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The Radiant Road
Clare Macleod has lived all her life with an awareness of the Strange, tales of fairies and magic-making told to her by her mother who died years ago. No longer a child, Clare has learned to suppress the magic that haunted the corners of her life, to say the word “fairy” with the appropriate disbelief. But after years of living in America, Clare and her father are returning to Ireland, to the house Clare was born in—a house built into a hillside with an ancient tree for a wall. For Clare, the house is not only full of memories of her mother, but of the Strange and a mysterious boy with raven-dark hair and of dreamlike nights filled with stars and magic. In this place, magic—both bright and dark—will not sit quietly in a corner.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2016
27 people are currently reading
1653 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Catmull
4 books129 followersI'm a writer and actor in Austin, TX. I also sometimes write for the Austin Chronicle, act on stage in various Austin venues, and do voice work for games like DC Universe Online (Oracle) and Wizard 101 (Myrella Windspar).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
January 4, 2016
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life
I have mixed feelings about this book. Young adult fantasy with a fairies? I was ready to love it and I thought it started out really strong but everything started to fizzle out for me as the book progressed. I liked the overall story but I had a lot of trouble connecting with the writing style. I really wanted to see where things were going in the story but I found that I kept checking how much I had left to read like I was eager for it to be over.
Clare and her father return to their home in Ireland after spending the past several years in the United States. Clare was born in the house as were her ancestors on her mother's side of the family. The house is unique with open windows, dirt floors, and a huge yew tree growing in the center of the home. Clare's mother died before they left the country originally so it is just her and her father. She soon starts to rediscover all of the things that her mother had taught her about the strange and finds herself pulled into the world of the fae.
I was really sucked into the story as Clare started to piece everything together but as the plot really got moving I found that the writing style overpowered the story. There were some elements of the story that could have used a little more definition such as the totem and the balance between the human and fairy worlds. I found that I was often reading passages a second time trying to figure out what I had missed. I would have liked to dig a little deeper into the world of faerie to learn about their world and get to know some of the characters better. Some very interesting characters were introduced but then were quickly gone such as the beast and the girl from the yew tree.
I did really like the underlying connection between Clare and the yew tree. Clare did seem to accept her new reality very quickly and was more than willing to try to make things better. I never developed any kind of connection with Clare and never felt truly invested in the story. I was actually quite thrilled that this story did not have a focus on romance. The conclusion to the story was well done and I felt like everything was really wrapped up quite nicely.
I would recommend this book to fantasy fans looking for a book written in more poetic style. This is the first book by Katherine Catmull that I have had a chance to read but I would definitely be open to other works by this author.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Penguin Group - Dutton Books for Young Readers via First to Read for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Initial Thoughts
Meh. I didn't care for this book. I came really close to not finishing it but stayed with it until the end.
I have mixed feelings about this book. Young adult fantasy with a fairies? I was ready to love it and I thought it started out really strong but everything started to fizzle out for me as the book progressed. I liked the overall story but I had a lot of trouble connecting with the writing style. I really wanted to see where things were going in the story but I found that I kept checking how much I had left to read like I was eager for it to be over.
Clare and her father return to their home in Ireland after spending the past several years in the United States. Clare was born in the house as were her ancestors on her mother's side of the family. The house is unique with open windows, dirt floors, and a huge yew tree growing in the center of the home. Clare's mother died before they left the country originally so it is just her and her father. She soon starts to rediscover all of the things that her mother had taught her about the strange and finds herself pulled into the world of the fae.
I was really sucked into the story as Clare started to piece everything together but as the plot really got moving I found that the writing style overpowered the story. There were some elements of the story that could have used a little more definition such as the totem and the balance between the human and fairy worlds. I found that I was often reading passages a second time trying to figure out what I had missed. I would have liked to dig a little deeper into the world of faerie to learn about their world and get to know some of the characters better. Some very interesting characters were introduced but then were quickly gone such as the beast and the girl from the yew tree.
I did really like the underlying connection between Clare and the yew tree. Clare did seem to accept her new reality very quickly and was more than willing to try to make things better. I never developed any kind of connection with Clare and never felt truly invested in the story. I was actually quite thrilled that this story did not have a focus on romance. The conclusion to the story was well done and I felt like everything was really wrapped up quite nicely.
I would recommend this book to fantasy fans looking for a book written in more poetic style. This is the first book by Katherine Catmull that I have had a chance to read but I would definitely be open to other works by this author.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Penguin Group - Dutton Books for Young Readers via First to Read for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Initial Thoughts
Meh. I didn't care for this book. I came really close to not finishing it but stayed with it until the end.
March 26, 2016
Bleh.
One extra star for the lyrical writing and snippets of pretty good poetry. Otherwise, totally not worth my time.
I was drawn in by the first chapter and the prospect of an Irish fairytale-esque novel. It turned out to be a lot more, but not in a good way. Despite attempting to be "self aware", the book can't make up its mind what it is. A fairy tale? A horror story? A fantasy/adventure? A YA romance? Irish Inception? Eh, throw it all in for good measure.
That may sound cool, but in reality messes up the pace and gets very distracting. One minute she is fleeing from a totem board (which...wasn't that scary. Gotta admit, super confused by that thing) and then next she's wondering if she is in love with her childhood friend.
I should note that 85% of the writing was lyrical. Unfortunately, the main character opens her mouth. I have never read a book where a heroine jars so much away from the narration. I suppose she is supposed to "sound" like a 14 year old girl. Unfortunately, she is an idiot. She does everything she is not supposed to do and then fails at whatever it was. Every character, except maybe her Dad, gets ticked off with her...and rightly so!
That said, the fairies were MAJORLY bi-polar. Even the ones on her side. One minute they're all 'You have a great quest!' and the next it is 'You horrible human. Go die.' That didn't make any sense.
Though to be honest, I spent the last half of the book thinking...
In summary, a book with some potential that entirely fails to live up to the potential. Extremely dislikable characters. Pointless plot points. A lot of the drama could have been avoided if the heroine had used basic common sense.
April 7, 2016
I loved this. It's a gentle, fable-y, daydream of a book, with little bursts of nightmarishness for good measure, and the writing is gorgeous. Even the acknowledgements at the end are gorgeous. There are tons of quotable passages. Literally thumbing through the book at random will get you things like this:
Through the blackness they flew, Clare clinging hand and arm and leg, watching the night roar past from between Asterion's horns. They passed a flock of night geese whose bodies were one long, bent muscle. "Hello, birds," she shouted, a little crazily. "Isn't it weird, isn't it so strange, that one minute you're safe in your egg, and the next minute you're flying?"
Or this:
She rounded the corner of a half-fallen building and stopped. A half block away stood a tall, thin man in a tall black hat, face obscured by the dusk. In his cupped hands he held a red bird, a cardinal. As you can in dreams, Clare saw the bird far away and close up at the same time.
There are like nineteen other quotes I marked, but you get the picture.
And my very favorite part was of course the faeries, and all the cool imagery that comes with them, and the way they're incorporated into a modern-day, but still weirdly timeless Ireland. Love.
Through the blackness they flew, Clare clinging hand and arm and leg, watching the night roar past from between Asterion's horns. They passed a flock of night geese whose bodies were one long, bent muscle. "Hello, birds," she shouted, a little crazily. "Isn't it weird, isn't it so strange, that one minute you're safe in your egg, and the next minute you're flying?"
Or this:
She rounded the corner of a half-fallen building and stopped. A half block away stood a tall, thin man in a tall black hat, face obscured by the dusk. In his cupped hands he held a red bird, a cardinal. As you can in dreams, Clare saw the bird far away and close up at the same time.
There are like nineteen other quotes I marked, but you get the picture.
And my very favorite part was of course the faeries, and all the cool imagery that comes with them, and the way they're incorporated into a modern-day, but still weirdly timeless Ireland. Love.
September 26, 2017
It's just... a bit much.
I had a similar problem with the author's debut, Summer and Bird, though I hadn't at first realised they were by the same person. So close to being interesting and whimsical and lovely, but just crumbles into the bizarre and senseless instead. Not to mention the prose, so purple it's almost unreadable at times.
For example, a (very minor) character is introduced, namelessly, and described in lines such as:
"Those mountain-lake eyes turned down in amusement"
followed two lines down by
"The woman turned her ice-threaded eyes to Clare."
and preceded on the previous page by
"large, wide-set eyes that were the dark blue of a mountain lake threaded with ice."
Just in case we didn't quite get a full picture.
I would have been happy with "The woman looked at Clare." (I think the ice-threaded eyes were mentioned at least twice more, before the end.)
It all tries very much too hard and falls pretty flat as a result.
I had a similar problem with the author's debut, Summer and Bird, though I hadn't at first realised they were by the same person. So close to being interesting and whimsical and lovely, but just crumbles into the bizarre and senseless instead. Not to mention the prose, so purple it's almost unreadable at times.
For example, a (very minor) character is introduced, namelessly, and described in lines such as:
"Those mountain-lake eyes turned down in amusement"
followed two lines down by
"The woman turned her ice-threaded eyes to Clare."
and preceded on the previous page by
"large, wide-set eyes that were the dark blue of a mountain lake threaded with ice."
Just in case we didn't quite get a full picture.
I would have been happy with "The woman looked at Clare." (I think the ice-threaded eyes were mentioned at least twice more, before the end.)
It all tries very much too hard and falls pretty flat as a result.
December 29, 2019
pure poetry.
January 2, 2016
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A melodic, lush story overflowing with Irish folklore.
Opening Sentence: Clare was a strange girl, solitary and shy.
The Review:
Clare Macledod is not an ordinary girl. She grew up in a home within an immense yew tree, only one of the generations of girls to be born into the legacy. After the death of her mother, she and her father has traveled the globe, not putting down roots, not staying anywhere too long. But it’s time for them to return. Clare’s visions of the Strange, unexplainable fairy magic-makings, cannot be pushed aside any longer, and she must discover her heritage to defeat a dark foe that threatens more than her world.
This novel was written in a way that I almost can’t describe. I found the prose to be melodic, musical, absolutely gorgeous. I could compare it to Lainey Taylor’s style – an odd, haunting diction. I hadn’t read any of Catmull’s previous works before starting this novel, so I was altogether a blank slate, but I was impressed by how unique her writing style was. It weaves together all the elements of your regular YA fantasy, but somehow makes them more rich and lush than one could expect. The setting, the characters, the symbols, all were eclectic and odd and beautiful.
Clare was the main character of this novel, and I adored her from the ways she differed from the cookie-cutter YA heroine. Despite the magic and the fae that crowded the pages of this novel, Clare and her companions seemed incredibly realistic and altogether relatable. She has doubts, she has flaws, she makes mistakes – some much worse than others. But she picks up, she moves on, she grows. Watching her develop was a lot of fun. After all, she started by trying to reject the Strange, but by the end of the story she has embraced and used it.
To be honest, I thought that Clare’s development and the characters overshadowed the main plotline at times, which I actually wasn’t bothered by. The antagonist, Balor, was introduced pretty much off the bat, and as terrifying as he was written to seem, I often got lost in Clare’s learning of the fae world and forgot what was really at stake. It was sometimes hard to truly grasp certain concepts of this story – the totem, the making, the beasts – but you learn to just roll with it. If you don’t think about it too hard than everything makes perfect sense.
Altogether, I think this novel was breathtaking and a lot of fun to read. Every time I read a book, I will mark pages that I think have particularly meaningful or well-done passages for the “notable scene” in the review. Usually I end up with one or two at most, but this novel was so crowded with bookmarks that in the end I just chose one at random. I liked how the romance of this book didn’t overcome the plot or the development: truth be told, it was a very minor part of the story. My only minor complaint was I thought Balor could have been given couple more sides to his character, or more attention to his backstory. Nevertheless, all the characters were interesting and complex, and the plotline itself was entirely its own, which can be hard to find in novels these days. Lovers of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I encourage you to give this one a try.
Notable Scene:
As she slept, the rain swirled protectively around this gate, and the stones cradled her close to the earth. She never knew that the portentous wind had said “your enemy comes” or that the rushing rain had saved her. She never knew how less than a thousand yards away, Balor had stood in a muddy field, rain pouring down the back of his neck, cursing; how he had turned back. Clare was pursued, but the world bent itself to foil her pursuer.
FTC Advisory: Dutton Books for Young Readers/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Radiant Road. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A melodic, lush story overflowing with Irish folklore.
Opening Sentence: Clare was a strange girl, solitary and shy.
The Review:
Clare Macledod is not an ordinary girl. She grew up in a home within an immense yew tree, only one of the generations of girls to be born into the legacy. After the death of her mother, she and her father has traveled the globe, not putting down roots, not staying anywhere too long. But it’s time for them to return. Clare’s visions of the Strange, unexplainable fairy magic-makings, cannot be pushed aside any longer, and she must discover her heritage to defeat a dark foe that threatens more than her world.
This novel was written in a way that I almost can’t describe. I found the prose to be melodic, musical, absolutely gorgeous. I could compare it to Lainey Taylor’s style – an odd, haunting diction. I hadn’t read any of Catmull’s previous works before starting this novel, so I was altogether a blank slate, but I was impressed by how unique her writing style was. It weaves together all the elements of your regular YA fantasy, but somehow makes them more rich and lush than one could expect. The setting, the characters, the symbols, all were eclectic and odd and beautiful.
Clare was the main character of this novel, and I adored her from the ways she differed from the cookie-cutter YA heroine. Despite the magic and the fae that crowded the pages of this novel, Clare and her companions seemed incredibly realistic and altogether relatable. She has doubts, she has flaws, she makes mistakes – some much worse than others. But she picks up, she moves on, she grows. Watching her develop was a lot of fun. After all, she started by trying to reject the Strange, but by the end of the story she has embraced and used it.
To be honest, I thought that Clare’s development and the characters overshadowed the main plotline at times, which I actually wasn’t bothered by. The antagonist, Balor, was introduced pretty much off the bat, and as terrifying as he was written to seem, I often got lost in Clare’s learning of the fae world and forgot what was really at stake. It was sometimes hard to truly grasp certain concepts of this story – the totem, the making, the beasts – but you learn to just roll with it. If you don’t think about it too hard than everything makes perfect sense.
Altogether, I think this novel was breathtaking and a lot of fun to read. Every time I read a book, I will mark pages that I think have particularly meaningful or well-done passages for the “notable scene” in the review. Usually I end up with one or two at most, but this novel was so crowded with bookmarks that in the end I just chose one at random. I liked how the romance of this book didn’t overcome the plot or the development: truth be told, it was a very minor part of the story. My only minor complaint was I thought Balor could have been given couple more sides to his character, or more attention to his backstory. Nevertheless, all the characters were interesting and complex, and the plotline itself was entirely its own, which can be hard to find in novels these days. Lovers of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I encourage you to give this one a try.
Notable Scene:
As she slept, the rain swirled protectively around this gate, and the stones cradled her close to the earth. She never knew that the portentous wind had said “your enemy comes” or that the rushing rain had saved her. She never knew how less than a thousand yards away, Balor had stood in a muddy field, rain pouring down the back of his neck, cursing; how he had turned back. Clare was pursued, but the world bent itself to foil her pursuer.
FTC Advisory: Dutton Books for Young Readers/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Radiant Road. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
April 4, 2024
I loved this. I feel like if I found this in my teens I would have died over it! Such beautiful prose and an enchantingly written story!
dnf
January 15, 2016Pages read: 12
One of the reasons I swiftly DNF books is if the writing style and I immediately clash, and that's what happened here. Catmull's going for a poetic sort of style, and this one just isn't working for me. I'm very hit or miss, and this was a swing and a miss. Like, I see what she's going for, but it's just not working. I'm bored and generally stylistic issues like this don't get better.
One of the reasons I swiftly DNF books is if the writing style and I immediately clash, and that's what happened here. Catmull's going for a poetic sort of style, and this one just isn't working for me. I'm very hit or miss, and this was a swing and a miss. Like, I see what she's going for, but it's just not working. I'm bored and generally stylistic issues like this don't get better.
March 16, 2016
Honestly, I still can't tell you exactly how I felt about this book! There were things I really liked about it (particularly the poetry and imagery that went into describing the more magical aspects of the story), things that were alright (the characters) and things that I found a little off-putting (the pace). It's definitely not a book for everyone though, that's for sure. It's the type of read meant for a specific sort of reader.
February 5, 2016
I have a fondness for stories that take place in Ireland. It is a place that I wish to some day visit. So until I can actually make it there, I like visiting through books.
This book didn't disappoint me whatsoever. While I read it, I could imagine the beautiful scenery. I wanted to live in Clare's underground one giant room house where one wall is comprised entirely of a giant ancient tree. I could imagine myself standing in the rolling green fields watching the ocean waves crashing against the shore.
In short, the imagery for The Radiant Road was very well done.
The Radiant Road is a fairytale. It took me a while to realize that though. At first I just thought that the narrative was a little strange to read. Then at some point it clicked. It is supposed to be reading as if there is a storyteller making (reading the story will make that term make sense to you!) a story and sharing it with you. Even though I was very used to the narrative by the time I came to this realization, the realization increased my appreciation and understanding of this story. I mean, I don't know about you, but for me a weird narrator can make it hard for me to really get into a book.
So you might be wondering at this point what The Radiant Road is actually about. And, my friends, that is a difficult question to answer. However, in short, it is about Clare MacLeod, who is the protector of the tree - a piece of the Strange as she calls it. This is hard for her to swallow, as she has been running from the Strange all her life. It has made her different and an outcast as her father and her have moved around.
There is a whole lot more to the story, but I really want you to read it, to experience it how I got to. I don't want to ruin the storytellers making by giving too much of it away.
Overall, I found this story beautiful. It made me want to create and make. It also made me wish I could travel to the land of Faerie.
This review is based on an ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
This book didn't disappoint me whatsoever. While I read it, I could imagine the beautiful scenery. I wanted to live in Clare's underground one giant room house where one wall is comprised entirely of a giant ancient tree. I could imagine myself standing in the rolling green fields watching the ocean waves crashing against the shore.
In short, the imagery for The Radiant Road was very well done.
The Radiant Road is a fairytale. It took me a while to realize that though. At first I just thought that the narrative was a little strange to read. Then at some point it clicked. It is supposed to be reading as if there is a storyteller making (reading the story will make that term make sense to you!) a story and sharing it with you. Even though I was very used to the narrative by the time I came to this realization, the realization increased my appreciation and understanding of this story. I mean, I don't know about you, but for me a weird narrator can make it hard for me to really get into a book.
So you might be wondering at this point what The Radiant Road is actually about. And, my friends, that is a difficult question to answer. However, in short, it is about Clare MacLeod, who is the protector of the tree - a piece of the Strange as she calls it. This is hard for her to swallow, as she has been running from the Strange all her life. It has made her different and an outcast as her father and her have moved around.
There is a whole lot more to the story, but I really want you to read it, to experience it how I got to. I don't want to ruin the storytellers making by giving too much of it away.
Overall, I found this story beautiful. It made me want to create and make. It also made me wish I could travel to the land of Faerie.
This review is based on an ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
Want to read
January 13, 2016DNF. This really makes me sad because I was so excited to love this one, but I just couldn't get into the writing style. It's extremely different for me and not something I ultimately enjoyed.
April 4, 2018
The writing in this was beautiful. It felt like a true fairy tale. It was dark but there was always a glimmer of hope throughout the story. I would read more by Katherine Catmull because of her writing style. On the other hand, I felt this story is just kind of forgettable. There was nothing to make the characters stand out and I've already forgotten most of the plot. If you're looking for a quick read that has gorgeous writing I would recommend this, but if you're looking for a book about Fae that's going to grip you or a story that will stay with you for a long time then I would look elsewhere.
January 13, 2016
Fourteen year old Clare Macleod and her father return to Ireland and their home with a tree for a wall, after years of being away. Returning home brings back memories of Clare’s dead mother and a dark-haired boy from Clare’s dreams. Clare finds that the dark haired boy is very real and is so the fairy magic of her childhood. Soon, Clare is swept away into the brilliant but dangerous world of the Strange and must save it and her own world.
Katherine Catmull’s The Radiant Road is just that, radiant...and divinely so! This is the first real fantasy, in a long time, that has captivated and bewitched me so utterly and completely. With melodic, lush language, that made me feel all sparkly and fluttery, Catmull’s words and descriptions seem to dance. Combining that dazzling language with imaginative creations, Irish folklore, and a dash of pure magic, Catmull creates a rich, engrossing world, that is both enchanting and darkly whimsical. Clare’s home, nestled into a hill, and with it’s tree-as-a-wall, makes for such a cozy, peaceful homebase for both Clare and readers. And the world of the Strange (fairies) is a delicious mix of sparkle, shivers, and Wonderland like madness. Catmull does a superb job of crafting a stunning and spellbindingly atmospheric story.
But The Radiant Road isn’t just pretty words and fanciful creations, it has heart, multi-faceted relationships, intense action, and engaging characters. I just love sweet, thoughtful, feisty Clare and witty, brave, endearing Finn (the dark haired boy). I found them relatable, charming, and beautifully complex.
my final thoughts: The Radiant Road is a gorgeous, mesmerizing book full of spectacular storytelling, enthralling world-building, and unforgettable characters. In the world of fantasy, this book shines bright and luminous!
Katherine Catmull’s The Radiant Road is just that, radiant...and divinely so! This is the first real fantasy, in a long time, that has captivated and bewitched me so utterly and completely. With melodic, lush language, that made me feel all sparkly and fluttery, Catmull’s words and descriptions seem to dance. Combining that dazzling language with imaginative creations, Irish folklore, and a dash of pure magic, Catmull creates a rich, engrossing world, that is both enchanting and darkly whimsical. Clare’s home, nestled into a hill, and with it’s tree-as-a-wall, makes for such a cozy, peaceful homebase for both Clare and readers. And the world of the Strange (fairies) is a delicious mix of sparkle, shivers, and Wonderland like madness. Catmull does a superb job of crafting a stunning and spellbindingly atmospheric story.
But The Radiant Road isn’t just pretty words and fanciful creations, it has heart, multi-faceted relationships, intense action, and engaging characters. I just love sweet, thoughtful, feisty Clare and witty, brave, endearing Finn (the dark haired boy). I found them relatable, charming, and beautifully complex.
my final thoughts: The Radiant Road is a gorgeous, mesmerizing book full of spectacular storytelling, enthralling world-building, and unforgettable characters. In the world of fantasy, this book shines bright and luminous!
June 4, 2016
Clare, who has mostly grown up in the U.S., comes with her Scottish father to live in her late mother's house in Ireland, which is set into a hill with an ancient yew tree embedded in its wall. She has long been familiar with what she thinks of as "the strange," and as she finds a way into the tree and meets up with a boy named Finn, she begins to realize that the strange feeling is fairy work.
Personally, my skepticism goes way up when fairies come into a story, not because I believe less in fairies than I do in wizards and dragons, but because fairy stories can become precious so quickly. But Catmull created in Clare a very real girl, one who is stubborn, observant, self-aware, and both fearful and brave. It is sometimes hard to have a character do stupid things and not have the reader feel exasperated, but Clare's mistakes feel real and so do her responses to them.
I listened to this, and the reader did a good job of distinguishing Irish, Scottish, Irish-American, and even fairy accents. The one thing that distracted me was that she gave the evil character a sort of cackling voice when he is described repeatedly as having a low or deep voice. But overall, both reader and book were very good. I especially enjoyed the poetry sprinkled throughout, and I very much loved the theme of the importance of making in life and the world.
Personally, my skepticism goes way up when fairies come into a story, not because I believe less in fairies than I do in wizards and dragons, but because fairy stories can become precious so quickly. But Catmull created in Clare a very real girl, one who is stubborn, observant, self-aware, and both fearful and brave. It is sometimes hard to have a character do stupid things and not have the reader feel exasperated, but Clare's mistakes feel real and so do her responses to them.
I listened to this, and the reader did a good job of distinguishing Irish, Scottish, Irish-American, and even fairy accents. The one thing that distracted me was that she gave the evil character a sort of cackling voice when he is described repeatedly as having a low or deep voice. But overall, both reader and book were very good. I especially enjoyed the poetry sprinkled throughout, and I very much loved the theme of the importance of making in life and the world.
April 2, 2016
I ABSOLUTELY hate the cover art for this book -
The face looks disjointed, and the woodgrain on the girls face makes my skin crawl. If this novel hadn't been so heavily hyped I probably would have disregarded it on its looks alone.
I want to be clear that Katherine Catmull has a beautifully whimsical writing technique, but everything in this book felt unfocused and muddled together.
The beginning felt uninspired.
The middle was interesting.
But the end was so unbearably confusing and weird.
Overall the novel felt unfinished.
The face looks disjointed, and the woodgrain on the girls face makes my skin crawl. If this novel hadn't been so heavily hyped I probably would have disregarded it on its looks alone.
I want to be clear that Katherine Catmull has a beautifully whimsical writing technique, but everything in this book felt unfocused and muddled together.
The beginning felt uninspired.
The middle was interesting.
But the end was so unbearably confusing and weird.
Overall the novel felt unfinished.
June 20, 2016
I am going to go with a 3.5, this started off strong, but started to lose me at the end. Interesting story and concept.
February 11, 2016
This book just dabbled too much in magic realism and not enough in fantasy and fae for me to enjoy the story or characters.
August 30, 2019
This was... okay.
I picked it up because the cover gave off a witchy vibe, but actually it's more of a Moorchild-type fae story. That should be a good thing, but this book just seems like it's trying too hard. Ooh, the lyricism! Ooh, the poetry!
There's just something off about this story. It's overdone where it needs to be understated, and feels very young reader despite being YA. I really want to like it for what it is, but I can see the mark it was aiming for, and it definitely missed.
I picked it up because the cover gave off a witchy vibe, but actually it's more of a Moorchild-type fae story. That should be a good thing, but this book just seems like it's trying too hard. Ooh, the lyricism! Ooh, the poetry!
There's just something off about this story. It's overdone where it needs to be understated, and feels very young reader despite being YA. I really want to like it for what it is, but I can see the mark it was aiming for, and it definitely missed.
January 11, 2020
Lush, and utterly atmospheric!
January 20, 2016
For my full review and interview with the author, please check out www.thebooksbuzz.com!
**I received this book as an ARC from Penguin Random House. Any of my thoughts are honest and not based on this fact**
Katherine Catmull's writing is unlike any other author's on the YA market. Her eloquent writing and attention to detail sets the stage for a dark and spine-chilling read. Be prepared to travel back in time to your childhood, when fairies (*cough cough* the tooth fairy) and the monsters under your bed existed.
Catmull's storytelling and writing style is probably the major shining factor to this book. What some of the story line and characters lacked, the metaphorical writing style and imagery made up for. I was always drawn to the words and adjectives the author used to build her world and express its uniqueness, and yet at the same time it was somewhat overwhelming. It felt like she was trying too hard to make you fall in love with her words rather than the story itself. Some sentences even end up being too cryptic to decipher that you find yourself going back to reread said sentence.
I was extremely surprised by the lack of romance. In the synopsis there is mention of a male figure and most of us would assume- due to the fact that this book is classified under YA- that there would be some romantic relationship weaving this story together. It was an unexpected delight and didn't bother me much, although I do miss the typical YA romance.
One thing I do want to point out was the setting of this story. Clare moves back to her old home in Ireland. If you've ever searched up Ireland on Google Images, you'll believe me when I say that Ireland is beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, it makes number 2 on my list of places I must visit before I die (number 1 being Bora Bora). Katherine Catmull did an exceptional job at capturing the beauty and intricate landscapes of Ireland. I was breathing Ireland. I was walking in Ireland as I was reading this book! It was also a nice touch to add the presence of fairies and evil spirits in such a picturesque setting. I would read this book from the beginning to just recapture her imagery on the scenic views and the serene feeling of simply breathing the air of green hills and blue skies.
You could also sense the light and the darkness to the story (i.e. the fairies and the evil spirits). There is such a contrast in her writing when she's switching between the scenes of the fairies' magic and Balor, the evil spirit who is after something that Clare has. Balor is sinister and everything I would imagine the author wants her spiteful characters to be like. I felt no personal attachment to the characters in the book and wasn't really concerned with what would happen to them after the conclusion of the book.
A refreshing dip into the world of dark fantasy YA stories. The story behind Clare's life is, for a lack of a better word, strange. It's more a story that writes itself as more surprises come into play. I don't see myself buying other works by this author but it's definitely something all fantasy lovers should try!
**I received this book as an ARC from Penguin Random House. Any of my thoughts are honest and not based on this fact**
Katherine Catmull's writing is unlike any other author's on the YA market. Her eloquent writing and attention to detail sets the stage for a dark and spine-chilling read. Be prepared to travel back in time to your childhood, when fairies (*cough cough* the tooth fairy) and the monsters under your bed existed.
Catmull's storytelling and writing style is probably the major shining factor to this book. What some of the story line and characters lacked, the metaphorical writing style and imagery made up for. I was always drawn to the words and adjectives the author used to build her world and express its uniqueness, and yet at the same time it was somewhat overwhelming. It felt like she was trying too hard to make you fall in love with her words rather than the story itself. Some sentences even end up being too cryptic to decipher that you find yourself going back to reread said sentence.
I was extremely surprised by the lack of romance. In the synopsis there is mention of a male figure and most of us would assume- due to the fact that this book is classified under YA- that there would be some romantic relationship weaving this story together. It was an unexpected delight and didn't bother me much, although I do miss the typical YA romance.
One thing I do want to point out was the setting of this story. Clare moves back to her old home in Ireland. If you've ever searched up Ireland on Google Images, you'll believe me when I say that Ireland is beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, it makes number 2 on my list of places I must visit before I die (number 1 being Bora Bora). Katherine Catmull did an exceptional job at capturing the beauty and intricate landscapes of Ireland. I was breathing Ireland. I was walking in Ireland as I was reading this book! It was also a nice touch to add the presence of fairies and evil spirits in such a picturesque setting. I would read this book from the beginning to just recapture her imagery on the scenic views and the serene feeling of simply breathing the air of green hills and blue skies.
You could also sense the light and the darkness to the story (i.e. the fairies and the evil spirits). There is such a contrast in her writing when she's switching between the scenes of the fairies' magic and Balor, the evil spirit who is after something that Clare has. Balor is sinister and everything I would imagine the author wants her spiteful characters to be like. I felt no personal attachment to the characters in the book and wasn't really concerned with what would happen to them after the conclusion of the book.
A refreshing dip into the world of dark fantasy YA stories. The story behind Clare's life is, for a lack of a better word, strange. It's more a story that writes itself as more surprises come into play. I don't see myself buying other works by this author but it's definitely something all fantasy lovers should try!
February 22, 2016
When Clare and her father move back to Ireland and the house that Clare was born in, Clare discovers memories of her dead mother that she had forgotten. Clare has always believed in the Strange, fairies and magic, makings that only she seems to notice in real life. Returned to her family home, Clare discovers that the Strange and fairies are real and have been in her life for some time. She remembers the powers of the yew tree that forms part of the house and serves as a gate to Timeless, the world of the fairies. She meets Finn again, a boy she has known since she was an infant. Now the two of them must figure out how to stop a threat to both the human world and Timeless, a threat that is coming for Clare’s family, her tree, and Finn personally.
Catmull’s writing is rich and beautiful. She creates a different world of fairy on the page, a world where yes there is danger and iciness, but there is also an important connection between humans and fae, one that if lost will change both worlds in a permanent and devastating way. Catmull’s writing unfolds at its own pace, sometimes languorous and almost dreamlike and other times rampaging and racing. It’s a book that dances and moves, circles and threatens, where things are not what they seem.
Catmull uses imagery and poetry to add even more richness to the book. Clare writes, reluctantly at first, and then more openly. Her poetry is fresh and lovely, offering a glimpse into a world that Clare herself has mostly forgotten. The book encourages each person to make things as they will, showing the importance of creativity to our lives and to the way we connect to our world.
An unusual and exceptionally gorgeous look at fairies and their world, this book is just right for teens who don’t mind a book that meanders a bit like a night in Timeless. Appropriate for ages 12-14.
Catmull’s writing is rich and beautiful. She creates a different world of fairy on the page, a world where yes there is danger and iciness, but there is also an important connection between humans and fae, one that if lost will change both worlds in a permanent and devastating way. Catmull’s writing unfolds at its own pace, sometimes languorous and almost dreamlike and other times rampaging and racing. It’s a book that dances and moves, circles and threatens, where things are not what they seem.
Catmull uses imagery and poetry to add even more richness to the book. Clare writes, reluctantly at first, and then more openly. Her poetry is fresh and lovely, offering a glimpse into a world that Clare herself has mostly forgotten. The book encourages each person to make things as they will, showing the importance of creativity to our lives and to the way we connect to our world.
An unusual and exceptionally gorgeous look at fairies and their world, this book is just right for teens who don’t mind a book that meanders a bit like a night in Timeless. Appropriate for ages 12-14.
April 5, 2019
This was really 3 1/2 stars for me - I really liked it, though it was a little uneven.
The main character was very well developed, but some of the rest needed a bit more.
Can't stand the cover image - they could have done so much better with all the vibrant images called up by this story (not least the one described in the title).
Who was the narrator? Because there was definitely a "teller" at times, but his/her link to the story wasn't clear. Still, it made it all seem even more like a tale handed down.
But enough complaining!
It was a novel, creative take on the fairy story, just different enough to stand out.The language was lush and poetic, and there were so many places where the truths and the feeling just resonated. The ideas of "the strange," tunnels/gates/lines, the act of dreaming/making, trees as makers, meeting your beast...just so many great concepts well played in this story. It is one I will want to reread.
For not at all the same kind of story, but one I would argue has a similar kind of poetic language, joy, and magic, check out Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block. And for the ultimate in poetic language and elegant, magical stories, check out anything by Patricia McKillip...
The main character was very well developed, but some of the rest needed a bit more.
Can't stand the cover image - they could have done so much better with all the vibrant images called up by this story (not least the one described in the title).
Who was the narrator? Because there was definitely a "teller" at times, but his/her link to the story wasn't clear. Still, it made it all seem even more like a tale handed down.
But enough complaining!
It was a novel, creative take on the fairy story, just different enough to stand out.The language was lush and poetic, and there were so many places where the truths and the feeling just resonated. The ideas of "the strange," tunnels/gates/lines, the act of dreaming/making, trees as makers, meeting your beast...just so many great concepts well played in this story. It is one I will want to reread.
For not at all the same kind of story, but one I would argue has a similar kind of poetic language, joy, and magic, check out Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block. And for the ultimate in poetic language and elegant, magical stories, check out anything by Patricia McKillip...
November 11, 2015
This is a very difficult book to review. Please note I read a galley, not a finished book.
Catmull's book is basically a fairy story, though they are called the Strange in her world. Her main character, Clare, learns she and the women of her family are the guardians of one of the fairy gates in Ireland. These gates allow the fairy access to the human world and vice versa. Clare soon discovers here is an evil fairy named Balor who wants to shut the gates forever, and it is up to her and her half fairy half human friend, Finn, to stop him.
I just didn't care for the style of Catmull's writing. It was trying too hard to be artsy and poetic without really filling me with a sense of wonderment. She used so much nature and ethereal sounding imagery, that a lot of the main plot points were muddled and lost. There was no natural flow to the story.
However, I did enjoy the book. Despite its flaws, I finished it in one sitting and found it a fast read.
Catmull's book is basically a fairy story, though they are called the Strange in her world. Her main character, Clare, learns she and the women of her family are the guardians of one of the fairy gates in Ireland. These gates allow the fairy access to the human world and vice versa. Clare soon discovers here is an evil fairy named Balor who wants to shut the gates forever, and it is up to her and her half fairy half human friend, Finn, to stop him.
I just didn't care for the style of Catmull's writing. It was trying too hard to be artsy and poetic without really filling me with a sense of wonderment. She used so much nature and ethereal sounding imagery, that a lot of the main plot points were muddled and lost. There was no natural flow to the story.
However, I did enjoy the book. Despite its flaws, I finished it in one sitting and found it a fast read.
July 26, 2016
Wow, I thought this was a very unique and amazing book. I thought the plot and characters were very well written. Once I got started it was hard to put down. I loved Clare as a main character. She was such a strong independent young heroin. I loved how this was a story about facing your fears and believing in magic and the inner power of dreaming. I love her friendship with Finn. Now I think I will read Katherine's other book Summer and Bird.
dnf
September 20, 2016DNF at page 166.
at first this reminded me a bit of THE HALLOWEEN TREE in that it had a story teller's quality to it. Like someone telling it to a room of children, not a writer penning words for a reader.
It didn't keep my interest though. Catmull did a wonderful job with the lyrical quality, and I wonder if this would appeal to me more in audio form for that reason.
at first this reminded me a bit of THE HALLOWEEN TREE in that it had a story teller's quality to it. Like someone telling it to a room of children, not a writer penning words for a reader.
It didn't keep my interest though. Catmull did a wonderful job with the lyrical quality, and I wonder if this would appeal to me more in audio form for that reason.
March 29, 2016
This book is absolutely AMAZING. I could not put it down, got plenty book-drunk on it as it lends itself well to daydreaming. I'm so sad to see it end (but I was satisfied with the ending) and I'll certainly be reading any future Katherine Catmull books! Lovely, lovely book. I hope my children will read it down the road.
August 7, 2017
Wow, what a gorgeous dream of a book. I don't usually read books about fairies, but I just couldn't resist the beautiful cover. The imagery, the poetry, the words were all so haunting. I understand why this book wouldn't be for everybody , but its one of those books that you feel was meant for you to read, at the right time and the right place.
February 4, 2019
Sigh. I went into this thinking it might turn out to be a 5-star book. It started so strong for me personally. It was delightfully eerie; references to the Strange right from the beginning had me hooked. Clare was a great MC. She was likable and real and had a good attitude; she didn't complain at all even though she and her dad kept moving around the globe. (Any other character who moves to a new place at the beginning of a book, or back to an old place in Clare's case, would normally be bitter and grumpy and it was really nice to see someone actually okay with where she was.)
I really enjoyed the setting, too. It was set in Ireland and it's so refreshing reading stories in other countries (especially one as lovely as Ireland).
Katherine Catmull's writing is truly lovely; she writes Clare's thoughts and dialogue in a way that is realistic but never felt awkward to me. Her descriptions and tone are fascinating and fit this story perfectly.
For maybe the first two thirds of the book or so, it was intriguing and a bit creepy and had all the promisings of a fantastic story. But toward the end it just honestly started getting too weird for me. I realized that when Clare started to slow-dance with a minotaur. It also felt like there was a LOT going on, at least to me. It just... took a very different turn from what I was expecting.
What I WAS expecting was more of a subtle fairy story. Yes, I was partway expecting classic fairies with wings and everything, but I was prepared for them to be different since this book wasn't exactly a strict fairytale. But I was really just disappointed with how the actual fairies turned out. Not because of WHAT they were (the whole beast concept was strange, but kind of cool), I just felt like I didn't get to really know anything about them, except for the fact that they each have a beast, a steed. And that subtle story I was hoping for turned out to be kind of a random mishmash of a bunch of magical elements and colorful history and it just felt a bit overwhelming.
Also... I didn't really like Finn. I hate saying that, because he could have been a much better character than I think he was. But I felt like he just unfair to Clare through most of the story, and never apologized for it even though she was just trying to do things right in an unfamiliar world and he was already used to it. And considering the whole story hinged on him and his family as well as Clare's, he really didn't do much.
The villain, Balor, was pretty good. He was despicable and had a creepy totem that followed Clare around. I didn't really feel like he had a huge part in the story, though, to be honest. He was remarkably absent through most of it.
So, all that being said, I did enjoy this book. It was still magical and eerie in parts and had a good MC. But the turns it started taking later on just weren't for me. I would still recommend it if you enjoy different takes on classic concepts such as fairies, or if you're just looking for a quick magical adventure.
I really enjoyed the setting, too. It was set in Ireland and it's so refreshing reading stories in other countries (especially one as lovely as Ireland).
Katherine Catmull's writing is truly lovely; she writes Clare's thoughts and dialogue in a way that is realistic but never felt awkward to me. Her descriptions and tone are fascinating and fit this story perfectly.
For maybe the first two thirds of the book or so, it was intriguing and a bit creepy and had all the promisings of a fantastic story. But toward the end it just honestly started getting too weird for me. I realized that when Clare started to slow-dance with a minotaur. It also felt like there was a LOT going on, at least to me. It just... took a very different turn from what I was expecting.
What I WAS expecting was more of a subtle fairy story. Yes, I was partway expecting classic fairies with wings and everything, but I was prepared for them to be different since this book wasn't exactly a strict fairytale. But I was really just disappointed with how the actual fairies turned out. Not because of WHAT they were (the whole beast concept was strange, but kind of cool), I just felt like I didn't get to really know anything about them, except for the fact that they each have a beast, a steed. And that subtle story I was hoping for turned out to be kind of a random mishmash of a bunch of magical elements and colorful history and it just felt a bit overwhelming.
Also... I didn't really like Finn. I hate saying that, because he could have been a much better character than I think he was. But I felt like he just unfair to Clare through most of the story, and never apologized for it even though she was just trying to do things right in an unfamiliar world and he was already used to it. And considering the whole story hinged on him and his family as well as Clare's, he really didn't do much.
The villain, Balor, was pretty good. He was despicable and had a creepy totem that followed Clare around. I didn't really feel like he had a huge part in the story, though, to be honest. He was remarkably absent through most of it.
So, all that being said, I did enjoy this book. It was still magical and eerie in parts and had a good MC. But the turns it started taking later on just weren't for me. I would still recommend it if you enjoy different takes on classic concepts such as fairies, or if you're just looking for a quick magical adventure.
November 5, 2017
So I couldn't bring myself to finish this. I was reading it via audiobook and the narrator was great, but the book itself just wasn't to my liking. The main reason was the because the characters were not created well. And they just seemed aloof, even in stressful situations. The main character (whose name I can't even remember. And I have been listening to it for a few weeks now) is just kinda ... ugh... dumb? And she has literally no backbone but shes "stubborn?" The book has described as stubborn on more than one occasion and I'm just like no. She is not stubborn she's a ditzy teenager doesn't seem to really absorb any information. She's just all feelings. Which is fine, I guess, but it creates a character that seems so aggravating.
The setting is no good either. The author gives enough to build a picture in your mind but it could use more to create the kind of fey magic thing she was going for. Instead she alternates between being super detailed to being vague. Then there is the plot.
I wasn't even half way through book and I got to the part where I was thinking, whelp guess it's almost over. But no! There were still like 5 hrs left in the book! So, in my opinion, with the way the story was moving I thought I was at the climax of the book. That was a kind of a let down and then I really didn't feel like reading it after that.
So, I guess my big issue with this book is it seems incomplete and not connected well enough. The characters need some brains, the setting needs consistency, and the plot needs to slow down and explain itself a little better.
Oh, just cuzzzz, I've tried reading another book by this author (a middle grade novel) and ran into the same problems. So, meh.
The setting is no good either. The author gives enough to build a picture in your mind but it could use more to create the kind of fey magic thing she was going for. Instead she alternates between being super detailed to being vague. Then there is the plot.
I wasn't even half way through book and I got to the part where I was thinking, whelp guess it's almost over. But no! There were still like 5 hrs left in the book! So, in my opinion, with the way the story was moving I thought I was at the climax of the book. That was a kind of a let down and then I really didn't feel like reading it after that.
So, I guess my big issue with this book is it seems incomplete and not connected well enough. The characters need some brains, the setting needs consistency, and the plot needs to slow down and explain itself a little better.
Oh, just cuzzzz, I've tried reading another book by this author (a middle grade novel) and ran into the same problems. So, meh.
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