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very, very sad

Revisado: 08-17-23

this is a story of a "good kid" vs a "bad kid" - both changelings, both of whom read neurodivergent, which makes is very problematic in a lot of ways. we never get a glimpse of the "bad" child's perspective, don't even really get a look at her life - only her bad behavior and how much the people around her don't like her. she's bad, we're told, because she has bad blood, bad birth parents, so of course she's bad too. there are tiny glimpses of attempts at understanding her - we're told that because she's not human, human food can't ever taste right to her and everything must seem strange and wrong to her, but this is mentioned in passing, with no empathy for how it might affect her. and there's no happy ending for her.

the "good" child (human raised by fairies) doesn't fare much better, as she's expected to save her birth family from the evil invader at the cost of her own wellbeing and happiness. it's a grim, sad story at best.

I kept reading hoping for a twist, some connection between the girls, some realization on the part of the "good" changeling that her counterpart had just gotten the short end of the magic wand as it were and was suffering, but no. As an autistic adult who grew up as "the bad kid" in the family and raised two children who would have been "bad kids" if I hadn't rejected the idea and looked for alternatives, I found the story horrific. Yes, I know it's a fairy tale retelling. It's also the story neurotypical adults use when they abuse divergent kids... or any other kind of disabled kid for that matter. Or adoptees. It's the story abusive adults tell of the kids they're hurting. It's disheartening to see a story like this from an author I had admired.

of course it's beautifully written and the narration is fine. but I'm going to be very, very cautious about buying from this author in the future. I don't recommend this to anyone who grew up the "black sheep" of the family.

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Probably the second best of the series

Revisado: 08-05-20

I've never felt this series lived up to the promise of the first book, but this one comes closer than the others. The mer-girl is still more of a token than an actual character, but Jack really gets to shine in this one and we get to see more of the moors. It's far better than Sticks and Bones. Worth reading.

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Not much happens

Revisado: 11-14-19

Mercedes Lackey is a good writer and this book is carried by her ability to write good sentences. There's not much plot or characterization, but some decent worlbuilding. It makes a good "cozy" - kind of veg out and drift along.

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Best thing I've read in a while

Revisado: 01-18-19

Fairy tale retellings can be a mixed bag, but this isn't a retelling so much as it reimagines fairy tales with characters traditionally cast as victims and villains as unlikely heroines and heroes.

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Wonderful

Revisado: 09-22-18

I love histories told through the eyes of the participants. This re- imagined history is as complex and messy as real life, full of believable, imperfect characters. I was afraid there would be too many characters, from other reviews, but every life was so inter-woven with the others, I didn't have any trouble keeping track. And I was deeply invested in all their stories, and that of Everfair itself.

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Wonderfully spooky

Revisado: 09-16-18

A mystery in a haunted orphanage, a magical device, and and creepy underground cavern - what's not to love?

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Weakest of the bunch

Revisado: 03-10-18

I usually like the Charles and Anna stories, unfortunately, there wasn't a story, here. Or maybe it's better to say there are several, but none of them about the main characters. So there isn't so much a plot as a bunch of linked scenes where other people tell stories. Oh, and some obligatory fights, because werewolves. It's not uninteresting, but two thirds of the way through the book, I was still wondering when the plot would kick in. It doesn't. But if you read it like a set of connected shorts, it's not too bad.

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lovely world building

Revisado: 02-17-18

I love the premise of a doctor for supernatural creatures, and how that would intersect with modern medicine and technology. Those details were all really fun, and the main character was thoroughly engaging as someone wrapped up in a complicated, technical profession. Some of the secondary characters aren't quite as well developed, although I'm finding they come a little clearer after a second read - this is a good book for re-reads in that regard. There's so much going on, and so much detail, that it's easy to miss a lot the first time through. I'm not as happy with the ending as I am with the rest of the book, hence the four stars rather than five. I don't mind how the plot is resolved, despite the touch of deux et machina - it's hard to complain too much about supernatural solutions when most of the characters are immortal, after all. But the wrap-up is not only too perfect, it doesn't really flow from what we know about the characters - even on my second read, I'm not seeing evidence that supports the HEA. So lovely book, but don't bother reading the last chapter and a half.

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Short

Revisado: 01-10-18

And a bit preachy. But it's a decent story when it doesn't get bogged down in telling you what to think. Several of the students of the Home for Wayward Children go on a quest to save Sumi, who died in book one. And that's about it. There's some nice world-building - they get to visit Nancy's world and learn a little about that, plus they learn more about Christopher's world of bone people. We get two new characters from water worlds, but don't ever really learn much about them, despite one being a main character.

Character development is weak overall - the author falls into the habit of telling rather than showing, and that's especially true for the mc, Cora. We're told ad nauseam that she's fat and has been harassed for it, but really nothing else about her, which is basically the opposite of how the character, or any fat person, wants to be seen. So kind of a well meaning fail in that regard, and readers with body image issues should know to brace yourself.

But the story did move right along and the world-building is really wonderful. It's a bit overpriced for the length, a bit flat on the characters, and preachy, but enjoyable, so a solid three stars.

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Two houses, alike in dignity

Revisado: 12-27-17

An entertaining take on the classic tale, great for anyone who has ever sympathized with the Prince or the townsfolk, or wanted to yell "oh, come on, really?" at the stage. Works well as a standalone - the main characters are settling in to new lives, so it won't matter if you haven't read the previous series.

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