read”

If you want to hear from the author’s about how they, the writing process, and the book idea check out this adorable and very awesome Uppercase Box video on YouTube, with Cynthia, Brodi, and Jodi giving their accounts of everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zdiL83am0U

Carry On

A quick note before we start. Today is Book Lovers Day! As a happy accident, this ties into my review very well, if not in initially obvious ways. Firstly, the novel I am about to discuss is a companion novel to one about a fangirl, a girl who writes fan fiction about her favourite series. Furthermore, the author itself was highly influenced by several well-known fantasy stories, so I think it's safe to say that the love for the book and reading definitely shines through here. Now, on to the actual review. I hope you enjoy!

First of all, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell is one of my all-time favourite YA contemporaries. It’s sweet, it’s well-written, and tackles important issues that a lot of people can relate to. The main character in that book writes fan-fiction about a Harry Potter-esque series of fantasy books featuring Simon Snow – the Chosen One – and his sidekicks. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell is the fictional last book in that series. So like the Deathly Hallows. Unless Carry On is followed by a play...

The reason why I am mentioning Harry Potter in this instance is because the book really invited the comparisons. The author has also claimed she read a lot of fantasy novels featuring the “Chosen One” trope, and the book is actively reflecting that. There is a magic sword that appears when a character needs it, a “sorting” system in the first year, a headmaster the protagonist looks up to, initially a Draco Malfoy-ish enemy, etc. A lot of people have called this Harry Potter fan-fiction and have been thus turned off the whole experience. I started the book knowing all this. Sure, the beginning of the novel definitely offers several déjà vu moments from other boy wizard novels. It was a little grating, but somehow – and this surprised me – it really worked. I was on board. Spoiler alert: I gave this book four stars. Unfortunately, the ending was way too abrupt and slightly unsatisfying to warrant a higher rating. However, now that is out of the way, back to the review.

I liked the traditional storyline of a kid who thought he was ordinary turning out to be extraordinary. He goes to a magical school, finds friends and enemies (more like frenemies), crushes, and idols. Add a pinch of twists and turns and you get this novel. My favourite part of the novel was the inclusiveness of it all. Everyone was welcome, or at least tolerated, in the school, whether they be pixies or from a normal background. Furthermore, the novel features LGBTQ themes that Rainbow Rowell handled with her own special brand of sweet magic. Excuse the pun.

I think the main issue people have with this book is that it is very, very reminiscent of Harry Potter, in particular. I mean, I can’t claim that it isn’t, but the author definitely added her own spin to it. There is another little thing that bothered me, but this may be just me own fault. What I didn’t understand was whether this book is meant to be the actual canon in the Simon Snow world OR is this the book Cath was writing as fan-fiction in Fangirl? I’m guessing actual canon? I don’t know and haven’t been able to find out. Tangent over.

All in all, I realised that I could get over the glaring derivations from other well-known magical fantasy stories because there was a lot of originality in the magic system. I loved how it all rested on the magician knowing a language and its uses. I enjoyed the female characters who were self-assured and smart and confident. The tale itself was gripping, and despite all the quips I had about the ending, I really enjoyed the reading experience as such. It made me nostalgic for a proper fantasy series so I might pick up something else in that vein. As I said before, it’s a solid four stars. I’d recommend it to people who loved Fangirl, or who are just completists, as this is a companion novel to the aforementioned. It could also work for people wishing to temporarily fill a hole that Harry Potter left: just be ready for a lot of allusions.

Words are very powerful… And they become more powerful the more that they’re said and read and written, in specific, consistent combinations. The key to casting a spell is tapping into that power. Not just saying the words, but summoning their meaning… Which means you have to have a good vocabulary to do magic. And you have to be able to think on your feet. And be brave enough to speak up. And have an ear for a solid turn of phrase.


NB! I initially received this novel via Netgalley as a free read in exchange for my honest review, but I ended up purchasing my own copy and reading that. I am not sure whether that warrants a disclaimer, but still - only full disclosure here!

Much of Madness - S.E. Summa

Review by Coll
4 Stars

**I received this ebook via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Right off the bat I want to say that I am a sucker for Southern Gothic. Maybe this can be blamed on the Coven season of American Horror Story, or maybe the genre is just super intriguing to me, who knows? Ramblings on my affinity to the genre aside, that is what drew me to Much of Madness (Conexus Chronicles #1) by S.E. Summa (also holy crap what a great cover!). The story is set in New Orleans and Nashville and revolves mainly around a young girl named Seraphina Pierce. Not only does she have magic abilities but she also happens to be cursed to never be able to love someone, lest her curse kill them with one touch, and is best friends with a sin-eater (it is how it sounds, someone who can eat another person’s sins to unburden them). The only way to break the curse binding her is to acquire an ancient grimoire, a book also sought by a young man, Marceau, for his very dangerous and sinister boss. When Seraphina and Marceau meet at the auction for the grimoire, their lives collide in a drastic and dangerous way. 

My favourite thing about Much of Madness was the storyline. It was out of the box and intriguing and I pretty much enjoyed every second of it. The characters are likable (the good ones at least) and they are also all flawed, which makes relating to them (as much as you can relate to someone with magical capabilities) that much easier. Not to mention the chemistry between all the characters was just brilliantly done. Those who were friends in the book seemed to have genuine friendships, and were just like any group of people who are close in real life and get together for movie nights and take-out nights. Something about the closeness and realism between the friends in the book just made me really fall for it that much more. As for the antagonist and all his cronies in the book, man do you hate them. I am not sure about you, but when there is a character in a book who is supposed to be bad, I really want to get an aura of evil that makes me completely despise them. In the case of Much of Madness, that is how I felt about the bad guy. 

The setting descriptions were hit or miss for me. On one hand you would have an area, like the apartment or auction house, that were described so well I could picture everything in my head as if I were there. Then on the other hand you would have areas, like many of the outside spaces in Nashville, that I found the descriptions lacking and not vivid enough to give me a good visualization. The dialogue was quite good, and I adored a lot of the cute and witty banter between the characters. For the most part, the character interactions came off quite natural and the emotions they felt towards one another were easy to read. There is a romance aspect to the book but it is completely pivotal to the story and done in the right way, not overly dramatic or romancy but enough to make you care. 

As for the Southern Gothic part of this story, yeah I did not get as much of that as I had hoped. The South (especially the New Orleans area) is so deeply rooted in myth and lore (hoodoo, paranormal, the grotesque, etc.) that, when done right, can add so much to a story. Not only does it contribute history and culture, but it has a whole level of creepiness that can send shivers up your spine. Unfortunately, there was not as much of that as I would have liked in Much of Madness. I would say it is more of a YA Paranormal Fantasy book with some loose influence from Southern Gothic, and to be honest, that did let me down a bit. The book had the basic themes of the genre but I feel it would have benefited from more detailed lore in the story. My only other issue was that about 90% into the book the story took a turn that kind of came out of left field for me and it all got a little convoluted.  I felt like it was a little rushed and not explained as well as I would have liked. 

Overall I really enjoyed the book. I was torn between 3 1/2 and 4 stars, but felt it just leaned more towards a 4 star rating for me. It was creepy, smart, funny, well-written, and exciting, and I had a hard time putting it down. I found myself charmed by the story, at moments disturbed, and wishing I could hang out with the main characters in the book. It was well-done and the ending was not a huge cliffhanger, yet still left me wanting more, so I will definitely be continuing on with the series. If you are a fan or paranormal and are looking for something a little different then I would definitely recommend Much of Madness.

Interested in Much of Madness (Conexus Chronicles #1)? Check it out on Goodreads.

Buddy Read Review! - Rebel of the Sands

T: One of the reasons why we started this blog was to have a more official outlet for our buddy read discussions. So far, we've been kind of slacking on that, mainly because we've been unable to find a medium that works for a joint review. So here goes. It's going to be awkward, people.

Coll: Man, why did we never plan this out if it was our main reason for doing a blog? LOL

T: Because we got carried away with choosing the appropriately bookish wallpaper and fonts? Anyways, we ask you to bear with us if you are reading this. The buddy review is a work in progress and your feedback would be appreciated! So, how about I kick this off. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. All I heard before starting was that the book is a Middle Easterny YA fantasy with a kickass heroine. Also, the cover is drop-dead gorgeous.

Coll: Well I have always been a YA fan (#noshame) and the idea of this being Middle Eastern set came off as very awesome to me. It was just something so out of the ordinary in terms of YA novels, which often follow a certain theme in terms of setting and the nationalities of protagonists. So yeah, this being so out of the box made me really enjoy it, as well as the desert setting. Hell I think the majority of desert set books I have read have been non-fiction, so this was a nice change for a fiction book.

T: Oh yeah, I agree with it being completely unusual and a little bit different to the typical US- and UK-centric literature that it out there. Also, the only other desert books I’ve read have been historical crime fiction, so this seemed like a treat. The novel had overwhelmingly positive reviews so the hype made me slightly hesitant, but I ended up really loving the book. I think it’s a strong 4.5 stars in my opinion, and I can’t wait to continue on with the adventure. I knocked off half a star because I didn’t feel thoroughly connected to the characters throughout the whole book.

Coll: Yeah, one of my big issues, which I am sure has become apparent from my reviews, is that I really want strong connections with the characters. If that is missing for me it becomes a slight dilemma, and unfortunately that was one of the flaws for me with Rebel. I did not feel especially connected or sympathetic to the main character. I actually felt more of a bond with a secondary character than I did the main, so that threw me off a bit. But that is kind of a small complaint for me, I suppose, because of how much I enjoyed the story. One aspect that I fell in love with was the melding of mythos with reality in the world the book is set in, Miraji.

T: Yep, I agree. And I don’t often read books about djinnis so that made it even more special for me. I think the author walked that fine line between info-dumping and brilliant world-building very well. It would’ve been easy to just explain everything at once, but I loved how we got smallish bits throughout the whole thing. Also, we got not only the mythology of one country, but an idea how a similar legend was transformed in different cultures. This was so well-done, I think.

Coll: Oh yeah definitely! I will admit it threw me off a bit at first because I did not know how much of the myth and folklore would be worked throughout the book, but only a few chapters in I realized how brilliantly Hamilton was merging everything together. I mean, throwing a fantasy aspect into a book will usually hook me, meld it with reality and I am all yours. There was also a romance facet in the book that was not overbearing, which made me very happy. I have had many a book ruined for me by the story getting interrupted by romance and that was one of my fears going into this book. I feel like it was all done on the right levels though, and it actually helped to build the story.

T: Yep, and it wasn’t instalove. Yes, in a way there was attraction right away but mutual respect took time to develop. I actually wanted a tad more romance (of course I did), and I loved, loved, loved how there wasn’t a hint of a love triangle. Yet. There better not be one, is all I’m saying! Sidenote. Were you also trying to figure out which actual Middle Eastern/European/African countries inspired the fictional ones? I did, but hopefully being ignorant about world politics will actually pay off in the sense that I won’t be spoiled for the possible future plot points ;-)?

Coll: Well of course you wanted more romance. You aaaaalways do. But for me it was just right. ;-) And yes, I did spend a great deal of time trying to figure out the locations that inspired the setting. I actually got so into thinking about that at one point that I had to shove those thoughts aside and just get on with the story. Overall I enjoyed almost everything about the book. Sure there were a few issues for me, such as some shortfalls with character development and lack of attachment, also I felt some parts were just a little too rushed. But as is the case with many first books in a series, it is a lot more about building the story before getting to the meat of everything.

T: I kind of agree about it being slightly rushed. The ending and ultimate showdown felt a bit confusing and quick. Still, it was great fun and I can see how it’s setting up for sequels. Now, one last thing that I have to mention: one of my favourite things was how I completely misjudged any coming plot twists. Everything I guessed would happen, didn’t. I loved that. Also, what did you end up rating the book?

Coll: Yeah, some parts left me a little let down, like I expected a bigger final climax after everything, but it was still enjoyable for me. And oh hell yeah, I was WAY off the mark with my predictions, so kudos to Hamilton for fooling us. Actually, one of my favorite things was how all my predictions were wrong because then I got to be surprised in the end. I went with a four star rating. I found the book incredibly entertaining and I did not want to put it down. Any issues I had were small in regards to the big picture and I will definitely be continuing with the series. How about you?

T: Definitely picking up the second one. Thankfully the ending didn’t feature a huge cliffhanger so I won’t be dying.  All in all, this was a fun book. Like I said before, 4,5 stars. It was a really quick read and I really do look forward to the future instalments. I just hope the covers are as gorgeous. ;-)

Coll: Well I could have done with a slightly bigger cliffhanger, but you know me, I am a glutton for punishment like that. But yeah, altogether a fun read, unique plot, and awesome world. I have high hopes that the series will just continue to get even better and I look forward to the day where I am once again immersed in the world of Miraji. So there you have it, our take on Rebel of the Sands. We hope you enjoyed our first Buddy Read Review. Thanks for tuning in! :-)

“Tell me that and we’ll go. Right now. Save ourselves and leave this place to burn. Tell me that’s how you want your story to go and we’ll write it straight across the sand”

The Demon Girl's Song - Susan Jane Bigelow

Review by Coll
4 Stars

**I received this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review** 

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I have been a fantasy fan for a long time, so needless to say I was excited to get the opportunity to read this book. The Demon Girl's Song, by Susan Jane Bigelow, is not an easy book to explain in short. A young girl named Andín, through an odd encounter, gets a 1,000 year old demon stuck in her heard. As a result she must leave her home and have her family, friends, and country taken away from her. What follows is a journey with two goals, the first to try to have the demon removed, and the second to try to save the world around her from full annihilation. I know, this is slightly vague synopsis but without giving spoilers this is probably the best I can do. 

The Demon Girl’s Song is made up of three sections, each being a new part of Andín’s journey as she travels the country trying to remedy her problem (oh, and save the world). I really wish there had been a map included with the book to trace her movements because at times it was a little hard to keep track of how far she was traveling and the direction. I did read this as an ARC ebook though, so for all I know there may be a map included in the final book when it is released. I also felt that it was hard to tell how much time had gone by during Andín’s travels and I found myself wondering if she had been doing something for days, weeks, or months. This was not a constant issue, and there were times when the duration of a certain scene was stated, I just wish it happened more often. 

I loved the main characters in this book. They were explained in such a way where they came alive and seemed like people I actually knew. Even the demon, who I was sure I would hate, I ended up liking and had so much sympathy for. Everyone in this story has a past that we learn about and it helps to shape them. What I loved about Andín specifically, is that she is a strong female protagonist, determined to make her way and right the wrongs she has been forced to endure. I noticed a lot of underlying feminism tones and women’s rights issues brought up in the book, which was not something I expected going into it and I really enjoyed that. There was also a lot of diversity throughout the story and I appreciated that a great deal. 

There was a slight romance aspect to this story but it was not a major component, and it was done in such a unique way that I found very refreshing (no spoilers here either!) and I actually liked it a lot. Now, this coming from me, the non-romance girl, is huge! As a matter of fact, the main relationships that were built in this book (romantic and platonic) were very strong and it gave The Demon Girl's Song the level of emotion that I love to experience in books.

At times the book gets a little confusing and you start to wonder where the story is going and how things relate to one another. There was a moment where I felt there were two completely different stories, and that the first story had been almost abandoned for a new one. For most of the second section of the book I found myself contemplating where things were headed and this, at times, impeded my interest slightly. However, throughout the third section, all the elements started to come together and form one cohesive story. I felt that just as I was at my most confused state the big “Aha!” moment came out and all the elements finally fused together in my mind and everything made so much sense. And honestly, I was a big fan of the ending.  I just wish that all the points leading up to it had been slightly less confusing in their relation to one another. 

All in all, I really enjoyed The Demon Girl’s Song. It had many of the fantasy elements that I love and also included a lot of diverse facets.  I think this is a good read for people who are not huge into fantasy as well as those who have been long time fans. It had its high points and some low points, but what I enjoyed most was how satisfied I felt at the end and I was happy I was able to journey with Andín.

The Demon Girl's Song is scheduled to be released September 25th, 2016. If you are interested, check it out on Goodreads and add it to you TBR in advance.

Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1) - Sylvain Neuvel

Review by Coll
3.5 Stars

**I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Love, confusion, love, confusion, that is what I felt while reading this book. (As if I were in a teenage romance.) Once I finished I spent a lot of time trying to get my thoughts and feelings together and I think I have finally done that. Sleeping Giants, by Sylvain Neuvel, is a science fiction / fantasy book that is the first in the series Themis Files. A young girl named Rose falls into a whole in the earth after wandering into the woods to investigate a turquoise light. When a rescue team finds her and begins work to extract her from the hole, they come to find that she is lying in a giant metal hand sitting amidst a turquoise light. Seventeen years later the mystery of this artefact has still yet to be unearthed (pun intended) and the lead physicist / scientist on the study team just so happens to be the grown up Rose. The military and government are pushing to figure out the secret of the hand and look for more pieces, trying to determine what it means to humanity, and no cost is too great for this mission.

The first thing you should know about is the style that Sleeping Giants is written in. The majority is recorded in interview form, with Rose and the rest of her team being questioned by an unknown interrogator. Occasionally there will be chapters thrown in where a character is speaking by themselves as they leave a recorded log, and there are other chapters of reports from the military or other agencies. Neuvel did an amazing job with this writing style, having the dialogue flow easily and into a cohesive story.  You always know who is talking and you are able to get the emotions being conveyed by the characters with no problem. I loved the use of this writing style and felt it really added to the story.

Okay, so the first half of Sleeping Giants I absolutely adored. I was so completely absorbed and felt like it could be a five-star book. Then, well, then the second half just started to let me down. At first the book was exciting, intriguing, and even had that “Shit just got real!” moment that takes a story to a whole new level. I was into it and loving it! Then something happened that caught me off guard and the conditions seemed to change. Suddenly it felt like things were being left out and the plot shift made everything feel a little disjointed. The order in which things were spoken about seemed a little off and I found myself thinking back to certain moments and saying to myself “Well what ended up happening with that?” Some things were resolved, some were not, and I felt the book left you with too many cliffhangers. I know, I know, it is the first in a series so there should be cliffhangers, but in this case there were just too many.

Unfortunately for me, I did not feel a connection with any of the characters. Not much background was given on them so it was hard to get to know them and care much. I also felt like characters behaviors were not reacted to as they would be in normal relationships. For example (vague example as to not give spoilers) a character would do something awful and/or criminal and be slightly punished, but then it would go treated like all they did was jaywalk, or some other trivial offense. Things like that, along with some other character interactions and behaviors, felt a little inhuman to me. 

I must say though that all in all, the story idea is brilliant. The things I can imagine happening and the direction I feel the story can take are just so exciting to me. I went from loving this book to being unsure of it, but the entire time I remained a huge fan the main idea behind it all. I know it is often hard to have the first book in a series be perfect because of all the things that cannot yet be given away, and I am hoping that was just the case with this book. As I said, the first half I wanted to give five stars to! Unfortunately there was that disconnect between the first and second half. All that being said, I will continue on with the series and I do recommend giving Sleeping Giants a shot with the hope that the rest of the series will be as amazing as I feel it can be.

Interested in Sleeping Giants? Check it out on Goodreads.

The Man Who Spoke Snakish - Andrus Kivirähk (Translated by Christopher Moseley)

Review by Coll
4 1/2 Stars

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

You know you are good friends with someone when you will read a book for them. ;-) I had requested this book because I saw it was Estonian, and I thought it would be cool to read because that is where Tiina is from. So she asked me if I would be able to read it and review it today in honor of Estonia’s Independence Day, so here is my review!

The Man Who Spoke Snakish is an adult fantasy tale. I stress the “adult” part of that description because it has its moments of violence and gore, as well as coarse language. It was an adult fairy tale and I loved it so much. The book is set in medieval Estonia and takes place in both a forest and a nearby village. The main character, Leemet, lives in the forest and follows the old ways of those who can speak a language known as Snakish, which allows them to communicate with snakes and all other animals. But the world is changing, and those of the forest are leaving to settle in villages where they begin to worship God and look up to the Iron Men (knights). Leemet watches as everything around him changes and those of the forest are left to fight to preserve their way of life, and to prevent the old ways from being lost to civilization, religion, and ignorance. 

This story was highly fantastical and imaginative. You become completely immersed in a world where there are wondrous creatures and beautiful landscapes, all portrayed through rich descriptions. As you read you feel like you are part of the story and the old world, and it is such an enchanting feeling. But for all the beauty in this novel there is also much sadness and you are forced to feel the pain of the characters. This combination of beauty and pain makes for such a powerful story and saturates the reader with emotion and passion. The Man Who spoke Snakish is a stunning tale that will stick with you long after you have finished reading it.

As much of a fantasy story The Man Who Spoke Snakish is, it is also very deep and tackles some very critical subjects. The book is considered ecocriticism, where it shows and analyzes environmental issues and concerns, as well as the treatment of nature. Throughout the story we see the “progression” of people from being in tune with nature, to no longer understanding nature as they switch to a societal life. Then there are the animals, who go from living in harmony with humans to being frightened humans. Animals and people transition from understanding one another and working together to fearing and bringing harm upon one another. This draws a good parallel to the direction the world has taken where instead of humans living in unity with nature we have begun to take it for granted and abuse it. The book shows this change among species and way of life so perfectly and in a very profound manner. 

Another major component of this book is the subject of religion and falling into the beliefs of the masses, forgoing your own heart and mind to follow others. Depending on how you read this book it can be viewed as religious criticism, but I feel like it is done in an intelligent way, full of intensity, and not in a means where it bashes religion. This aspect also ties into the subject matter prevalent through the book of the dangers of over-civilization and the creation of societies that are indoctrinated to live their lives a certain way and believe only the things they are told. This is such a powerful message that really pertains to the world today and the direction that humankind is headed in.

One area where I feel like this book suffered had nothing to do with the story itself, but I think had more to do with the translation into English. I know translations are never easy and in many cases the story is affected by it, which was an occasional issue with the English version of The Man Who Spoke Snakish. I think some of the phrasing was not effectively translated and also there was an overuse of language at times which made the story seem a little wordy. The main problem this created for me was that the story felt a little dragged out at times. I do not want to fault a novel at all based on the translation, but it is hard to view it any other way when I cannot read the original text. I was torn between four and five stars, and I think if I had been able to read the original this would be a five star book for me; I kind of want to say I give it five stars for story and four stars for translation (hence the 4.5 star rating).

If I tried to express all my feelings and my full analysis of this book my review would be several pages long, so there are a lot of things I must leave out, unfortunately. What I will say though is that this may be an Estonian novel, but it is something that every culture and country could understand and learn from. The book uses a beautiful and savage fairy tale to act as a vessel for some very important issues in the world today and it definitely is a story that everyone could learn from. The Man Who Spoke Snakish is not a story that can be taken lightly; it is brutal at times, highly opinionated, and heartbreaking, yet always beautiful and imaginative.

“At that moment it seemed to me that we knew perhaps too much that others didn’t know, and on the other hand too little that was known to everyone else…”

Interested in The Man Who Spoke Snakish? Check it out on Goodreads.