Reviewed by Silvara on
I've seen this book hyped as the 'new' Harry Potter. Every review I saw before reading it was glowing, not a single down vote anywhere. And the synopsis sounded like it could be good. But from the beginning, there were things that irked me about the book.
I may be being too critical, but in the first little bit, you meet Stella and her parents. They're out in this tiny little boat in the middle of shark infested waters. They don't know where they are. Stella's mom ends up overboard, and her dad tells Stella he loves her and to keep heading towards the lighthouse as though he knows he won't be coming back. Then he jumps into the water after her mother. Leaving his daughter all alone, with no help or land in sight. I can understand wanting to save your wife, but I can't understand deciding to leave your child alone with no hope of help.
Stella eventually ends up safe on land again, where she meets a man named Mangus. Mostly what I remember about this character, is him telling Stella she isn't allowed to cry. That she has to be strong, and apparently part of going forward and being strong, is not grieving for anything by shedding so much as a single tear.
Stella and her class also seemed to pass really quickly through the school. It doesn't say how much time passes, but if it was more than a single year I'll be shocked. And yet she and all the others were much higher in class rank (not sure how to put it without a huge spoiler, sorry) at the end of the book than seemed credible.
I did like a number of things about the book. Stella and her friends had some cute moments. And I liked her visit to the clothing shop on the island. Her Guardian Angel was also a fun touch, even if it seemed a bit odd for angels-in-training to have their own Guardian Angel. I liked the 3 Aggies quite a bit, and the Tree of Life. The knight could have been another good character, but he was so minor in the book you don't really get to know much about him.
I think this book would be a decent read for children, they might not notice or be bothered by the things that bothered me. But I'm not as sure about adults. I won't be reading the next book.
This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 12 May, 2015: Finished reading
- 12 May, 2015: Reviewed