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The Poppet and the Lune #1-4
The Poppet and the Lune
This book is now out of print. Thank you for reading.
357 pages, Paperback
First published May 11, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 22, 2015
What a beautiful tale!
This edition comprises books #1-4
The Poppet and the Lune (The Poppet and the Lune #1-4)
by Madeline Claire Franklin.
Audio version Narrated by Elizabeth Basalto.
"A lyrical, original fairy tale for all ages, with a cast of characters you won't soon forget."
I loved this story, which covers all four books in this series.
This is a beautiful and clever, nicely paced fairytale with great and lovable characters. The concept is brilliant and the story has a lot of moral thread running throughout which gives the reader much to think about.
I can imagine parents reading this to their children, at the same time thoroughly enjoying it themselves! I can also imagine young people curling up somewhere cosy to lose themselves in it...captivated by its unfolding suspense and mystery.
The blurb makes it sound rather dark, and although it has some dark themes, the overriding message is one of faith and good intentions.
I won't go into detail about the story as it is a very complex one, and I think the blurb has that nicely covered, but I will say that I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good complex and well told fairytale...I would put it up there with the best of them.
This is a book I would definitely read again and have put it among my favourites and "keepers".
I had some problems with the narrator's voice on the audio version, and it started to drive me to distraction after a very short time, sorry Elizabeth Basalto, but I thought it sounded constantly whiney and way too childish. It was nothing like the voice I heard in my head when reading the book and if not for the book I might have given up on it in the very early stages! Fortunately I had bought the book with whispersync audio so could swap between.
Maybe this voice would suit a younger audience, but I'm afraid it spoiled the story for me, and I much preferred the book version.
5★s
This edition comprises books #1-4
The Poppet and the Lune (The Poppet and the Lune #1-4)
by Madeline Claire Franklin.
Audio version Narrated by Elizabeth Basalto.
"A lyrical, original fairy tale for all ages, with a cast of characters you won't soon forget."
I loved this story, which covers all four books in this series.
This is a beautiful and clever, nicely paced fairytale with great and lovable characters. The concept is brilliant and the story has a lot of moral thread running throughout which gives the reader much to think about.
I can imagine parents reading this to their children, at the same time thoroughly enjoying it themselves! I can also imagine young people curling up somewhere cosy to lose themselves in it...captivated by its unfolding suspense and mystery.
The blurb makes it sound rather dark, and although it has some dark themes, the overriding message is one of faith and good intentions.
I won't go into detail about the story as it is a very complex one, and I think the blurb has that nicely covered, but I will say that I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good complex and well told fairytale...I would put it up there with the best of them.
This is a book I would definitely read again and have put it among my favourites and "keepers".
I had some problems with the narrator's voice on the audio version, and it started to drive me to distraction after a very short time, sorry Elizabeth Basalto, but I thought it sounded constantly whiney and way too childish. It was nothing like the voice I heard in my head when reading the book and if not for the book I might have given up on it in the very early stages! Fortunately I had bought the book with whispersync audio so could swap between.
Maybe this voice would suit a younger audience, but I'm afraid it spoiled the story for me, and I much preferred the book version.
5★s
July 19, 2014
More people need to hear about, know about and read this book, 'The Poppet and the Lune' by Madeline Claire Franklin. Every bit as good as Neil Gaiman's best works (and I am a huge NG fan).
The protagonist is a young Poppet who was created by a powerful witch. She is on a magnificent journey to discovering her unique identity and where she fits in to the world. She also has a wolf for a traveling companion whose motives may or may not be in the best interest of the Poppet.
It's a little difficult to describe this book further though without giving away spoilers ... but I'll say you do need to read it.
You're sure to love the absolutely lovely storybook-type fairy tale the author has expertly woven together for us and with such beautiful, lyrical writing. So pretty and easy to read.
there is a deep and genuine moral to the story that I believe children as well as adults can learn from it and relate to.
'The Poppet and the Lune' very quickly became one of my all time absolute favorite books. It should belong on the classic stories shelf... yes, it's that awesome.
The protagonist is a young Poppet who was created by a powerful witch. She is on a magnificent journey to discovering her unique identity and where she fits in to the world. She also has a wolf for a traveling companion whose motives may or may not be in the best interest of the Poppet.
It's a little difficult to describe this book further though without giving away spoilers ... but I'll say you do need to read it.
You're sure to love the absolutely lovely storybook-type fairy tale the author has expertly woven together for us and with such beautiful, lyrical writing. So pretty and easy to read.
there is a deep and genuine moral to the story that I believe children as well as adults can learn from it and relate to.
'The Poppet and the Lune' very quickly became one of my all time absolute favorite books. It should belong on the classic stories shelf... yes, it's that awesome.
March 22, 2013
The Poppet and the Lune takes fantasy away from the more typical swords and sorcery and into something more magical and philosophical. Aside from the storyline, the author's lyrical and mellifluous writing style makes this book a pleasure to read.
This is a story of a girl who is created from the parts of many children, yet who doesn't know just who or what she is. When the children of a small village are killed by a tragic accident, the parents of the children convince the local witch to bring a new child to life. The witch salvages the undamaged parts of the dead children and makes a patchwork girl, a girl who is then shared by the families of the dead children. She is named Elizabeth by the families, a name which never seems to resonate with her.
When the families have other children, they lose interest in the patchwork girl, and eventually, she leaves the village in an attempt to find someplace in which she fits. Meeting Faolin, a somewhat cowardly wereman, she goes from adventure to adventure while trying to discover her place in the world.
The strength of this novel is in the wordsmithing. The author turns poetry into prose. The first chapter flows along as if in a song. The words are lovingly selected and placed just so to evoke the strongest reaction and feeling of the reader. The rest of the book flows as well from this outstanding beginning.
The patchwork girl, with her mismatched eyes, is one of the most endearing characters about whom I have read in quite some time. I felt for her. I understood her dreams and needs. I wanted to reach into the novel and speak to her, to reassure her. For someone who has a dearth of her own emotions, she emotes to others. And given this lack of emotions, given that she cannot understand something as basic as love, it is amazing that the author is able to create such an emotive and likable character.
The other main character, Faolin, while likable, is not quite as believable. While we are told he is afraid not for himself but for the patchwork girl, in fact, he is frightened for himself, given his actions. And his leap at the end of the novel is not as well developed.
While I loved the writing, and while I savored every paragraph in and of itself, taken as a whole, I do think the novel could be tightened up a bit. There were a few times where the same thing was repeated over and over when the point was extremely well made the first time is was made. The action sequences were better, though, direct and well-paced.
This book is a gem. It is a joy to read, and the patchwork girl is truly an enjoyable heroine. I recommend this to anyone wanting a unique and fresh story of self-discovery.
This is a story of a girl who is created from the parts of many children, yet who doesn't know just who or what she is. When the children of a small village are killed by a tragic accident, the parents of the children convince the local witch to bring a new child to life. The witch salvages the undamaged parts of the dead children and makes a patchwork girl, a girl who is then shared by the families of the dead children. She is named Elizabeth by the families, a name which never seems to resonate with her.
When the families have other children, they lose interest in the patchwork girl, and eventually, she leaves the village in an attempt to find someplace in which she fits. Meeting Faolin, a somewhat cowardly wereman, she goes from adventure to adventure while trying to discover her place in the world.
The strength of this novel is in the wordsmithing. The author turns poetry into prose. The first chapter flows along as if in a song. The words are lovingly selected and placed just so to evoke the strongest reaction and feeling of the reader. The rest of the book flows as well from this outstanding beginning.
The patchwork girl, with her mismatched eyes, is one of the most endearing characters about whom I have read in quite some time. I felt for her. I understood her dreams and needs. I wanted to reach into the novel and speak to her, to reassure her. For someone who has a dearth of her own emotions, she emotes to others. And given this lack of emotions, given that she cannot understand something as basic as love, it is amazing that the author is able to create such an emotive and likable character.
The other main character, Faolin, while likable, is not quite as believable. While we are told he is afraid not for himself but for the patchwork girl, in fact, he is frightened for himself, given his actions. And his leap at the end of the novel is not as well developed.
While I loved the writing, and while I savored every paragraph in and of itself, taken as a whole, I do think the novel could be tightened up a bit. There were a few times where the same thing was repeated over and over when the point was extremely well made the first time is was made. The action sequences were better, though, direct and well-paced.
This book is a gem. It is a joy to read, and the patchwork girl is truly an enjoyable heroine. I recommend this to anyone wanting a unique and fresh story of self-discovery.
March 16, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. The story is very well written, it has excellent pacing, with a good balance between adventure and character development as the Poppet and the Lune discover about themselves.
It is written in a fairly simple style, probably aimed at older children but good enough for adults to enjoy as well. The story is fairly linear and not complex, but it does make for an easy and fun read.
The characters are excellent with both lead roles being very interesting and it is very easy to be emotionally drawn to them.
There were a few editing errors but not enough to detract from this excellent book.
Overall an excellent and fun read, with lead characters you can really feel for.
It is written in a fairly simple style, probably aimed at older children but good enough for adults to enjoy as well. The story is fairly linear and not complex, but it does make for an easy and fun read.
The characters are excellent with both lead roles being very interesting and it is very easy to be emotionally drawn to them.
There were a few editing errors but not enough to detract from this excellent book.
Overall an excellent and fun read, with lead characters you can really feel for.
October 5, 2024
Please enjoy this weird little fairy tale about a girl made of dead children and the reverse werewolf who loves her.
May 29, 2017
I sometimes really wish I could blurb for books. I had one all thought up for The Poppet and the Lune. "This is the cutest fairy tail you could imagine about a girl sewn together from the discarded organs of dead children."
But, nobody ever asks me for a blurb. (Hmm, I wonder why?)
The Poppet and the Lune was really cute though, despite the fact that the main character was an amalgamation of dead children. It's a fairy tale about finding yourself.
The poppet is a beautiful character - she's naïve, but also brave, determined, and kind. She spends the entire book being passed from one person to the next, each one wanting something from her, until she has nothing left to give. That's when others start giving back to her, ultimately leading to her finding her own name. (Which was obvious, in retrospect. I figured it out after the riddle, though.)
Faolin was...a bit more difficult. While his story arc was just as important as the poppet's, he could be incredibly frustrating at times. All of his choices had to be made in order for the story to progress the way that it did, but I still wanted to beat him upside the head for trying to go back to his village. Their story had a "happily ever after", at least.
The plot was pretty simple - typical fairy tale fare. The story was very description heavy, especially with scenery and appearances. And moonbeams. There are so many descriptions of moonbeams.
The only real problem I had with this book was that occasionally a sentence would have too *many* descriptions in it. Instead of being one or two clear, concise thoughts, a sentence would be made up of five or six different pieces. There weren't many sentences that heavily packed, but the few I remember coming across definitely slowed me down while I sorted through all of the information suddenly being thrown at me.
Here's a good example:
"He stood there, in mid-air, hovering above the rubble of his death bed, a chiseled nude body, utterly smooth and nearly metallic."
That wasn't the worst of the never-ending sentences, by any stretch, but it should give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
The side characters were all incredibly fun - in most stories, side characters are just fodder to fill in a certain role. The main character needs to know where a weapon is? There's a side character to tell him exactly what he needs to know. And while each side character in this story was a stepping stone to get to the next, each one was well developed. Nobody in this story really felt like a side character to me. They were all important pieces of the whole, each with their own lives, personalities, and back stories.
This leads to a few places where the story breaks away from Faolin and the poppet to give you backstory, but it never felt annoying. There's an entire section that tells you about the Queen and the witch, and I was just as interested in finding out how the witch came to live in the village as I was about the poppet's quest.
I suppose I'm starting to ramble a bit here.
If you enjoy fairy tales, and are looking for a story that isn't based on something by Hans Christian Andersen or the Grimm Brothers, then I'd definitely recommend this book.
But, nobody ever asks me for a blurb. (Hmm, I wonder why?)
The Poppet and the Lune was really cute though, despite the fact that the main character was an amalgamation of dead children. It's a fairy tale about finding yourself.
The poppet is a beautiful character - she's naïve, but also brave, determined, and kind. She spends the entire book being passed from one person to the next, each one wanting something from her, until she has nothing left to give. That's when others start giving back to her, ultimately leading to her finding her own name. (Which was obvious, in retrospect. I figured it out after the riddle, though.)
Faolin was...a bit more difficult. While his story arc was just as important as the poppet's, he could be incredibly frustrating at times. All of his choices had to be made in order for the story to progress the way that it did, but I still wanted to beat him upside the head for trying to go back to his village. Their story had a "happily ever after", at least.
The plot was pretty simple - typical fairy tale fare. The story was very description heavy, especially with scenery and appearances. And moonbeams. There are so many descriptions of moonbeams.
The only real problem I had with this book was that occasionally a sentence would have too *many* descriptions in it. Instead of being one or two clear, concise thoughts, a sentence would be made up of five or six different pieces. There weren't many sentences that heavily packed, but the few I remember coming across definitely slowed me down while I sorted through all of the information suddenly being thrown at me.
Here's a good example:
"He stood there, in mid-air, hovering above the rubble of his death bed, a chiseled nude body, utterly smooth and nearly metallic."
That wasn't the worst of the never-ending sentences, by any stretch, but it should give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
The side characters were all incredibly fun - in most stories, side characters are just fodder to fill in a certain role. The main character needs to know where a weapon is? There's a side character to tell him exactly what he needs to know. And while each side character in this story was a stepping stone to get to the next, each one was well developed. Nobody in this story really felt like a side character to me. They were all important pieces of the whole, each with their own lives, personalities, and back stories.
This leads to a few places where the story breaks away from Faolin and the poppet to give you backstory, but it never felt annoying. There's an entire section that tells you about the Queen and the witch, and I was just as interested in finding out how the witch came to live in the village as I was about the poppet's quest.
I suppose I'm starting to ramble a bit here.
If you enjoy fairy tales, and are looking for a story that isn't based on something by Hans Christian Andersen or the Grimm Brothers, then I'd definitely recommend this book.
February 21, 2012
I really, really liked this book. All the children of a small village are killed at once; the village's witch takes pity on the parents and creates a new girl child from bits and pieces of all of their children. The poppet is brought to life, but the witch is killed, and the girl -- Elizabeth -- finds out years later that the witch was unable to finish her before she died.
The poppet strikes out on her own. In a magical forest, she meets a were-man -- a human man who has been turned into a wolf, except for the three days around each full moon when he becomes human again. His fondest wish is to end the curse so that he can go back to his own village and marry his sweetheart. The pair go through many adventures before they each find their happy ending.
The poppet strikes out on her own. In a magical forest, she meets a were-man -- a human man who has been turned into a wolf, except for the three days around each full moon when he becomes human again. His fondest wish is to end the curse so that he can go back to his own village and marry his sweetheart. The pair go through many adventures before they each find their happy ending.
October 5, 2011
Read this book.
Five stars is barely half the number I would give to this work.
This is an amazing story and you have to read this if you love, like or have any interest in dark fairy tales, magic, werewolves, magical creatures ... or stories of discovery, love and perseverance, read this.
This book should be a best seller.
The story is captivating. The writing is poetic and very keeping with how classic fairy tales are told. I loved the strength of the patchwork girl. My god, why are you not reading this book yet??
I can't remember quite how I came across the description of this book and ended up adding it to my queue, but I am so thrilled that I did.
Five stars is barely half the number I would give to this work.
This is an amazing story and you have to read this if you love, like or have any interest in dark fairy tales, magic, werewolves, magical creatures ... or stories of discovery, love and perseverance, read this.
This book should be a best seller.
The story is captivating. The writing is poetic and very keeping with how classic fairy tales are told. I loved the strength of the patchwork girl. My god, why are you not reading this book yet??
I can't remember quite how I came across the description of this book and ended up adding it to my queue, but I am so thrilled that I did.
November 12, 2013
What a stunningly beautiful read. This modern fairytale is as engaging as it is well written, filled with characters whom I missed as soon as I'd finished the novel.
I don't remember the last time I was so entranced by an author's writing style, and I dearly hope that this book ends up on the shelves of every fantasy lover out there: one cannot help but be changed (in the sweetest of ways) after reading it.
I don't remember the last time I was so entranced by an author's writing style, and I dearly hope that this book ends up on the shelves of every fantasy lover out there: one cannot help but be changed (in the sweetest of ways) after reading it.
June 20, 2012
I went into this book not knowing what to expect, and was blown away! I couldn't put it down! I was enchanted by the characters from the get-go, wanting to know what was going to happen next and who I was going to meet along this fairy tale journey. This is the first I've heard of this author, but you can be sure that she is going on my watch list!
July 12, 2012
Read this. Regardless of what genre you like, authors, anything, this novel is a beautiful adventure filled with magic, love, grotesque cruelty, selfishness, and discovering what makes people human. Thank you so much for writing mrs. Franklin
November 8, 2011
I very much enjoyed this sweet tale. I loved the message it sent of self acceptance and self worth. I wish I had read this story as a teen.
January 11, 2013
Amazing. If you love faery tales this book is a must read. I finished it in one day. Eagerly awaiting this author's next work.
Just beautiful and something different.
Just beautiful and something different.
June 26, 2011
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a big lover of fairy tales. I have three entire shelves dedicated just to fairy tale retellings, and then two more dedicated to collections of fairy tales. When I was contacted by the author for a review and read the summary, I knew I had to read this book. The Poppet and the Lune sounded right up my alley, so I accepted and waited impatiently for my review copy to grace my mail box.
The wait was so totally worth it and I am so glad I read this novel.
The Poppet and the Lune is going to be one of the novels I set time aside for every year to reread, or one that I’ll simply pull out every now and then just to reread my favorite passages. I actually tried to read it as slowly as I could allow, simply because I never wanted it to end. I kept attacking it with post-it notes to mark the sentences I loved so much, to the point where they got in the way of me holding the book and turning the pages. It’s going to be a book that I treasure deeply.
The writing style actually reminded me quite of a bit of someone having written down a storyteller’s verbal tale. There are times in the novel when the omnipresent narrator refers to hirself and the readers, as if zie were truly right there telling us the story, and fills in the gaps of knowledge the two main leads don’t have, which adds to my impression, and I loved it all the more for that. Franklin so clearly nails the fairy tale narrative styles that as soon as I read the opening I knew I was going to love this book. The small village surrounded by woods prowled by wolves, the lone cabin in the woods where a magical person lives, a deconstruction of a prince who should be the archetype of the fairy tale true love, and the other various magical things and places the heroes encounter on their journey, all of it is classic the fairy tale narrative done beautifully. It’s atmospheric and wonderful and so, so well done.
To add to this, Franklin’s writing is beautiful, with sentences such as:
“The unreality of the past weeks lifted like a fog, but its residue remained. All of the past is like that, but most especially the parts that are out of the ordinary.” pg. 248
“The patchwork girl felt as if she were a broad expanse of canvas, rolled up in a desk drawer somewhere-maybe forgotten, maybe hidden, maybe thrown away. There were things she could never be; she could never be a sculpture, or a piece of jewelry, or a tool for work, or fine linen... but there were things she could become.” pg. 48
To expand on that last quote, I loved the patchwork girl’s journey to finding herself. In a way, she’s got a very strong personality of her own, but the memories of the children she’s made of keep coming back and it makes her wonder if she’s truly her own person. Can a person really be their own being when they’re made up of several other beings? Faolin’s story is a parallel to the patchwork girl’s; he too is trying to find himself after being changed into a wolf, trying to find footing in a strange new environment. The identity narratives in this story were so well done that I cheered whenever the patchwork girl or Faolin came closer to understanding themselves. Their journey is a long and often hard process, but the pay off is so satisfying.
It’s not just the main characters who are well written. The secondary characters have their own backstories detailed in the book, making them come alive just as much as the leads themselves. Perhaps the strongest example of this was with the Weirding family, tragic and yet awesome to read about all at the same time. It really was nice to see Franklin spending as much time on the secondary characters as she did the leads.
I’m pretty hard to please when it comes to romance in novels, I’ll admit. It’s very rare that a couple in any form of media captures my heart because of how well they’re written. This was not a problem here. The relationship between the patchwork girl and Faolin is slowly developed, from a comfortable friendship and companionship to a strong love. They work so well together; the patchwork girl, fearless and courageous, sure of herself and yet at the same time not, and Faolin, shy and sweet and cowardly but with hidden strength. It’s such a well written romance that I had a huge silly grin on my face whenever there were hints of their developing romance. At the same time, though, it’s explicitly mentioned that should one leave the other, they would be okay. They don’t exist simply for each other. Probably my favorite quote in the story is the one where it’s said that the patchwork girl was whole before she met Faolin, and she would continue to be whole even without him there. That is how you do a good romance.
I think the thing I loved best, if I could narrow it down to just one, was how the story was mostly character driven. That tends to be my preferred style in stories. I like plot driven works as well, but when you get down to it, I love to focus more on the characters and their personalities and their relationships with others. The characters drive this story, leading themselves to places where they grow and learn and make the plot happen, the plot doesn’t just blindly pull them along. It truly is the story about the patchwork girl and Faolin, and what a story it is.
The Poppet and the Lune is a beautiful, well done fairy tale that gives readers a strong, empowering woman lead, a guy lead I loved, a solid romance and world building, and wonderful writing. It was heartbreaking at times and other times I downright cheered when something good happened. It feels like a genuine fairy tale you would read in a collection. I am actually hesitant to put this strictly in one age group; I feel like it’s a story that can charm and enchant readers of all ages, and simply calling it young adult or adult would be doing a disservice to the story. I’ll be bothering all my friends to read it and I cannot recommend it enough.
A copy of this book was generously provided for review by the author.
The wait was so totally worth it and I am so glad I read this novel.
The Poppet and the Lune is going to be one of the novels I set time aside for every year to reread, or one that I’ll simply pull out every now and then just to reread my favorite passages. I actually tried to read it as slowly as I could allow, simply because I never wanted it to end. I kept attacking it with post-it notes to mark the sentences I loved so much, to the point where they got in the way of me holding the book and turning the pages. It’s going to be a book that I treasure deeply.
The writing style actually reminded me quite of a bit of someone having written down a storyteller’s verbal tale. There are times in the novel when the omnipresent narrator refers to hirself and the readers, as if zie were truly right there telling us the story, and fills in the gaps of knowledge the two main leads don’t have, which adds to my impression, and I loved it all the more for that. Franklin so clearly nails the fairy tale narrative styles that as soon as I read the opening I knew I was going to love this book. The small village surrounded by woods prowled by wolves, the lone cabin in the woods where a magical person lives, a deconstruction of a prince who should be the archetype of the fairy tale true love, and the other various magical things and places the heroes encounter on their journey, all of it is classic the fairy tale narrative done beautifully. It’s atmospheric and wonderful and so, so well done.
To add to this, Franklin’s writing is beautiful, with sentences such as:
“The unreality of the past weeks lifted like a fog, but its residue remained. All of the past is like that, but most especially the parts that are out of the ordinary.” pg. 248
“The patchwork girl felt as if she were a broad expanse of canvas, rolled up in a desk drawer somewhere-maybe forgotten, maybe hidden, maybe thrown away. There were things she could never be; she could never be a sculpture, or a piece of jewelry, or a tool for work, or fine linen... but there were things she could become.” pg. 48
To expand on that last quote, I loved the patchwork girl’s journey to finding herself. In a way, she’s got a very strong personality of her own, but the memories of the children she’s made of keep coming back and it makes her wonder if she’s truly her own person. Can a person really be their own being when they’re made up of several other beings? Faolin’s story is a parallel to the patchwork girl’s; he too is trying to find himself after being changed into a wolf, trying to find footing in a strange new environment. The identity narratives in this story were so well done that I cheered whenever the patchwork girl or Faolin came closer to understanding themselves. Their journey is a long and often hard process, but the pay off is so satisfying.
It’s not just the main characters who are well written. The secondary characters have their own backstories detailed in the book, making them come alive just as much as the leads themselves. Perhaps the strongest example of this was with the Weirding family, tragic and yet awesome to read about all at the same time. It really was nice to see Franklin spending as much time on the secondary characters as she did the leads.
I’m pretty hard to please when it comes to romance in novels, I’ll admit. It’s very rare that a couple in any form of media captures my heart because of how well they’re written. This was not a problem here. The relationship between the patchwork girl and Faolin is slowly developed, from a comfortable friendship and companionship to a strong love. They work so well together; the patchwork girl, fearless and courageous, sure of herself and yet at the same time not, and Faolin, shy and sweet and cowardly but with hidden strength. It’s such a well written romance that I had a huge silly grin on my face whenever there were hints of their developing romance. At the same time, though, it’s explicitly mentioned that should one leave the other, they would be okay. They don’t exist simply for each other. Probably my favorite quote in the story is the one where it’s said that the patchwork girl was whole before she met Faolin, and she would continue to be whole even without him there. That is how you do a good romance.
I think the thing I loved best, if I could narrow it down to just one, was how the story was mostly character driven. That tends to be my preferred style in stories. I like plot driven works as well, but when you get down to it, I love to focus more on the characters and their personalities and their relationships with others. The characters drive this story, leading themselves to places where they grow and learn and make the plot happen, the plot doesn’t just blindly pull them along. It truly is the story about the patchwork girl and Faolin, and what a story it is.
The Poppet and the Lune is a beautiful, well done fairy tale that gives readers a strong, empowering woman lead, a guy lead I loved, a solid romance and world building, and wonderful writing. It was heartbreaking at times and other times I downright cheered when something good happened. It feels like a genuine fairy tale you would read in a collection. I am actually hesitant to put this strictly in one age group; I feel like it’s a story that can charm and enchant readers of all ages, and simply calling it young adult or adult would be doing a disservice to the story. I’ll be bothering all my friends to read it and I cannot recommend it enough.
A copy of this book was generously provided for review by the author.
June 23, 2020
Full of magic and hope.
Amazing story! I recommended this book to anyone searching for a fairy tale with a happy ending that keeps you reading long past your bedtime.
Amazing story! I recommended this book to anyone searching for a fairy tale with a happy ending that keeps you reading long past your bedtime.
August 11, 2011
(From my blog at http://wordvagabond.wordpress.com - Reviews of independent and small press publications.)
After tragedy strikes a small village, killing all of its children, the villagers strike a deal with their local witch to create a new child, a patchwork of those who died, to replace those they have lost. With great reluctance, the witch complies, and soon produces Elizabeth, the “Poppet” referred to in the title. The witch is killed before the process is completed, leaving Elizabeth with many unanswered questions and a fragile identity. Throughout her many adventures, her search for the truth of her existence remains her main motivation.
The “Lune” is Faolin, a reluctant werewolf who becomes Elizabeth’s loyal companion, protector and friend. He has a compelling story of his own, neatly sidestepping the categories of mere sidekick or romantic interest (although he does, in part, fill both these roles). In fact, all of the characters in The Poppet and the Lune resist being pigeonholed, either with intriguing backstories or with a pervasive aura of mystery that leaves one wondering about them long after the story is over.
The Poppet and the Lune is nothing short of a rejuvenation of a dying genre. It is fresh, original and brilliantly plotted, with characters that the reader cares about easily and deeply. It steers clear of most of the common clichés, and offering up genuine surprises in their place. I honestly believed that I knew where the main character’s story arch was leading, but the ending was both different and better than I expected.
It’s hard for me to review this book without sounding completely giddy and uncritical, so I hope the reader will understand that this is a very unusual reaction for me. As an editor and reviewer, my first instinct is to pick apart whatever I’m reading, which often makes it harder to slip completely into the atmosphere of a book. In addition, I had more or less given up on the fantasy genre in the late ‘90s, when all original thought appeared to have been bred out of it.
A few small criticisms: the book would have benefitted from a more thorough proofreading, although the flaws that have been overlooked are not more than many conventional works contain. These may also have been corrected in more recent editions.
My second concern is not directly with this novel, but with the discrepancy in quality between Franklin’s novel-length and shorter works. This novel obviously received a great deal of care and attention, and I would love to see that same attention applied to her short stories, which often appear to be more impulsive and unpolished. I would like to see that gap in quality closed so that Franklin’s shorter works, as well as standing more firmly on their own, can serve as better ambassadors to her wonderful novels.
After tragedy strikes a small village, killing all of its children, the villagers strike a deal with their local witch to create a new child, a patchwork of those who died, to replace those they have lost. With great reluctance, the witch complies, and soon produces Elizabeth, the “Poppet” referred to in the title. The witch is killed before the process is completed, leaving Elizabeth with many unanswered questions and a fragile identity. Throughout her many adventures, her search for the truth of her existence remains her main motivation.
The “Lune” is Faolin, a reluctant werewolf who becomes Elizabeth’s loyal companion, protector and friend. He has a compelling story of his own, neatly sidestepping the categories of mere sidekick or romantic interest (although he does, in part, fill both these roles). In fact, all of the characters in The Poppet and the Lune resist being pigeonholed, either with intriguing backstories or with a pervasive aura of mystery that leaves one wondering about them long after the story is over.
The Poppet and the Lune is nothing short of a rejuvenation of a dying genre. It is fresh, original and brilliantly plotted, with characters that the reader cares about easily and deeply. It steers clear of most of the common clichés, and offering up genuine surprises in their place. I honestly believed that I knew where the main character’s story arch was leading, but the ending was both different and better than I expected.
It’s hard for me to review this book without sounding completely giddy and uncritical, so I hope the reader will understand that this is a very unusual reaction for me. As an editor and reviewer, my first instinct is to pick apart whatever I’m reading, which often makes it harder to slip completely into the atmosphere of a book. In addition, I had more or less given up on the fantasy genre in the late ‘90s, when all original thought appeared to have been bred out of it.
A few small criticisms: the book would have benefitted from a more thorough proofreading, although the flaws that have been overlooked are not more than many conventional works contain. These may also have been corrected in more recent editions.
My second concern is not directly with this novel, but with the discrepancy in quality between Franklin’s novel-length and shorter works. This novel obviously received a great deal of care and attention, and I would love to see that same attention applied to her short stories, which often appear to be more impulsive and unpolished. I would like to see that gap in quality closed so that Franklin’s shorter works, as well as standing more firmly on their own, can serve as better ambassadors to her wonderful novels.
February 13, 2016
Warning: Some nonspecific spoilers.
This is probably closer to 2.5 stars. I'm more disappointed in it (I think) because it has been on my to-read list since I've been on goodreads and my anticipation was greater than it should have been. I liked the story, it really is a good fairytale, but the writing didn't really work for me. There were some particularly forced similes throughout. One that comes to mind is when one of the characters was feeling nervous in addition to starting to fall in love and the simile used was that her stomach felt as though it contained butterflies that were on fire.
I was also frustrated by the anachronistic changes in language and breaking the 4th wall. The story is heavily geared towards fairytales and fairytale language, but the effect was broken by some of the word choices and references to things that we would talk about today like cells and biology (and chainsaws). (Digression: Even if you have a character who manipulates time to steal random objects from the future, you can still write about them from the perspective of your time period/universe. Sometimes it is better to be unclear and let your readers guess than to spoon feed them. You want them to feel clever for figuring it out, not talk down to them).
As for breaking the 4th wall, that mostly happened in an awkward attempt to relate one of the characters to the reader. "Had you or I been there, we could have easily identified..." and then it goes on to list a bunch of items that had been stolen from the future; a gas grill, chainsaw, etcetera. A similar break occurs later when a character is feeling an unfamiliar emotion and the narrative tells the reader that they would have recognized it immediately.
This is a good story, but like the eponymous poppet, it feels unfinished. A little further editing would have helped (there are some spelling errors and mistaken use of homophones in addition to the other issues). Oh well. On to the next book.
This is probably closer to 2.5 stars. I'm more disappointed in it (I think) because it has been on my to-read list since I've been on goodreads and my anticipation was greater than it should have been. I liked the story, it really is a good fairytale, but the writing didn't really work for me. There were some particularly forced similes throughout. One that comes to mind is when one of the characters was feeling nervous in addition to starting to fall in love and the simile used was that her stomach felt as though it contained butterflies that were on fire.
I was also frustrated by the anachronistic changes in language and breaking the 4th wall. The story is heavily geared towards fairytales and fairytale language, but the effect was broken by some of the word choices and references to things that we would talk about today like cells and biology (and chainsaws). (Digression: Even if you have a character who manipulates time to steal random objects from the future, you can still write about them from the perspective of your time period/universe. Sometimes it is better to be unclear and let your readers guess than to spoon feed them. You want them to feel clever for figuring it out, not talk down to them).
As for breaking the 4th wall, that mostly happened in an awkward attempt to relate one of the characters to the reader. "Had you or I been there, we could have easily identified..." and then it goes on to list a bunch of items that had been stolen from the future; a gas grill, chainsaw, etcetera. A similar break occurs later when a character is feeling an unfamiliar emotion and the narrative tells the reader that they would have recognized it immediately.
This is a good story, but like the eponymous poppet, it feels unfinished. A little further editing would have helped (there are some spelling errors and mistaken use of homophones in addition to the other issues). Oh well. On to the next book.
August 2, 2016
Although the author has since re-released this novel in four separate parts, The Poppet and the Lune really is one whole novel and I read it as such.
This is an old-school kind of fairy tale that does not shy away from the gruesome. I absolutely loved the first section, wherein we meet the "Patchwork Girl" made of magic and moonlight and the salvaged parts of a village's dead children, as she learns about herself as well as the ways of humanity. I enjoyed the second section, too, as the girl and her new companion Faolin (a wereman: usually a wolf but sometimes a man) find themselves in the castle of a prince with suspicious intentions and meet all of the other neato characters who have gathered there. Taken together, these sections are a great read and also offer many subtly feminist messages about identity and personhood.
The latter half of the book was a lot less successful. The action shifted back into the forest, and Faolin's point-of-view is made more prominent than the girl's. I did like both of these characters, but the girl's story is far more compelling and unique than the wereman's, so one really feels the relative lack of it. Especially during an extended period when the girl is very much sidelined, reduced literally to a "poppet" and not just in name only. This was done partly in service to a love story between the two, as Faolin must learn to gather his courage and rescue the girl. The romance was sweet in its way, but a bit predictable and certainly not the best thing in the book. The elevation of the love story over the more interesting elements brought the whole thing down.
Using Goodreads' rating system, I'd give this one a 3.5 so I'm rounding up; The writing is overall lovely and I look forward to reading more from this author. I'd be very curious to see what she'd do with a more contemporary setting, or with what she'd come up with if asked to produce a retelling of a "famous" fairy tale.
This is an old-school kind of fairy tale that does not shy away from the gruesome. I absolutely loved the first section, wherein we meet the "Patchwork Girl" made of magic and moonlight and the salvaged parts of a village's dead children, as she learns about herself as well as the ways of humanity. I enjoyed the second section, too, as the girl and her new companion Faolin (a wereman: usually a wolf but sometimes a man) find themselves in the castle of a prince with suspicious intentions and meet all of the other neato characters who have gathered there. Taken together, these sections are a great read and also offer many subtly feminist messages about identity and personhood.
The latter half of the book was a lot less successful. The action shifted back into the forest, and Faolin's point-of-view is made more prominent than the girl's. I did like both of these characters, but the girl's story is far more compelling and unique than the wereman's, so one really feels the relative lack of it. Especially during an extended period when the girl is very much sidelined, reduced literally to a "poppet" and not just in name only. This was done partly in service to a love story between the two, as Faolin must learn to gather his courage and rescue the girl. The romance was sweet in its way, but a bit predictable and certainly not the best thing in the book. The elevation of the love story over the more interesting elements brought the whole thing down.
Using Goodreads' rating system, I'd give this one a 3.5 so I'm rounding up; The writing is overall lovely and I look forward to reading more from this author. I'd be very curious to see what she'd do with a more contemporary setting, or with what she'd come up with if asked to produce a retelling of a "famous" fairy tale.
July 21, 2011
I found The Poppet and the Lune, by Madeline Claire Franklin, simply enchanting. It tells the story of the patchwork girl, a being born of a witch's magic, and her quest to discover her true name and what she really is. Along the way, she meets Faolin, a wereman, (much like a werewolf, except he turns back into a man during the full moon while remaining a wolf the rest of the time). Faolin becomes her traveling companion and friend. His quest is to discover how to be human again.
The patchwork girl and Faolin have a few adventures together. Faolin saves the girl from Father Time, who is attempting to steal some of her memories, and the patchwork girl saves Faolin from Prince Baylis, who is gathering magical beings in an attempt to become one himself. But their greatest adventure of all is discovering themselves and embracing who they are and what that means.
When I was about 50 pages in, I thought that the book read like a self-published novel. It didn't take me long to determine that that was exactly what it was. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing. The story did seem to meander a bit, seeming not to "get to the point." Some parts of the book could even be short stories in themselves. Also, I wanted a bit more character development. I wanted to care more about the patchwork girl and Faolin. I wanted to experience heart wrenching moments between them as they discovered their relationship.
That being said, I very much enjoyed this book. It was definitely entertaining to read. And I did care about the characters, that's why I really wanted more from them. I do look forward to any future projects from the author.
The patchwork girl and Faolin have a few adventures together. Faolin saves the girl from Father Time, who is attempting to steal some of her memories, and the patchwork girl saves Faolin from Prince Baylis, who is gathering magical beings in an attempt to become one himself. But their greatest adventure of all is discovering themselves and embracing who they are and what that means.
When I was about 50 pages in, I thought that the book read like a self-published novel. It didn't take me long to determine that that was exactly what it was. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing. The story did seem to meander a bit, seeming not to "get to the point." Some parts of the book could even be short stories in themselves. Also, I wanted a bit more character development. I wanted to care more about the patchwork girl and Faolin. I wanted to experience heart wrenching moments between them as they discovered their relationship.
That being said, I very much enjoyed this book. It was definitely entertaining to read. And I did care about the characters, that's why I really wanted more from them. I do look forward to any future projects from the author.
June 22, 2011
A retelling of the patchwork girl fairytale, this book captivated me. From the very first few lines, the atmosphere rolled out under me like a lush carpet, fantastical creatures and places invading the reader’s mind.
The setting is perfect a perfect fairytale one, a small village that could really be anywhere, surrounded by dark, terrifying woods full of wolves. It creates a sense of isolation that works wonderfully with the story, immersing us head first in the novel.
I loved the main characters, the patchwork girl, and Faolin, the wereman. Faolin was sweet and shy, with just enough courage to move the story along and to please the readers, while the patchwork girl was all strength and fearlessness, making us cheer for her as she resolves one situation after another. Both characters work really well together, and we can’t stop ourselves from hoping for a happy ending.
There are a myriad of other amusing characters, maybe ones we know, but with slight twists, like Father Time, who is not quite as benign as we have always thought him to be. Witches, mermaids, wolves, fairies, they all make an appearance as Faolin and the patchwork girl weave their way through the forest.
This book was a sweet break from reality, which is exactly what fairytales are supposed to do, and I can honestly recommend it to everyone, from children to adults. Come and dip yourself in this story of love, loyalty and hope.
The setting is perfect a perfect fairytale one, a small village that could really be anywhere, surrounded by dark, terrifying woods full of wolves. It creates a sense of isolation that works wonderfully with the story, immersing us head first in the novel.
I loved the main characters, the patchwork girl, and Faolin, the wereman. Faolin was sweet and shy, with just enough courage to move the story along and to please the readers, while the patchwork girl was all strength and fearlessness, making us cheer for her as she resolves one situation after another. Both characters work really well together, and we can’t stop ourselves from hoping for a happy ending.
There are a myriad of other amusing characters, maybe ones we know, but with slight twists, like Father Time, who is not quite as benign as we have always thought him to be. Witches, mermaids, wolves, fairies, they all make an appearance as Faolin and the patchwork girl weave their way through the forest.
This book was a sweet break from reality, which is exactly what fairytales are supposed to do, and I can honestly recommend it to everyone, from children to adults. Come and dip yourself in this story of love, loyalty and hope.
January 25, 2015
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*
The Poppet and the Lune tells the story of Elizabeth, the patchwork girl who wishes to find her own place in the world.
The patchwork girl was not born, she was created by a witch on the demands of the grieving villagers who had just lost their own children. The witch died before she could finish or name her creation and so the villagers called her Elizabeth; a name that did not feel was her own. As time passes and the women of village have more children, Elizabeth begins to feel outcast and so she leaves the village behind.
The Poppet and the Lune is a delightful modern fairytale telling of Elizabeth’s journey that will appeal to children and adults alike. The style and description used in the novel flows beautifully, although in a couple of places it could have been shortened in favour of moving the story forward at a slightly faster pace. The characters are very imaginative and each one is memorable in their own way.
This is a review of the audio version of The Poppet and the Lune and I would also like to comment on the narration read by Elizabeth Basalto. Elizabeth did a wonderful job of bringing the story of The Poppet and the Lune to life. She demonstrates her immense talent in the role of each character and the narrator’s part perfectly.
I would recommend the story of The Poppet and the Lune to anyone who enjoys a modern fairytale that does not shy away from the darker sides to life.
The Poppet and the Lune tells the story of Elizabeth, the patchwork girl who wishes to find her own place in the world.
The patchwork girl was not born, she was created by a witch on the demands of the grieving villagers who had just lost their own children. The witch died before she could finish or name her creation and so the villagers called her Elizabeth; a name that did not feel was her own. As time passes and the women of village have more children, Elizabeth begins to feel outcast and so she leaves the village behind.
The Poppet and the Lune is a delightful modern fairytale telling of Elizabeth’s journey that will appeal to children and adults alike. The style and description used in the novel flows beautifully, although in a couple of places it could have been shortened in favour of moving the story forward at a slightly faster pace. The characters are very imaginative and each one is memorable in their own way.
This is a review of the audio version of The Poppet and the Lune and I would also like to comment on the narration read by Elizabeth Basalto. Elizabeth did a wonderful job of bringing the story of The Poppet and the Lune to life. She demonstrates her immense talent in the role of each character and the narrator’s part perfectly.
I would recommend the story of The Poppet and the Lune to anyone who enjoys a modern fairytale that does not shy away from the darker sides to life.
August 15, 2011
THE POPPET AND THE LUNE is a beautiful, easy-to-read, wonderous story.
Created from the remains of a tragedy that struck a simple village, the patchwork girl is a being of pure magic. When she leaves her home(s), her journey takes us through the Everwood Forest, into the clutches of Father Time, the depths of the castle of the charming Prince Baylis and into the very pits of the kingdom of the Weremen.
From the remains of the other children, she eventually discovers herself, and we along with her.
If I had any critiques to make, is that the novel has several sections where I felt it could have been the thrilling end to any fantasy novel, only to discover that I had 40% remaining on my e-reader's progress bar. These would have made equally amazing novellas, or two fantastic novels.
This is a charming read that would satisfy any fantasy lover and thrill them to their fingertips. Madeline Claire Franklin is absolutely a new rising star of fantasy.
Created from the remains of a tragedy that struck a simple village, the patchwork girl is a being of pure magic. When she leaves her home(s), her journey takes us through the Everwood Forest, into the clutches of Father Time, the depths of the castle of the charming Prince Baylis and into the very pits of the kingdom of the Weremen.
From the remains of the other children, she eventually discovers herself, and we along with her.
If I had any critiques to make, is that the novel has several sections where I felt it could have been the thrilling end to any fantasy novel, only to discover that I had 40% remaining on my e-reader's progress bar. These would have made equally amazing novellas, or two fantastic novels.
This is a charming read that would satisfy any fantasy lover and thrill them to their fingertips. Madeline Claire Franklin is absolutely a new rising star of fantasy.
June 19, 2016
The Poppet & The Lune was amazing in many ways.
First and foremost the characterization of both Elizabeth and Faolin was brilliant. Especially Elizabeth's because I could always feel her inner turmoil and emotions as though they were my own. Moreover "watching" her emotional growth throughout the story made me care about her even more.
Elizabeth wasn't just a pretty magical creature she was a person who made mistakes, who had existential crisis, in short a genuine person. That's not to say I related to her but I understood her.
As for Faolin... I have mixed feelings about him. I think the way which he was characterized is understandable and executed in a good manner but I just found him distasteful and flat in my opinion. He had his shining moments but overall I liked the younger version of himself better than his older self.
Despite my nitpickings I think this story deserves more recognition.
First and foremost the characterization of both Elizabeth and Faolin was brilliant. Especially Elizabeth's because I could always feel her inner turmoil and emotions as though they were my own. Moreover "watching" her emotional growth throughout the story made me care about her even more.
Elizabeth wasn't just a pretty magical creature she was a person who made mistakes, who had existential crisis, in short a genuine person. That's not to say I related to her but I understood her.
As for Faolin... I have mixed feelings about him. I think the way which he was characterized is understandable and executed in a good manner but I just found him distasteful and flat in my opinion. He had his shining moments but overall I liked the younger version of himself better than his older self.
Despite my nitpickings I think this story deserves more recognition.
July 21, 2015
This epic fabrication created by Madeline Franklin took you back to those once upon a time days and inserted a new story about a young patch-work girl's journey to find her identity. With twists and turns, beasts and fairies, this story--albeit a bit long-- will have you listening intently to the end to learn the final piece that makes this patch-work girl whole.
I was impressed by Franklin's imagination and creation of new fairytales. It was well written and easy to follow.
Elizabeth Basalto narration was quite sing-song in its quality which I believe fit a story such as this. It was repetitive in its tonal variation but was easy to listen to. Her character voices were distinct which helped keep the story moving.
Overall I enjoyed this book.
This audiobook was given in exchange for an honest review.
I was impressed by Franklin's imagination and creation of new fairytales. It was well written and easy to follow.
Elizabeth Basalto narration was quite sing-song in its quality which I believe fit a story such as this. It was repetitive in its tonal variation but was easy to listen to. Her character voices were distinct which helped keep the story moving.
Overall I enjoyed this book.
This audiobook was given in exchange for an honest review.
February 29, 2016
The Poppet and the Lune is a sweetly-dark fairy-tale style of storytelling. It follows a girl who was created from the parts of dead children in a village accident. As she grows with the village, she starts to feel out of place, not sure what her purpose is, nor what her true name is supposed to be. She ventures out and becomes a companion with a wolf who changes into a man on the full moon.
It was a sweet story, full of moonlight and fantasy. Fun read for those who like fairy tale retellings but also want to read something completely new.
It was a sweet story, full of moonlight and fantasy. Fun read for those who like fairy tale retellings but also want to read something completely new.
February 23, 2016
I LOVED this book!It reminded me of Clive Barkers Abarat. Elizabeth Basalto did a wonderful job narrating!The Poppet was a girl,sewn together from remnants of a towns dead children.A town witch took pity on the townspeople and gave them a daughter to share.Things happened,the Poppet left in search of her worth and her name.She meets a wolf,who is not always a wolf.Of course there is a villain after them. A great story.I've recommended it to friends.
This audiobook was provided to me at no cost for a fair and honest review
This audiobook was provided to me at no cost for a fair and honest review
February 7, 2017
It waffles between a 3 and a 4. There are definitely parts of this that I really, really enjoyed, but there were clunky bits that reminded me too much of what I dislike about my own writing (womp womp).
Also, it is very heterosexual. And not even in like a 'ONLY STRAIGHT PEOPLE HERE, YEP' way, but in way that says it's unfathomable for there to be anything else. There is only heterosexuality, and there is only a gender binary, and bro I am so tired of that. I really, really am. So yeah. Gird yourself for that if you're thinking of reading it.
Also, it is very heterosexual. And not even in like a 'ONLY STRAIGHT PEOPLE HERE, YEP' way, but in way that says it's unfathomable for there to be anything else. There is only heterosexuality, and there is only a gender binary, and bro I am so tired of that. I really, really am. So yeah. Gird yourself for that if you're thinking of reading it.
July 13, 2011
This book is reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm fairytales, and the author has included a unique portrayal of the traditional myths and lore associated with such tales. I found the characters and setting of this story were both rich and unforgetable, and I became totally invested in the characters.
I actually read this book really quickly and it is definitly a recommendable read, I have already passed it on to my sister!
I actually read this book really quickly and it is definitly a recommendable read, I have already passed it on to my sister!
October 15, 2015
4.5
This felt like what the night garden was trying to do, but this time, it actually works.
There are many different parts of this story that could work as their own little story, but the author manages to tie them together successfully. The story has good pacing and a whimsy about it that usually would turn me away but in this case was done in a way that drew me in.
My only complaint is that the first section lagged a bit.
This felt like what the night garden was trying to do, but this time, it actually works.
There are many different parts of this story that could work as their own little story, but the author manages to tie them together successfully. The story has good pacing and a whimsy about it that usually would turn me away but in this case was done in a way that drew me in.
My only complaint is that the first section lagged a bit.
May 10, 2015
This is without a doubt one of the greatest books I have ever read. I loved it from beginning to end. It was a beautiful, magical story with great moral lessons and just all around amazingness. (Is that not a word? I don't even care.)
If I had my way, this story would become the next big animated fairy-tale hit of the century. I can't get over how great it is!!! Recommending to everyone for the rest of my life.
If I had my way, this story would become the next big animated fairy-tale hit of the century. I can't get over how great it is!!! Recommending to everyone for the rest of my life.
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