Reviewed by Briana @ Pages Unbound on
Barnhill tells this story with movingly lyrical to prose and an attention to detail that any fantasy author would be proud of. The sense that the world in the novel is real, that it has people and religion and a full history just waiting to be uncovered permeates the tale. Barnhill shows great care in creation but leaves enough to reader's imagination that the worldbuilding doesn't distract from the plot.
Richly imagined characters also populate this world, each with their own history and desires and beliefs. Barnhill touches on all the subjects that make us human, including incredibly thoughtful commentary on pregnancy and family--a topic that often doesn't make it in children's or YA literature. The downside is that the ostensible main characters (you know, "the girl who drank the moon") is perhaps one of the least interesting people in the novel, but everyone else is so fascinating it's not a real problem. There's also a adorable animal sidekick--Fyrian, who basically has Olaf's personality (of Frozen fame) in a dragon's body.
The plot intricately weaves the stories of these various characters together, forming a literary tapestry that shows how lives intersect in unexpected ways. Heroes, villains, and ordinary people all come together in one larger story. The result is amazingly beautiful tale.
Recommended for fans of Gail Carson Levine, Shannon Hale, and Natalie Lloyd.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 5 May, 2016: Finished reading
- 5 May, 2016: Reviewed