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The White Road of the Moon
Leigh Bardugo meets The Sixth Sense in this story of one girl's perilous journey to restore a lost order.
Imagine you live with your aunt, who hates you so much she's going to sell you into a dreadful apprenticeship. Imagine you run away before that can happen. Imagine that you can see ghosts—and talk with the dead. People like you are feared, even shunned.
Now imagine . . . the first people you encounter after your escape are a mysterious stranger and a ghost boy, who seem to need you desperately—though you don't understand who they are or exactly what they want you to do. So you set off on a treacherous journey, with only a ghost dog for company. And you find that what lies before you is a task so monumental that it could change the world.
Praise for Rachel Neumeier's The Keeper of the Mist:
"This is a beautifully written story that emphasizes intelligence and diplomacy. Recommend to fans of Patricia Wrede...
Imagine you live with your aunt, who hates you so much she's going to sell you into a dreadful apprenticeship. Imagine you run away before that can happen. Imagine that you can see ghosts—and talk with the dead. People like you are feared, even shunned.
Now imagine . . . the first people you encounter after your escape are a mysterious stranger and a ghost boy, who seem to need you desperately—though you don't understand who they are or exactly what they want you to do. So you set off on a treacherous journey, with only a ghost dog for company. And you find that what lies before you is a task so monumental that it could change the world.
Praise for Rachel Neumeier's The Keeper of the Mist:
"This is a beautifully written story that emphasizes intelligence and diplomacy. Recommend to fans of Patricia Wrede...
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2017
18 people are currently reading
805 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Neumeier
56 books577 followersRachel Neumeier started writing fiction to relax when she was a graduate student and needed a hobby unrelated to her research. Prior to selling her first fantasy novel, she had published only a few articles in venues such as The American Journal of Botany. However, finding that her interests did not lie in research, Rachel left academia and began to let her hobbies take over her life instead.
She now raises and shows dogs, gardens, cooks, and occasionally finds time to read. She works part-time for a tutoring program, though she tutors far more students in Math and Chemistry than in English Composition.
She now raises and shows dogs, gardens, cooks, and occasionally finds time to read. She works part-time for a tutoring program, though she tutors far more students in Math and Chemistry than in English Composition.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 4, 2017
3.5 stars for this magical, imaginative YA fantasy. (Love that cover image!)
It has black-eyed witches, and white roads.
Also ghosts and something really cool called a "fire horse," a wild horse with tusks and clawed feet. This may sound like a spooky story, but it's really not. Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
In The White Road of the Moon (2017), a YA high fantasy filled with magic and ghosts, 15 year old orphaned Meridy lives in an isolated mountain village with her aunt and cousins, all of whom despise her (and the feeling is mutual). It’s partly because Meridy’s mother Kamay raised her with a love for books and old languages and stories, partly because Meridy is the daughter of a man her mother never named, who bequeathed Meridy her duskier skin and black eyes, and partly because Kamay had the audacity to die when Meridy was 11, leaving Aunt Tarana with the inconvenient obligation of raising Meridy. To make matters worse, Meridy’s black eyes are a sign of a witch, someone who can see ghosts and bind them to our world ― a magical ability that the practical-minded and suspicious Tarana detests.
So when Meridy’s aunt informs her that she’s to present herself to the village soapmaker under a binding apprenticeship contract the next day, Meridy runs away. After barely escaping trouble with brigands, she finds a wagon company of traveling merchants who are willing to let her travel along with them, and meets her first real friend, the merchants’ daughter Jaift, who has a few secret magical abilities of her own.
Meridy is also helped along on her trouble-fraught journey by a mysterious man who introduces himself only as Carad Mereth (“Storm Crow”) and a few ghosts, including a long-dead prince and a delightfully friendly and protective ghost dog. But as it turns out, they also need help from her, with a grave danger arising from the distant past that threatens their entire kingdom. And Meridy comes to realize that her differences, which have caused her so much pain and trouble in her life, may be a key to saving their land.
The White Road of the Moon is an imaginative, slow-building YA fantasy, appropriate for younger readers as well as older ones. There’s a well-thought out but initially somewhat murky and ponderous magical system, as Rachel Neumeier explains the rules that govern this world: The differences between witches, priests and sorcerers (whose powers may overlap). The ethereal world of dreams, magic and memories, which exists side by side with the real world, but in a separate dimension, accessed by those with magical powers. The nature of ghosts, the spirits of people and animals, who can not only linger in our world, but can temporarily be made semi-tangible ― a very useful trait when you need a sword-bearing ghost to fight enemies for you. And the legendary White Road of the Moon, part of the ethereal world, that leads ghosts away from our world to “the God” … when the ghosts are ready and able to go, which some aren’t, or can’t. It’s quite spiritual, in a general sense.
Neumeier also weaves in the loyal friendship that develops between Jaift and Meridy, choosing to focus on this relationship and other bonds of friendship and respect between the characters rather than romance. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the pervasive romance-oriented young adult fantasies. The plot also incorporates a well-integrated sense of history. Initially it seems rather extraneous to be told how, in ancient times, the witch-king Tai-Enchar betrayed the High King, resulting in the kingdom being shattered into conflicting principalities. But it builds an atmosphere of a land fallen from a time where deeds of prodigious magic were performed. And as Meridy and her friends learn more about the danger threatening both their land and themselves, what seemed to be only ancient history gains current significance, and she and her friends will have to make personal sacrifices to prevail against the forces of evil.
Neumeier’s The White Road of the Moon has a traditional, almost retro vibe, like her book The Keeper of the Mist. Both books reminded me distinctly of Robin McKinley‘s style of writing, in her more accessible stories. The pacing is somewhat deliberate, especially at first, but this coming-of-age tale builds to a satisfying and meaningful conclusion.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review. Thank you!
It has black-eyed witches, and white roads.
Also ghosts and something really cool called a "fire horse," a wild horse with tusks and clawed feet. This may sound like a spooky story, but it's really not. Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
In The White Road of the Moon (2017), a YA high fantasy filled with magic and ghosts, 15 year old orphaned Meridy lives in an isolated mountain village with her aunt and cousins, all of whom despise her (and the feeling is mutual). It’s partly because Meridy’s mother Kamay raised her with a love for books and old languages and stories, partly because Meridy is the daughter of a man her mother never named, who bequeathed Meridy her duskier skin and black eyes, and partly because Kamay had the audacity to die when Meridy was 11, leaving Aunt Tarana with the inconvenient obligation of raising Meridy. To make matters worse, Meridy’s black eyes are a sign of a witch, someone who can see ghosts and bind them to our world ― a magical ability that the practical-minded and suspicious Tarana detests.
So when Meridy’s aunt informs her that she’s to present herself to the village soapmaker under a binding apprenticeship contract the next day, Meridy runs away. After barely escaping trouble with brigands, she finds a wagon company of traveling merchants who are willing to let her travel along with them, and meets her first real friend, the merchants’ daughter Jaift, who has a few secret magical abilities of her own.
Meridy is also helped along on her trouble-fraught journey by a mysterious man who introduces himself only as Carad Mereth (“Storm Crow”) and a few ghosts, including a long-dead prince and a delightfully friendly and protective ghost dog. But as it turns out, they also need help from her, with a grave danger arising from the distant past that threatens their entire kingdom. And Meridy comes to realize that her differences, which have caused her so much pain and trouble in her life, may be a key to saving their land.
The White Road of the Moon is an imaginative, slow-building YA fantasy, appropriate for younger readers as well as older ones. There’s a well-thought out but initially somewhat murky and ponderous magical system, as Rachel Neumeier explains the rules that govern this world: The differences between witches, priests and sorcerers (whose powers may overlap). The ethereal world of dreams, magic and memories, which exists side by side with the real world, but in a separate dimension, accessed by those with magical powers. The nature of ghosts, the spirits of people and animals, who can not only linger in our world, but can temporarily be made semi-tangible ― a very useful trait when you need a sword-bearing ghost to fight enemies for you. And the legendary White Road of the Moon, part of the ethereal world, that leads ghosts away from our world to “the God” … when the ghosts are ready and able to go, which some aren’t, or can’t. It’s quite spiritual, in a general sense.
Neumeier also weaves in the loyal friendship that develops between Jaift and Meridy, choosing to focus on this relationship and other bonds of friendship and respect between the characters rather than romance. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the pervasive romance-oriented young adult fantasies. The plot also incorporates a well-integrated sense of history. Initially it seems rather extraneous to be told how, in ancient times, the witch-king Tai-Enchar betrayed the High King, resulting in the kingdom being shattered into conflicting principalities. But it builds an atmosphere of a land fallen from a time where deeds of prodigious magic were performed. And as Meridy and her friends learn more about the danger threatening both their land and themselves, what seemed to be only ancient history gains current significance, and she and her friends will have to make personal sacrifices to prevail against the forces of evil.
Neumeier’s The White Road of the Moon has a traditional, almost retro vibe, like her book The Keeper of the Mist. Both books reminded me distinctly of Robin McKinley‘s style of writing, in her more accessible stories. The pacing is somewhat deliberate, especially at first, but this coming-of-age tale builds to a satisfying and meaningful conclusion.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review. Thank you!
Read
August 11, 2016I don't normally comment about my own books here . . . but I just want to mention up front that The White Road of the Moon has no romance in it at all. None. Zilch.
It was going to, but that subplot got removed when the book started to grow out of control.
The central relationship in White Road is a friendship between two girls, who both . . . uh, no, never mind, spoilers would spill out all over the place if I finished that sentence.
Oh, and there's a dog. That's important. This is also the story of a girl and her dog.
There are ghosts, too. But not in a horror kind of way.
You can read an extract at http://www.rachelneumeier.com/books/
It was going to, but that subplot got removed when the book started to grow out of control.
The central relationship in White Road is a friendship between two girls, who both . . . uh, no, never mind, spoilers would spill out all over the place if I finished that sentence.
Oh, and there's a dog. That's important. This is also the story of a girl and her dog.
There are ghosts, too. But not in a horror kind of way.
You can read an extract at http://www.rachelneumeier.com/books/
January 7, 2023
The unique and original ideas in this novel were outstanding; the blend of magic, religion and memory was gorgeous. The author also knows how to describe the majesty and awe of the tolling of thousands of bells and the way the moon turns roads to white rivers. The prose was beautiful. Unfortunately, however, the story became choppy, tedious, and disjointed for the middle 175 pages. The beginning was fabulous and the ending was superb but the middle took me over a month to slog through. For that reason I hesitate to recommend this book overall but it absolutely had some outstanding moments.
April 16, 2017
Forget that ridiculous blurb: this is really like an Erin Bow mixed with The City in the Lake all grown up - elegant and strange and striking. The story is slow to start (and a little too predictable when Meridy first gets going), but the worldbuilding is fairly spectacular. The characters are distinct and human, sometimes frustratingly so. There are religious aspects, maybe slightly unfinished, but they add layers to your standard good vs. evil fantasy. There's probably a thesis to be written here, about the God and death, tethering people to life and letting them go, fighting evil with memory and history and reality. And it all builds to a crescendo with wonderful payoffs and real wins and losses and a perfectly fitting conclusion.
Here's a toast to standalone fantasies and unique kingdoms and female friendship. Cheers.
Note: there are a lot of typos in this. A lot. Fix that before the paperback, Penguin Random House.
Here's a toast to standalone fantasies and unique kingdoms and female friendship. Cheers.
Note: there are a lot of typos in this. A lot. Fix that before the paperback, Penguin Random House.
November 3, 2017
I enjoyed this so much. It felt so much like Neumeier's earlier works, but with more and it was fabulous. The world is complex and the reader has to figure it out as the story unfolds. I love it when an author trusts readers enough to that. The characters are all wonderful and layered. This is a great story of female friendship and I loved watching the girls fight together and for each other. I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves high fantasy with political intrigue and stories about amazing girls doing great things.
March 14, 2017
3.5 stars; but I rounded up.
Didn't start out very clearly; this is a wholly imagined world with complicated looking names. The author, in my opinion, did a poor job of introducing the reader to her world and what it's "rules" are. So the first 50 pages were rough.
However, once I got a firmer understanding of what the world and its characters were, it read smoothly from there. I feel this would make a good crossover book for adult fantasy readers as well. It's very complex, lots of characters, magic with rules of its own. Not a simple read by any means.
Didn't start out very clearly; this is a wholly imagined world with complicated looking names. The author, in my opinion, did a poor job of introducing the reader to her world and what it's "rules" are. So the first 50 pages were rough.
However, once I got a firmer understanding of what the world and its characters were, it read smoothly from there. I feel this would make a good crossover book for adult fantasy readers as well. It's very complex, lots of characters, magic with rules of its own. Not a simple read by any means.
July 30, 2017
If this book were starting in the north, where perhaps Meridy was an immigrant in a racist society, who decides to leave the town for better things, I would have let her desire to have blond hair and blue eyes a pass. But she's leaving a village where, sure, she's gotten a very good education (somehow despite her running into wealthier people who know little to nothing of the world they are living in) to go to the north where the big cities are. She's purposely going to a place where she will stand out, where it will probably be dangerous for her, because it's a glamorous place — it's the normal place.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...
December 8, 2024
3.5 rounded up. The writing in this was solid, and the set-up was great: young woman can see and hear ghosts (not un-heard of in this world), so she runs away from her unwelcoming village and Has Adventures. Lots of tropes executed well: coming into power, caravan travel, the ancient king of the undead trying to gain power. Female friendship.
I liked that Meridy was a young woman who kept going through force of courage, with young women making a lot of the decisions. The male power players were pretty mysterious and didn't give her much info, which meant that a lot of the plot of the book was a continuous frying-pan-to-fire situation. There was some sadness at the end, but I wasn't really sad- I never really got to care much for any of the characters besides the Very Good Dog, and I'm not even a dog person.
The magic system was cool, if a little vague in some parts. The actual White Road was a good device. The way that real and ethereal were always italicized like they weren't English words was a tiny bit trying. There was also a typo: nerve-racking. Overall the editing was excellent.
Neumeier is worth reading. But I think maybe I'll stick to her adult fantasy? I would have enjoyed this more as a middle-schooler, when I loved Susan Cooper.
I liked that Meridy was a young woman who kept going through force of courage, with young women making a lot of the decisions. The male power players were pretty mysterious and didn't give her much info, which meant that a lot of the plot of the book was a continuous frying-pan-to-fire situation. There was some sadness at the end, but I wasn't really sad- I never really got to care much for any of the characters besides the Very Good Dog, and I'm not even a dog person.
The magic system was cool, if a little vague in some parts. The actual White Road was a good device. The way that real and ethereal were always italicized like they weren't English words was a tiny bit trying. There was also a typo: nerve-racking. Overall the editing was excellent.
Neumeier is worth reading. But I think maybe I'll stick to her adult fantasy? I would have enjoyed this more as a middle-schooler, when I loved Susan Cooper.
March 6, 2017
I really liked this book! It felt almost like a throwback to the old school of YA fantasy novels -- early Garth Nix or Robin McKinley, maybe? -- and it was a lovely, refreshing break from the incessant obligatory love triangles. The energy and straightforwardness of a middle-grade book with the complex world-building of YA: a very nice combination. The ending gave just the right amount of closure. I think I'll hang onto my copy so I can keep an option open on rereading.
April 8, 2017
enjoyable and some likeable characters that sometime really got on my nerves! sometimes all that standing around and bickering, especially at times when it looked like that they really needed to do something, really made me want to shout at the whole lot. and i definitely didn't like the mc, at times, when she was just moaning and thinking i can't do this and don't want to do that. As usual great writing and very interesting world
May 20, 2017
Neumeier, Rachel The White Road of the Moon, 376 pages. Knopf (Random), 2017. $18. Language: PG (5 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (some blood).
When Meridy finds out that her aunt is about to force her into an apprenticeship, she decides that its time to leave her small mountain village. First she stops at her favorite alone a spot, a deserted village, populated by a series of ancient to old ghosts that only Meridy can see – and interact with. But a person suddenly appears, demanding Meridy’s help, and danger her ties her to the ghost of a bot, who seems to be very important, and a ghost dog, that is very valiant. Meridy’s quest will take her farther than she could have ever imagined, introduce her to people who have previously only been legends, and stretch her newfound talents in extraordinary ways.
Such a great year for new fantasy world-building! Add the is Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West and A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess and you have a power trilogy of books perfect for any fantasy reader! Bam!
MS, HS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
When Meridy finds out that her aunt is about to force her into an apprenticeship, she decides that its time to leave her small mountain village. First she stops at her favorite alone a spot, a deserted village, populated by a series of ancient to old ghosts that only Meridy can see – and interact with. But a person suddenly appears, demanding Meridy’s help, and danger her ties her to the ghost of a bot, who seems to be very important, and a ghost dog, that is very valiant. Meridy’s quest will take her farther than she could have ever imagined, introduce her to people who have previously only been legends, and stretch her newfound talents in extraordinary ways.
Such a great year for new fantasy world-building! Add the is Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West and A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess and you have a power trilogy of books perfect for any fantasy reader! Bam!
MS, HS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
October 20, 2021
I wanted to like this book, and the first few chapters—I did. But then, the pass dragged so slowly I actually almost gave up reading multiple times. I was also pretty confused by the end… the character development was a bit flat and Meridy didn’t seem to change.
I found myself reading just to finish it rather than out of enjoyment. The resolution to each and every plot point was anticlimatic in the sense that the problem was solved because someone just suddenly knew what to do; like all of a sudden Meridy knew how to wield magic she didn’t understand. Plus, the entire book Meridy is confused as to what’s going on, and so was I. If the main character doesn’t even know or understand what to expect or hope for (which she consistently says throughout in way too many “discussion” scenes) than it’s a far reach that the reader will.
The descriptions and world building were beautiful and I loved the scenery and culture that Rachel Neumeier created; but it felt like a first draft rather than a finished product in the end. A little disappointed but definitely enjoyed the landscape my imagination conjured from Neumeier’s descriptions.
I found myself reading just to finish it rather than out of enjoyment. The resolution to each and every plot point was anticlimatic in the sense that the problem was solved because someone just suddenly knew what to do; like all of a sudden Meridy knew how to wield magic she didn’t understand. Plus, the entire book Meridy is confused as to what’s going on, and so was I. If the main character doesn’t even know or understand what to expect or hope for (which she consistently says throughout in way too many “discussion” scenes) than it’s a far reach that the reader will.
The descriptions and world building were beautiful and I loved the scenery and culture that Rachel Neumeier created; but it felt like a first draft rather than a finished product in the end. A little disappointed but definitely enjoyed the landscape my imagination conjured from Neumeier’s descriptions.
June 22, 2018
This is the third Rachel Neumeier book that I've read and one thing that really impresses me about her writing is how she has managed to create such unique and well-rounded worlds for each of the novels I've read.
Unfortunately, though, I just didn't enjoy this one. I found it super hard to get into and nearly gave up on it half a dozen times. It wasn't just all the foreign names but that the pace seemed to drag - it felt like everyone was sitting around talking about things and trying to figure them out a lot of the time. If the plots of her other novels were nice clear lines, this one was like a curly telephone cord, looping back around in circles with repetition (or so it felt to me). The characterisation, the interesting world, and the occasional sudden impetus forward held this together for me but as a whole I just found it hard to read.
But I still look forward to reading the rest of her books - she is a really interesting author and I really enjoyed her other two books.
Unfortunately, though, I just didn't enjoy this one. I found it super hard to get into and nearly gave up on it half a dozen times. It wasn't just all the foreign names but that the pace seemed to drag - it felt like everyone was sitting around talking about things and trying to figure them out a lot of the time. If the plots of her other novels were nice clear lines, this one was like a curly telephone cord, looping back around in circles with repetition (or so it felt to me). The characterisation, the interesting world, and the occasional sudden impetus forward held this together for me but as a whole I just found it hard to read.
But I still look forward to reading the rest of her books - she is a really interesting author and I really enjoyed her other two books.
May 9, 2017
A lovely YA high fantasy standalone (yay! let's hear it for standalones). I'm beginning to trust Rachel Neumeier as a writer, even (or maybe especially) though none of her books has been much like the other. All, however, are quality writing with believable and likeable characters and textured world-building, and here the backstory is slowly revealed as the viewpoint character discovers things. This one really does have shades of Guy Gavriel Kay, in the heart-stopping moments of heroism and sacrifice, and a little Alan Garner - which is high praise. I don't intend to suggest that Neumeier's books are derivative in any way, just that she really nails the tone and gravity of high fantasy.
August 15, 2018
3.5 Stars.
A glance at the bibliography shows me that the only other book by the author I haven't absolutely loved was the other most recent Knopf book, so I kind of wonder how much has to do with their editorial process. Certain lines in this book (and the other) seem repetitive, for some reason. That ends up being a shock for me because the author typically has a beautiful way with words.
Otherwise, the story is interesting with many engaging characters. I liked the way Magic worked. I was not as fond of the ending.
A glance at the bibliography shows me that the only other book by the author I haven't absolutely loved was the other most recent Knopf book, so I kind of wonder how much has to do with their editorial process. Certain lines in this book (and the other) seem repetitive, for some reason. That ends up being a shock for me because the author typically has a beautiful way with words.
Otherwise, the story is interesting with many engaging characters. I liked the way Magic worked. I was not as fond of the ending.
August 25, 2019
In this stand-alone epic fantasy, fifteen-year-old orphan Meridy, an outcast because of her witchy black eyes and dark skin, runs away from her hateful Aunt Tarana, who plans to sell her as a laundry apprentice. She begins to understand her supernatural powers when she encounters a ghost boy, ghost wolfhound, and a mysterious injured stranger. Escaping from brigands, she joins a company of merchants traveling together for safety and makes friends with Jaift, a merchant’s daughter who also has magical gifts. With the help of Jaift—and a few ghostly and human friends she gathers along the way—Meridy discovers her witch’s power to change the future through righting the wrongs of the past as she steps into the realms of dreams. Embracing her gifts and heritage, she fights evil, helps defeat the Witch King, opens the White Road into the God’s realms, and witnesses the restoration of the rightful High King to the resurrected-from-the-sea city of Moran Diorr. Transformed from a helpless orphan into a respected sorceress, Meridy is now empowered to choose her future.
August 17, 2017
The White Road of the Moon focuses on Meridy—a young village girl shunned by her aunt for her black eyes and her ability to see ghosts. When Meridy’s aunt orders her to leave for a binding apprenticeship, she runs away. Escaping brigands and joining travelling merchants, Meridy finds a friend with Jaift, a young girl with magical gifts of her own. They become involved in the kingdom’s fight against evil magic pervading the royal family and try to understand their powers.
Rachel Neumeier crafts a traditional fantasy story. It bypasses the usual YA romance subplot for a deeper friendship between the characters. There is a good amount of time spent in explaining the mechanics of Meridy’s world of ghosts, dreams and the ethereal. The world building pays off, but this novel would be a tough read for a newcomer to fantasy. The pacing is slowed by in-depth retellings of ancient myths that eventually become relevant to the plot. Recommended for 7th grade and up.
Rachel Neumeier crafts a traditional fantasy story. It bypasses the usual YA romance subplot for a deeper friendship between the characters. There is a good amount of time spent in explaining the mechanics of Meridy’s world of ghosts, dreams and the ethereal. The world building pays off, but this novel would be a tough read for a newcomer to fantasy. The pacing is slowed by in-depth retellings of ancient myths that eventually become relevant to the plot. Recommended for 7th grade and up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2017
Once she realizes that her aunt has ill intentions toward her, Meridy decides to leave her home in Tikiy-by-the-Water, having no idea what her future holds. But at least her destiny will be in her hands. After meeting a mysterious stranger who disappears and a ghost boy and dog, she finds herself caught up in an ancient battle and discovers special talents that make her valuable to both sides of the conflict. She finds a fast friendship in Jaift, the daughter of some traders who allow her to travel along with them for a time and gets caught up in her role as an anchor for beings who have died but not yet crossed over. Harnessing her powers as a witch and using whatever earthly substance is nearby, she can make them appear almost real. Fantasy fans will enjoy this one, filled as it is with lots of action, adventure, and suspense, and a likeable protagonist who comes into her own powers even while others betray those they hold most dear.
June 25, 2018
This was a decent middle-grade/YA take on exceedingly traditional fantasy tropes (the Dark Sorcerer who destroyed the city of the High King in ages past is now rising again!) with some weird twists (half the supporting characters are ghosts, and a decent number more get killed and become ghosts; death/afterlife beliefs/religion are sketched in but not quite up to this aspect of the plotting), lovely descriptions of fantasy cities, and thankfully no romance for once. I think it’s one of the less good Neumeier novels I’ve read (and at this point I’ve read almost all of her standalones!), but solidly in the Shinn/McKinley wheelhouse.
July 13, 2020
Rounding up to 3 stars. I read this book in two days so it was definitely entertaining and very engrossing. I found the beginning pretty repetitive, like there was an outline of how the magic works and the book was trying to teach it to me without enough plot. I also didn't like the relationship with Aunt Tarana, which ended up not mattering at all, or the very forced distrust of Jaift. The way the plot comes together is very satisfying except that I wanted a better ending for Jaift. It felt a bit juvenile the way that some people were purely good and some purely malicious. The characters were fun and lovable. I would be excited to read other books by the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2017
I read The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco, which was very similar in the the world mythology of bone witches. This book was good but perhaps for a younger reader that does not want to get the darkness that Bone Witch seemed to exude.
This was an interesting exploration of a fantasy world that leads our main character Meridy on a fast passed adventure helping new friends and racing against the ultimate war with a dark entity. Meridy is courageous and spunky and a delightful witch.
The ending was good even though it seemed to wrap up loose ends a little too conveniently.
This was an interesting exploration of a fantasy world that leads our main character Meridy on a fast passed adventure helping new friends and racing against the ultimate war with a dark entity. Meridy is courageous and spunky and a delightful witch.
The ending was good even though it seemed to wrap up loose ends a little too conveniently.
June 8, 2022
This book took me way too long to read and my one recommendation for any perspective readers is to not take a 6 month break because each chapter is so action packed that taking a break makes it 10 times more difficult to finish. However it’s a very solid read, lots of beautiful world building. I just wish the magic was i guess simpler to understand, I never quite had a handle on the rose or the quick dead or binding (until the end).
March 14, 2023
This book had so much potential. The overall concept was amazing and just very unique. The type of magic seen in this book is more than just spell casting or blasting magical light from a wand or your hands. The beginning and ending were absolutely divine but the middle 15 or so chapters?😬 very repetitive and drawn out and therefore HARD to keep my attention. I couldn't decide on 2 or 3 stars🙃 but I went with the 3 because it really is a great story and the ghost dog steals the show
July 20, 2017
This was a charming read. There were some areas I felt needed some refinement, it was a little slow in the beginning (looking at other reviews, I guess I'm not the only one who thought that!)-- but overall, fun and magical. I loved that the focus of this book was on platonic relationships! It's a breath of fresh air in the genre.
August 26, 2019
This book is a marvelous book. It is a tale of friendships, romance, and just a bit of magic. You can time travel, make new friends and talk to ghosts. There is also some sorcery. Rachel wrote this book in the eyes of the character Meridy. Meridy can talk to ghosts, do magic, and even save the world. I recommend this book to you magical readers trying to find out who you are
June 3, 2017
It was great! A story of friendship and the choice to keep doing the right things that will help someone instead of the easy thing. Loved the imagery and the interaction with the ghosts are not creepy.
November 6, 2019
Interesting world. This is more epic than i was hoping for. I was looking to find a young woman grow out of ignorance. This was more...defeat evil and maybe save the world. Ghosts were the "magic" and some interesting characters were mixed in the battle against good vs evil.
November 26, 2023
This was an easy read but felt like it needed a little more depth to the characters. Fun… but I was hoping for more! It felt almost like it was just a surface telling of the big story. I wanted to love it but just ended up liking it.
March 26, 2017
Really liked the first half, but things were a little muddled throughout the rest. There was a nice wrap-up though, that gave an earned closure.
May 12, 2017
Good, but maybe because it was for a ya audience, it was slightly predictable, or maybe formulaic is the word I am looking for. Still enjoyable.
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