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On the Isle of Sound and Wonder
Wild Mira knows the island better than anyone, and she knows the patterns of the sea and sky. She knows, too, that the storm that brings a shipwreck to her island's shores is not natural, but is summoned by her father's dark, strange powers.
On the return voyage from his sister’s wedding to a foreign noble, Prince Ferran’s airship crashes during a storm. Ferran’s father, uncle, and the rest of the royal party are all separated in the aftermath, scattered across a seemingly uninhabited island. What they don’t know is the storm was manufactured with magic - and the man who summoned it has been waiting to exact his revenge on them all for a long time.
On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a driving, fantastical, lyrical retelling of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest set in a world just adjacent of our own.
On the return voyage from his sister’s wedding to a foreign noble, Prince Ferran’s airship crashes during a storm. Ferran’s father, uncle, and the rest of the royal party are all separated in the aftermath, scattered across a seemingly uninhabited island. What they don’t know is the storm was manufactured with magic - and the man who summoned it has been waiting to exact his revenge on them all for a long time.
On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a driving, fantastical, lyrical retelling of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest set in a world just adjacent of our own.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2014
47 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Alyson Grauer
12 books53 followersI love RPGs and tabletop games of all kinds, tea, history (especially the English Renaissance, the Edwardian/Progressive era), costuming, Dr. Pepper, theme parks, and fresh notebooks.
My debut novel ON THE ISLE OF SOUND AND WONDER has been re-released by Shadesilk Press in January 2020. I have a handful of short stories in the wild (in podcast anthologies, print/ebook anthologies, RPG rulebooks, and more). I occasionally give voices to short stories, audiobooks, podcasts, and audio dramas. I teach dialect lessons for voice actors and tabletop gamers as well.
it me: www.dreamstobecome.com
twitter & instagram: @dreamstobecome
currently podcasting - Skyjacks: Courier's Call (as June Hymnal and audio editor)
https://skyjacks-couriers-call.simple...
previously podcasting - Warda
http://bit.ly/WardaPodcast
support: Patreon.com/WhimsyArtifice
My debut novel ON THE ISLE OF SOUND AND WONDER has been re-released by Shadesilk Press in January 2020. I have a handful of short stories in the wild (in podcast anthologies, print/ebook anthologies, RPG rulebooks, and more). I occasionally give voices to short stories, audiobooks, podcasts, and audio dramas. I teach dialect lessons for voice actors and tabletop gamers as well.
it me: www.dreamstobecome.com
twitter & instagram: @dreamstobecome
currently podcasting - Skyjacks: Courier's Call (as June Hymnal and audio editor)
https://skyjacks-couriers-call.simple...
previously podcasting - Warda
http://bit.ly/WardaPodcast
support: Patreon.com/WhimsyArtifice
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
January 11, 2020
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ARC provided by NetGalley, Shadesilk Press, and Alyson Grauer. All opinions are mine and freely given.
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"I'm too young--too posh--too poetic for this fate!"
01-10: 'On the Isle of Sound and Wonder' is a retelling of my favorite Shakespeare story, 'The Tempest.' When I first read the synopsis, I was both elated and terrified. Since most people in the media industry tend towards 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'Macbeth,' and so on.. it was great to see this particular play get some attention, but at the same time.. I was really concerned about the outcome.
I needn't have worried. Alyson Grauer's approach reverently held fast to the emotion within the original work, even bolstering it much of the time.. without cheaply mimicking the source work piece by piece. Honestly, it's so difficult to retell something like this. At least, in my point of view. An author has to hit just enough of the critical plot points, not to gut the story, without just simply transcribing it into modern scenes and calling it fresh. Her wording is at times, absolutely lyrical, in the most beautiful of ways.
"The clouds boiled before him, churning and folding in and out of themselves."
This novel is a testament to the capability of someone who seems to have a connection to the classic, yet is brilliantly creative enough to breathe whole new life into it. The names only vary slightly, making each character easy to recognize from the beginning, but the story she tells weaves in and out of the plotline we know and love. It touches on defining scenes here and there, while giving us alternate perspectives on what occurs and why.
Both the story and the characters in Alyson's retelling are so robust, that I felt as if I knew them. I wanted certain outcomes for each of them because I was invested so heavily, not a single character failed to matter. Some of those results I got and others I did not.
And I'm great with that. That's exactly how I feel it should be. I want a story to run me through a gamut of emotions. I want to be thrilled.. and I want to be devastated. She succeeded in accomplishing both.
"I suppose all children grow up to be orphans at some point in their lives."
I love this novel. Alyson Grauer is a force to be reckoned with.. and her pen.. just might wield lightning.. under the right circumstances..
-------------------------
01-07: At only 14% into the novel, I've barely broken the seal on this tale.. but ohhhh it's so good. Grauer is an eloquent writer. She's managed to invest me in every character I've really interacted with already.. but The Tempest is a tall order to me. *fingers crossed*
01-06: I'll be starting this one too. I'm excited and hopeful. It's about to be re-released through a new publisher on the 7th and while I enjoy Shakespeare as much as anyone, it's billed as a retelling of The Tempest.. which is absolutely my favorite work by him. ANNNNND.. there are supposed to be some steampunk aspects.. which I always find intriguing..
ARC provided by NetGalley, Shadesilk Press, and Alyson Grauer. All opinions are mine and freely given.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
"I'm too young--too posh--too poetic for this fate!"
01-10: 'On the Isle of Sound and Wonder' is a retelling of my favorite Shakespeare story, 'The Tempest.' When I first read the synopsis, I was both elated and terrified. Since most people in the media industry tend towards 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'Macbeth,' and so on.. it was great to see this particular play get some attention, but at the same time.. I was really concerned about the outcome.
I needn't have worried. Alyson Grauer's approach reverently held fast to the emotion within the original work, even bolstering it much of the time.. without cheaply mimicking the source work piece by piece. Honestly, it's so difficult to retell something like this. At least, in my point of view. An author has to hit just enough of the critical plot points, not to gut the story, without just simply transcribing it into modern scenes and calling it fresh. Her wording is at times, absolutely lyrical, in the most beautiful of ways.
"The clouds boiled before him, churning and folding in and out of themselves."
This novel is a testament to the capability of someone who seems to have a connection to the classic, yet is brilliantly creative enough to breathe whole new life into it. The names only vary slightly, making each character easy to recognize from the beginning, but the story she tells weaves in and out of the plotline we know and love. It touches on defining scenes here and there, while giving us alternate perspectives on what occurs and why.
Both the story and the characters in Alyson's retelling are so robust, that I felt as if I knew them. I wanted certain outcomes for each of them because I was invested so heavily, not a single character failed to matter. Some of those results I got and others I did not.
And I'm great with that. That's exactly how I feel it should be. I want a story to run me through a gamut of emotions. I want to be thrilled.. and I want to be devastated. She succeeded in accomplishing both.
"I suppose all children grow up to be orphans at some point in their lives."
I love this novel. Alyson Grauer is a force to be reckoned with.. and her pen.. just might wield lightning.. under the right circumstances..
-------------------------
01-07: At only 14% into the novel, I've barely broken the seal on this tale.. but ohhhh it's so good. Grauer is an eloquent writer. She's managed to invest me in every character I've really interacted with already.. but The Tempest is a tall order to me. *fingers crossed*
01-06: I'll be starting this one too. I'm excited and hopeful. It's about to be re-released through a new publisher on the 7th and while I enjoy Shakespeare as much as anyone, it's billed as a retelling of The Tempest.. which is absolutely my favorite work by him. ANNNNND.. there are supposed to be some steampunk aspects.. which I always find intriguing..
December 9, 2014
On the Isle of Sound and Wonder
Alyson Grauer
The debut novel by Alyson Grauer, On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is an invigorating retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest with a steampunk twist.
I am not a fan of steampunk, however, in recent times, I’ve read quite a few novels in the genre that have surprised me. On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is one of those books. It’s the writing and ingenuity. In the case of On the Isle of Sound and Wonder, it is also the storyline, the effectively implemented elements of steampunk, magic and a determined female protagonist which all had me at chapter one.
The story is simple. A dastardly father exiles himself and his daughter after the death of his beloved wife to an island far, far away. He learns the art of powerful magic and uses it to lure poor and unsuspecting victims to the island for his selfish and rather dangerous motivations. The remainder of the story depicts the struggle of Mira, our brave and spirited protagonist, who realizes her father’s ambitious plot and tries to stop him and help save those stranded on the island.
I enjoyed the well-established cast of characters. From the unloved prince Ferran to Gonzo, the mechanized adviser to the king, the devilish spirit Aurael and sad, deformed monster, Karaburan. Each character held an unique place in the story bringing melancholy and mischief to an already emotionally complex story.
Let’s talk about the writing. The writing is fluid, polished and well-paced. Grauer’s writing is adept and for a debut novelist her end product is impressive. Although, On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a retelling, it stands its ground. With a fiery and determined young heroine, a sad set of tragedies that shape and mold the story into something a bit heavier than I remember the Tempest by Shakespeare actually being and an ending that is well-deserved for Mira and Grauer’s cast and crew, the novel is a fantastic first from a talented writer.
There is something for everyone in On Isle of Sound of Wonder. Action-packed, entertaining storytelling, well-defined characters and machines, this is a story worth reading!
My rating: 5-stars!
Please visit The Author Visits for our reviews and giveaways!
Alyson Grauer
The debut novel by Alyson Grauer, On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is an invigorating retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest with a steampunk twist.
I am not a fan of steampunk, however, in recent times, I’ve read quite a few novels in the genre that have surprised me. On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is one of those books. It’s the writing and ingenuity. In the case of On the Isle of Sound and Wonder, it is also the storyline, the effectively implemented elements of steampunk, magic and a determined female protagonist which all had me at chapter one.
The story is simple. A dastardly father exiles himself and his daughter after the death of his beloved wife to an island far, far away. He learns the art of powerful magic and uses it to lure poor and unsuspecting victims to the island for his selfish and rather dangerous motivations. The remainder of the story depicts the struggle of Mira, our brave and spirited protagonist, who realizes her father’s ambitious plot and tries to stop him and help save those stranded on the island.
I enjoyed the well-established cast of characters. From the unloved prince Ferran to Gonzo, the mechanized adviser to the king, the devilish spirit Aurael and sad, deformed monster, Karaburan. Each character held an unique place in the story bringing melancholy and mischief to an already emotionally complex story.
Let’s talk about the writing. The writing is fluid, polished and well-paced. Grauer’s writing is adept and for a debut novelist her end product is impressive. Although, On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a retelling, it stands its ground. With a fiery and determined young heroine, a sad set of tragedies that shape and mold the story into something a bit heavier than I remember the Tempest by Shakespeare actually being and an ending that is well-deserved for Mira and Grauer’s cast and crew, the novel is a fantastic first from a talented writer.
There is something for everyone in On Isle of Sound of Wonder. Action-packed, entertaining storytelling, well-defined characters and machines, this is a story worth reading!
My rating: 5-stars!
Please visit The Author Visits for our reviews and giveaways!
March 28, 2020
Check out the full review up on my website: CLICK HERE
REVIEW :
DISCLAIMER : Thank you, Netgalley and Shadesilk Press for providing me with an ARC of On The Isle Of Sound And Wonder in exchange for an honest review.
I have read The Tempest, the abridged version of it in high school. I remember enjoying it at the time, but never picked up the entire play. I saw this title on Netgalley and when I read the synopsis I was really interested to know how a retelling will work for the play.
I really liked the story and how the author approached it. I wanted to see more of the world she built and how crazy the innovations and inventions were for the year the author set the story in. I liked how manipulative and cunning Aurael was. He is definitely up to no good. Mira was wild, efficient and confident and I loved her strength and courage. The monster was definitely the guy you will feel sorry for. He happens to get the brunt of all blame regardless of who has done the mistake. Dante is an interesting character. I wanted to see more of him as well. I wanted to know if he had the darkness in him from the very beginning or is it something he came by later on in his life. The witch, the Faerie King, Queen all had less time in the book. I would love to see more of their characters as well. I think the book is a great start for a new series, even though it is not a part of the series. It would be interesting to see more of these characters and more of their world being expanded on. I adored Gonzo and loved Karaburan and how naive and innocent he was. I don't remember all the details of The Tempest by Shakespeare, so I can't say how the retelling is in comparison to the original. However, I loved this book. I do have some questions and some doubts when it comes to certain events. I gave this book 4.5 stars. This was an enjoyable and engaging read. I definitely recommend checking it out.
REVIEW :
DISCLAIMER : Thank you, Netgalley and Shadesilk Press for providing me with an ARC of On The Isle Of Sound And Wonder in exchange for an honest review.
I have read The Tempest, the abridged version of it in high school. I remember enjoying it at the time, but never picked up the entire play. I saw this title on Netgalley and when I read the synopsis I was really interested to know how a retelling will work for the play.
I really liked the story and how the author approached it. I wanted to see more of the world she built and how crazy the innovations and inventions were for the year the author set the story in. I liked how manipulative and cunning Aurael was. He is definitely up to no good. Mira was wild, efficient and confident and I loved her strength and courage. The monster was definitely the guy you will feel sorry for. He happens to get the brunt of all blame regardless of who has done the mistake. Dante is an interesting character. I wanted to see more of him as well. I wanted to know if he had the darkness in him from the very beginning or is it something he came by later on in his life. The witch, the Faerie King, Queen all had less time in the book. I would love to see more of their characters as well. I think the book is a great start for a new series, even though it is not a part of the series. It would be interesting to see more of these characters and more of their world being expanded on. I adored Gonzo and loved Karaburan and how naive and innocent he was. I don't remember all the details of The Tempest by Shakespeare, so I can't say how the retelling is in comparison to the original. However, I loved this book. I do have some questions and some doubts when it comes to certain events. I gave this book 4.5 stars. This was an enjoyable and engaging read. I definitely recommend checking it out.
December 27, 2019
This was an amazing adventure! I loved every detail the author included in this story. When I had to put it down, I thought about it until I could pick it up again.
The writing is really immersive. The author really put a lot of detailed thought into the setting, characters, and storyline. She also writes in a descriptive way that really adds to the experience of reading this novel. I’ve read some books that have too many detailed descriptions and I become bored, this had just the right amount of perfect prose and the writing felt like a truly unique experience to read! I’ve never read anything like it to be honest.
I HIGHLY recommend you do yourself a favor and pick this novel up! It’s definitely one for fans of adventure, stream punk, mystery, fantasy, and humor. It’s also inclusive with LGBTQ+ representation. I LOVED THIS NOVEL AND IM SO SAD THERE ISN’T MORE!
The writing is really immersive. The author really put a lot of detailed thought into the setting, characters, and storyline. She also writes in a descriptive way that really adds to the experience of reading this novel. I’ve read some books that have too many detailed descriptions and I become bored, this had just the right amount of perfect prose and the writing felt like a truly unique experience to read! I’ve never read anything like it to be honest.
I HIGHLY recommend you do yourself a favor and pick this novel up! It’s definitely one for fans of adventure, stream punk, mystery, fantasy, and humor. It’s also inclusive with LGBTQ+ representation. I LOVED THIS NOVEL AND IM SO SAD THERE ISN’T MORE!
February 4, 2015
I will admit Steampunk intimidates me. I’m afraid of gadgetry and mechanization that is, basically, over my head. My imagination is so fanciful I need magic in my stories. So, I was slightly intimidated when I picked up On the Isle of Sound and Wonder. But I’m a sucker for covers and LOOK AT THE COVER!! I’m in AWE!
My fears quickly vanished. Grauer marries both magic and mechanics into an intelligent, well-crafted, seamless retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. I was immediately drawn into a vivid world of mysterious voodoo magic, flying airships, and intellectual automatons, who if I can say this, reminding me a lot of adorable Baymax.
In comparing the Shakespearean work, Grauer’s love and understanding of the original text shines through with her careful crafting and storytelling. There is more intensity with both relationships, depth of characters, and heightened danger among the island that cannot be translated to the stage. As a novel, the back stories of several characters can come to light, which I really enjoyed and kept the action and story moving. She didn’t veer so far from the play that you wouldn’t recognize it, but highlighted its potential, pleasing the Shakespearean connoisseur in me.
Grauer’s clever play with names, places, and features complement the original text. Mira (modern Miranda) proved a strong interpretation of a growing young woman facing the harsh island life, and is a valiant example of a sacrificial heroine any girl could aspire to.
I had the delightful pleasure of meeting Alyson Grauer at Salt City Steamfest last July and she is just as colorful and lively as her book. I loved... LOVED this book!
My fears quickly vanished. Grauer marries both magic and mechanics into an intelligent, well-crafted, seamless retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. I was immediately drawn into a vivid world of mysterious voodoo magic, flying airships, and intellectual automatons, who if I can say this, reminding me a lot of adorable Baymax.
In comparing the Shakespearean work, Grauer’s love and understanding of the original text shines through with her careful crafting and storytelling. There is more intensity with both relationships, depth of characters, and heightened danger among the island that cannot be translated to the stage. As a novel, the back stories of several characters can come to light, which I really enjoyed and kept the action and story moving. She didn’t veer so far from the play that you wouldn’t recognize it, but highlighted its potential, pleasing the Shakespearean connoisseur in me.
Grauer’s clever play with names, places, and features complement the original text. Mira (modern Miranda) proved a strong interpretation of a growing young woman facing the harsh island life, and is a valiant example of a sacrificial heroine any girl could aspire to.
I had the delightful pleasure of meeting Alyson Grauer at Salt City Steamfest last July and she is just as colorful and lively as her book. I loved... LOVED this book!
November 12, 2014
The story swept me along with the ease of a wave in a gale, the author’s skillful choreography of questions, revelations, and points of view holding me in thrall page after page. Perhaps it is in part a testament to Grauer’s love of theatre shining through that I felt (uncommonly for me) less like a reader and more like a wide-eyed spectator watching a play unfold on my imagination’s stage, complete with humorous scripting and fantastic special effects. I enjoyed moving back and forth between the ensemble cast – from the independent Mira, to the guileful elemental Aurael, to the piteous Karaburan, to the assorted castaways caught as pawns in a twisted magician’s plot. I may or may not have stayed up with my ARC of the book until three in the morning to find out how it all resolved.
You don’t have to be familiar with the Shakespearean work behind the novel to enjoy it, for this retelling stands tall on its own merits. And if you do happen to be a “Tempest” fan, I expect you’ll only find more to love.
You don’t have to be familiar with the Shakespearean work behind the novel to enjoy it, for this retelling stands tall on its own merits. And if you do happen to be a “Tempest” fan, I expect you’ll only find more to love.
Read
April 17, 2020This gorgeous cover isn't the only thing that's new about this novel - while it was first published in 2014, this new 2020 edition has an updated manuscript, restored 'cut' scenes, a smooch, and beautiful interior design from Shadesilk Press! I'm so thrilled with it and I'm happy that it's back out there in the world.
February 19, 2020
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a clever retelling of The Tempest. It follows all the original characters (with modified names) as they navigate the Island and each other.
The wonderful thing about this book is that it’s easy to enjoy regardless of the reader’s experience of Shakespeare. For someone who knows the original text very well, this novel is different enough that it’s still entertaining. For people who haven’t read or don’t remember the original, it’s highly enjoyable as its own story.
I will be honest here, I’m one of those people who don’t really remember much about the original version of the tempest. It’s been a long time since I’ve read it or seen it. I did remember it vaguely but not in details so I can't really speak for someone who knows the original so well. But even if I had remembered the story better, I believe. it's just different enough that it would’ve kept me on my toes any ways.
As it stands, I think it’s saying something for this book that it’s still so good on it’s own. It really drew me in. I was so completely engrossed that I just couldn't stop reading. Even though I already kinda knew what happened, I was constantly curious to see how Alison Grauer was going to put her own spin on it. And she always surprised me.
The plot is entertaining but it's the characters that really drive it. They are well written and believable for a modern day audience. Mira, who can probably be considered the protagonist (I say probably because there are lots of characters being followed around) is a wonderfully compelling mix of innocence and determination. Aurael is delightfully wicked, Karaburan is pitiful and sad. I could go on and on about every single one of them but I think you get it.
The only thing that bothered me is the barely modified city names. I found it so incredibly distracting and less clever than it intended to be. My view is that the Grauer should have either kept the original names or changed them completely.
This was only a minor annoyance though, and I did get mostly used to it. It gave me momentary frustration but it didn’t overshadow my enjoyment of the book.
Overall On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a highly engrossing, highly enjoyable, and well written book that I would recommend to anyone interested in Shakespeare and/or anyone who enjoy fantasy books.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
https://page-a-vu.wixsite.com/page-a-...
On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a clever retelling of The Tempest. It follows all the original characters (with modified names) as they navigate the Island and each other.
The wonderful thing about this book is that it’s easy to enjoy regardless of the reader’s experience of Shakespeare. For someone who knows the original text very well, this novel is different enough that it’s still entertaining. For people who haven’t read or don’t remember the original, it’s highly enjoyable as its own story.
I will be honest here, I’m one of those people who don’t really remember much about the original version of the tempest. It’s been a long time since I’ve read it or seen it. I did remember it vaguely but not in details so I can't really speak for someone who knows the original so well. But even if I had remembered the story better, I believe. it's just different enough that it would’ve kept me on my toes any ways.
As it stands, I think it’s saying something for this book that it’s still so good on it’s own. It really drew me in. I was so completely engrossed that I just couldn't stop reading. Even though I already kinda knew what happened, I was constantly curious to see how Alison Grauer was going to put her own spin on it. And she always surprised me.
The plot is entertaining but it's the characters that really drive it. They are well written and believable for a modern day audience. Mira, who can probably be considered the protagonist (I say probably because there are lots of characters being followed around) is a wonderfully compelling mix of innocence and determination. Aurael is delightfully wicked, Karaburan is pitiful and sad. I could go on and on about every single one of them but I think you get it.
The only thing that bothered me is the barely modified city names. I found it so incredibly distracting and less clever than it intended to be. My view is that the Grauer should have either kept the original names or changed them completely.
This was only a minor annoyance though, and I did get mostly used to it. It gave me momentary frustration but it didn’t overshadow my enjoyment of the book.
Overall On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a highly engrossing, highly enjoyable, and well written book that I would recommend to anyone interested in Shakespeare and/or anyone who enjoy fantasy books.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
https://page-a-vu.wixsite.com/page-a-...
January 2, 2020
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book when I started it. The Tempest was one of my favorite Shakespeare plays that I read during college, and I thoroughly enjoyed other adaptations of Shakespeare’s work.
Let’s start with the good: The character of Mira (Miranda) was given much more autonomy in this adaptation. She’s honestly the shining light of the book. Corvina (Sycorax) was also given a much more well-rounded back story. It feels like these are the characters that the author truly wanted to fixate on. I found myself looking for the passages where Corvina and Mira were featured. Those passages definitely held my interest more than the passages discussing the other. Unlike Miranda, Mira is a consistently passionate and inquisitive character. While Miranda demonstrates passion rarely throughout the play (the only two instances being where Caliban mentions her rape and she proposes to Ferdinand), Mira is introduced as a spitfire. She obviously disapproves of her father’s commands, and through her words and actions demonstrates her own individual desires throughout the play. Likewise, Corvina has little in common with Sycorax. She taught Dante (Prospero) magic, just as her counterpart tutored Prospero, but that is where the similarities end. Corvina is portrayed in such a way that to deny her sympathy would be a cruelty. Both the characters of Karaburan (Caliban) and Aurael (Ariel) are given more definitely characteristics. While The Tempest thrives on allowing the audience to decide who the true villains are, On the Isle of Sound and Wonder does not leave any moral ambiguities for the audience to parse out. This in itself doesn’t ruin a book, but it does make the book feel as though something is missing.
Onto the bad: For lack of a better word, the book is confusing . Billed as a a novel “set in a world adjacent to our own,” I found the setting confusing. I knew the ships talked about were airships as I had read the novel description, but it took multiple descriptions of the boat before I was entirely sure that there had not been a misprinting. Steampunk-esque descriptions of chests, flying ships, and metallic automatons are at odd with a main character who does not understand things such as bustles and corsets. I was so confused by the setting that I researched zeppelins to see when the first one had been invented, in case the author was trying to find an interesting way to describe now defunct pieces of technology.
Certain inconsistencies also caused me to question the novel. Mira has a pair of swimming goggles but no access to a knife. Wireless communication is mentioned in passing once, but never again. Technology assists for the convenience of the author without the restraints of a logical technological systems.
My biggest issue is that the novel does not seem to know what it is. It does not seem to be an adaptation; only the names and a few characteristics have been changed. There is nothing innovative about the majority of the novel. At certain points it seems as though a parody might be the right term, but the end of the novel destroys that theory. The setting is not different enough for the novel to be considered a restaging. At one point, I wondered if this whole thing was a joke to write slash fiction of Torsione (Antonio) and Bastiano (Sebastian). However, their brief interlude seemed entirely random. The language switches indiscriminately between modern English and Shakespearean English.
Overall, I didn’t hate the book. I finished the entire thing, though there were several points where I contemplated abandoning it. The ending itself earned the book an extra star. If you’re looking for an adaptation of The Tempest, you’ve already read Hagseed, and you’re decently familiar with the play, give this a try. The ending was good enough that I don’t regret pushing through the story. If you’re not a giant Shakespear fan, maybe pass on this one. I wouldn’t go out and buy it, and I’m certain there are numerous, more engaging adaptations you could read.
I really wanted to like this book when I started it. The Tempest was one of my favorite Shakespeare plays that I read during college, and I thoroughly enjoyed other adaptations of Shakespeare’s work.
Let’s start with the good: The character of Mira (Miranda) was given much more autonomy in this adaptation. She’s honestly the shining light of the book. Corvina (Sycorax) was also given a much more well-rounded back story. It feels like these are the characters that the author truly wanted to fixate on. I found myself looking for the passages where Corvina and Mira were featured. Those passages definitely held my interest more than the passages discussing the other. Unlike Miranda, Mira is a consistently passionate and inquisitive character. While Miranda demonstrates passion rarely throughout the play (the only two instances being where Caliban mentions her rape and she proposes to Ferdinand), Mira is introduced as a spitfire. She obviously disapproves of her father’s commands, and through her words and actions demonstrates her own individual desires throughout the play. Likewise, Corvina has little in common with Sycorax. She taught Dante (Prospero) magic, just as her counterpart tutored Prospero, but that is where the similarities end. Corvina is portrayed in such a way that to deny her sympathy would be a cruelty. Both the characters of Karaburan (Caliban) and Aurael (Ariel) are given more definitely characteristics. While The Tempest thrives on allowing the audience to decide who the true villains are, On the Isle of Sound and Wonder does not leave any moral ambiguities for the audience to parse out. This in itself doesn’t ruin a book, but it does make the book feel as though something is missing.
Onto the bad: For lack of a better word, the book is confusing . Billed as a a novel “set in a world adjacent to our own,” I found the setting confusing. I knew the ships talked about were airships as I had read the novel description, but it took multiple descriptions of the boat before I was entirely sure that there had not been a misprinting. Steampunk-esque descriptions of chests, flying ships, and metallic automatons are at odd with a main character who does not understand things such as bustles and corsets. I was so confused by the setting that I researched zeppelins to see when the first one had been invented, in case the author was trying to find an interesting way to describe now defunct pieces of technology.
Certain inconsistencies also caused me to question the novel. Mira has a pair of swimming goggles but no access to a knife. Wireless communication is mentioned in passing once, but never again. Technology assists for the convenience of the author without the restraints of a logical technological systems.
My biggest issue is that the novel does not seem to know what it is. It does not seem to be an adaptation; only the names and a few characteristics have been changed. There is nothing innovative about the majority of the novel. At certain points it seems as though a parody might be the right term, but the end of the novel destroys that theory. The setting is not different enough for the novel to be considered a restaging. At one point, I wondered if this whole thing was a joke to write slash fiction of Torsione (Antonio) and Bastiano (Sebastian). However, their brief interlude seemed entirely random. The language switches indiscriminately between modern English and Shakespearean English.
Overall, I didn’t hate the book. I finished the entire thing, though there were several points where I contemplated abandoning it. The ending itself earned the book an extra star. If you’re looking for an adaptation of The Tempest, you’ve already read Hagseed, and you’re decently familiar with the play, give this a try. The ending was good enough that I don’t regret pushing through the story. If you’re not a giant Shakespear fan, maybe pass on this one. I wouldn’t go out and buy it, and I’m certain there are numerous, more engaging adaptations you could read.
February 14, 2020
"How can I own something that flies and is free?"
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warnings: attempted rape, including a scene in the head of the intended rapist as he imagines himself forcing himself on the victim. (Both were non-descriptive, but they are still very obvious.)
This is marketed as a steampunk retelling of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'. I have no knowledge of 'The Tempest' but the plot sounded intriguing and for the first few chapters, I thought I was really going to enjoy this one. However, from that point, the only two emotions I felt while reading were confusion and discomfort. The plot feels rushed, yet nothing seems to happen. The characters all felt extremely empty, and, oftentimes, came off as caricatures of a stereotype. The setting is confusing, and the steampunk elements are all-but nonexistent. And while I believe the author's intentions must have been in the right place, the rep for mental illness and the female body were, in my opinion, both distasteful and potentially harmful.
The story had potential, and perhaps I would have felt differently about it had I known more about the original story but overall, it wasn't for me.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warnings: attempted rape, including a scene in the head of the intended rapist as he imagines himself forcing himself on the victim. (Both were non-descriptive, but they are still very obvious.)
This is marketed as a steampunk retelling of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'. I have no knowledge of 'The Tempest' but the plot sounded intriguing and for the first few chapters, I thought I was really going to enjoy this one. However, from that point, the only two emotions I felt while reading were confusion and discomfort. The plot feels rushed, yet nothing seems to happen. The characters all felt extremely empty, and, oftentimes, came off as caricatures of a stereotype. The setting is confusing, and the steampunk elements are all-but nonexistent. And while I believe the author's intentions must have been in the right place, the rep for mental illness and the female body were, in my opinion, both distasteful and potentially harmful.
The story had potential, and perhaps I would have felt differently about it had I known more about the original story but overall, it wasn't for me.
October 30, 2015
Alyson Grauer's On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a Shakespearean Fantasy Steampunk book based on an adaptation of one of my favorite works. I didn't realize it at first because I'm a terrible book blogger with an enormous backlist, and it took me far too long to get around to reading it. Embarassingly I was almost to the end of the first act before I twigged to the fact that it was an adaptation.
And that's a good thing. It's not a straight-up stage-to-prose conversion. Alyson is more skilled than that. She preserves just enough of the source material to create that sense of literary resonance, without preserving stage elements that wouldn't translate well to novel form.
It's really, really good. Don't be like me. Don't waste time not reading On the Isle of Sound and Wonder.
It's very well written, especially for a first novel, and well edited. I didn't come across any passages that read wrong enough to knock me out of the book, and ended up gorging on the whole thing in a single day.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.
And that's a good thing. It's not a straight-up stage-to-prose conversion. Alyson is more skilled than that. She preserves just enough of the source material to create that sense of literary resonance, without preserving stage elements that wouldn't translate well to novel form.
It's really, really good. Don't be like me. Don't waste time not reading On the Isle of Sound and Wonder.
It's very well written, especially for a first novel, and well edited. I didn't come across any passages that read wrong enough to knock me out of the book, and ended up gorging on the whole thing in a single day.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.
November 17, 2014
This is a book that has something for all audiences. There is action, adventure, peril, magic, love, loss, and a kiss of steampunk – just to keep things interesting. For those students of Shakespeare, this is a delightful romp through the classic story of The Tempest. The characters have been renamed and reimagined to appeal to today’s readers.
There are very few books that capture my attention where I find them hard to put down, this was one of them. Grauer has a knack for creating vibrant, well-developed characters that are a treat to read about. Everyone from the brooding magical Dante to the mechanical man Gonzo has an intriguing history where their motivations and desires feel natural in the development of the story. The story itself is well written with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting.
I loved Isle of Sound and Wonder and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
There are very few books that capture my attention where I find them hard to put down, this was one of them. Grauer has a knack for creating vibrant, well-developed characters that are a treat to read about. Everyone from the brooding magical Dante to the mechanical man Gonzo has an intriguing history where their motivations and desires feel natural in the development of the story. The story itself is well written with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting.
I loved Isle of Sound and Wonder and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 2, 2020
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.*
Interesting, well-written but at times hard to keep up with the storyline as it seemed a bit disoriented and jumbled in places. For me there was too much back and forth between the characters and took away from the story quite a bit. It was so back and forth that if it was less between character pov it would create less jumble.
While this book wasn't a huge hit for me I did love the story, Mira and the twists. It is a good book once you get into it and I think I will read it again in the future.
Interesting, well-written but at times hard to keep up with the storyline as it seemed a bit disoriented and jumbled in places. For me there was too much back and forth between the characters and took away from the story quite a bit. It was so back and forth that if it was less between character pov it would create less jumble.
While this book wasn't a huge hit for me I did love the story, Mira and the twists. It is a good book once you get into it and I think I will read it again in the future.
November 18, 2014
If you enjoy steampunk, you will enjoy this book. there is a bit of everything from action, to love , to tradjedy, with a bit of magic rolled into one.his book is bassed on "Tempest" by Shakespeare. Mira is the daughter of an exiled duke and she lives on a jungle island. She is a go getter, self sufficient, strong, no nonsense woman who is not afraid to get her hands dirty. All in all, this was an excelent book to escape into.
Read
January 2, 20203.5*
Ahhh! My first book review since I gave birth to a gorgeous little boy back in September. I had a troubled pregnancy, and reading took a backseat for basically 2019 in it's entirety. However, I'm back, it's the second day of the new year and I have finished my first book. I feel renewed! Rejuvenated! Ready to devour books again (usually after 8pm when the baby is well asleep). Being a mother will still take priority, of course, but I hope to get back into reading, even if that means less pressure on reviewing books/posting blog posts, etc. Thank you to those who welcome me back with open arms, and a happy new year to you all.
Anyway, you're not reading this review for me, you're reading it for the wonderment that is Alyson Grauer! So this book was originally published in 2014, but the kindle edition is published in just five days! And now I know that it's first publish was around six years ago , but I can totally see this becoming a series. And here's why:
Mira is a survivalist, and what she can't do for herself on the mystical island she is trapped on with her father - who was exiled from the kingdom of Neapolis - the island provides for her. Although she lives her life as removed from her father, a twisted sorcerer, as possible, she is suddenly woken by an unnatural storm one night and knows that her father is up to some nasty tricks. She investigates quickly, only to find that her father is shipwrecking a ship, which in itself isn't unusual, but this one is the closest to shore she has ever seen! She intervenes. And when the storm is cleared she sets about diving through the shrapnel of the shipwreck for any resources, and here she comes across the Prince Ferran, alive. Suddenly she is on a journey finding out where she truly came from, the reason for her father's exile, the secrets and curses that had plagued the island since her and her father's entrance, and she finds out once and for all what she is truly capable of.
If you're not hooked by my clumsy summary of the initial story, then this is what hooked me from the outset; On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is an enchanting and modern retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest.
And it truly is magical. The plot was a little complex, and admittedly it took to about halfway through reading the book to actually get me completely sucked in, as there seemed to be a lot of bases to cover, who was who, why they were doing what they were doing, etc. But that bodes well for anybody who loves a story that has it all; danger, love, monsters, humour, strong females, sensitive males, and a storyline to challenge the social norm.
Thank you to Net Galley and Shadesilk Press for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Ahhh! My first book review since I gave birth to a gorgeous little boy back in September. I had a troubled pregnancy, and reading took a backseat for basically 2019 in it's entirety. However, I'm back, it's the second day of the new year and I have finished my first book. I feel renewed! Rejuvenated! Ready to devour books again (usually after 8pm when the baby is well asleep). Being a mother will still take priority, of course, but I hope to get back into reading, even if that means less pressure on reviewing books/posting blog posts, etc. Thank you to those who welcome me back with open arms, and a happy new year to you all.
Anyway, you're not reading this review for me, you're reading it for the wonderment that is Alyson Grauer! So this book was originally published in 2014, but the kindle edition is published in just five days! And now I know that it's first publish was around six years ago , but I can totally see this becoming a series. And here's why:
Mira is a survivalist, and what she can't do for herself on the mystical island she is trapped on with her father - who was exiled from the kingdom of Neapolis - the island provides for her. Although she lives her life as removed from her father, a twisted sorcerer, as possible, she is suddenly woken by an unnatural storm one night and knows that her father is up to some nasty tricks. She investigates quickly, only to find that her father is shipwrecking a ship, which in itself isn't unusual, but this one is the closest to shore she has ever seen! She intervenes. And when the storm is cleared she sets about diving through the shrapnel of the shipwreck for any resources, and here she comes across the Prince Ferran, alive. Suddenly she is on a journey finding out where she truly came from, the reason for her father's exile, the secrets and curses that had plagued the island since her and her father's entrance, and she finds out once and for all what she is truly capable of.
If you're not hooked by my clumsy summary of the initial story, then this is what hooked me from the outset; On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is an enchanting and modern retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest.
And it truly is magical. The plot was a little complex, and admittedly it took to about halfway through reading the book to actually get me completely sucked in, as there seemed to be a lot of bases to cover, who was who, why they were doing what they were doing, etc. But that bodes well for anybody who loves a story that has it all; danger, love, monsters, humour, strong females, sensitive males, and a storyline to challenge the social norm.
Thank you to Net Galley and Shadesilk Press for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2020
On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a clever retelling of The Tempest. It follows all the original characters (with modified names) as they navigate the Island and each other.
The wonderful thing about this book is that it’s easy to enjoy regardless of the reader’s experience of Shakespeare. For someone who knows the original text very well, this novel is different enough that it’s still entertaining. For people who haven’t read or don’t remember the original, it’s highly enjoyable as its own story.
I will be honest here, I’m one of those people who don’t really remember much about the original version of the tempest. It’s been a long time since I’ve read it or seen it. I did remember it vaguely but not in details so I can't really speak for someone who knows the original so well. But even if I had remembered the story better, I believe. it's just different enough that it would’ve kept me on my toes any ways.
As it stands, I think it’s saying something for this book that it’s still so good on it’s own. It really drew me in. I was so completely engrossed that I just couldn't stop reading. Even though I already kinda knew what happened, I was constantly curious to see how Alison Grauer was going to put her own spin on it. And she always surprised me.
The plot is entertaining but it's the characters that really drive it. They are well written and believable for a modern day audience. Mira, who can probably be considered the protagonist (I say probably because there are lots of characters being followed around) is a wonderfully compelling mix of innocence and determination. Aurael is delightfully wicked, Karaburan is pitiful and sad. I could go on and on about every single one of them but I think you get it.
The only thing that bothered me is the barely modified city names. I found it so incredibly distracting and less clever than it intended to be. My view is that the Grauer should have either kept the original names or changed them completely.
This was only a minor annoyance though, and I did get mostly used to it. It gave me momentary frustration but it didn’t overshadow my enjoyment of the book.
Overall On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a highly engrossing, highly enjoyable, and well written book that I would recommend to anyone interested in Shakespeare and/or anyone who enjoy fantasy books.
The wonderful thing about this book is that it’s easy to enjoy regardless of the reader’s experience of Shakespeare. For someone who knows the original text very well, this novel is different enough that it’s still entertaining. For people who haven’t read or don’t remember the original, it’s highly enjoyable as its own story.
I will be honest here, I’m one of those people who don’t really remember much about the original version of the tempest. It’s been a long time since I’ve read it or seen it. I did remember it vaguely but not in details so I can't really speak for someone who knows the original so well. But even if I had remembered the story better, I believe. it's just different enough that it would’ve kept me on my toes any ways.
As it stands, I think it’s saying something for this book that it’s still so good on it’s own. It really drew me in. I was so completely engrossed that I just couldn't stop reading. Even though I already kinda knew what happened, I was constantly curious to see how Alison Grauer was going to put her own spin on it. And she always surprised me.
The plot is entertaining but it's the characters that really drive it. They are well written and believable for a modern day audience. Mira, who can probably be considered the protagonist (I say probably because there are lots of characters being followed around) is a wonderfully compelling mix of innocence and determination. Aurael is delightfully wicked, Karaburan is pitiful and sad. I could go on and on about every single one of them but I think you get it.
The only thing that bothered me is the barely modified city names. I found it so incredibly distracting and less clever than it intended to be. My view is that the Grauer should have either kept the original names or changed them completely.
This was only a minor annoyance though, and I did get mostly used to it. It gave me momentary frustration but it didn’t overshadow my enjoyment of the book.
Overall On the Isle of Sound and Wonder is a highly engrossing, highly enjoyable, and well written book that I would recommend to anyone interested in Shakespeare and/or anyone who enjoy fantasy books.
Read
July 8, 2020A retelling of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest set in a steampunk historical setting. When Mira witnesses her father conjuring a storm to bring his enemies on the shore of their small island, her loyalties are tested as she must choose between her father’s orders and what is right.
The overall story made the original play much more digestive through its narrative style. The author stuck true to the original material which made the reading experience lack that excitement of a new story and is probably the reason why I’ve put this down for quite a long time. The overall story felt as though the themes and characterisation you learn in an English class (if you studied The Tempest in school) were integrated into the characters to make them much more obvious. This is not necessarily a negative thing and I enjoyed being able to see the links of this book to the play.
What makes this retelling somewhat unique was the setting and the fact the Mira (Miranda) was not a complete damsel in distress. We got to see more of her independence and agency as opposed to the original. While the story is set on an island, the whole steampunk element was minimal and I would have appreciated if there was more page time to feature the world outside the island.
Overall, this was a fun story and having read The Tempest made the story much more entertaining.
The overall story made the original play much more digestive through its narrative style. The author stuck true to the original material which made the reading experience lack that excitement of a new story and is probably the reason why I’ve put this down for quite a long time. The overall story felt as though the themes and characterisation you learn in an English class (if you studied The Tempest in school) were integrated into the characters to make them much more obvious. This is not necessarily a negative thing and I enjoyed being able to see the links of this book to the play.
What makes this retelling somewhat unique was the setting and the fact the Mira (Miranda) was not a complete damsel in distress. We got to see more of her independence and agency as opposed to the original. While the story is set on an island, the whole steampunk element was minimal and I would have appreciated if there was more page time to feature the world outside the island.
Overall, this was a fun story and having read The Tempest made the story much more entertaining.
February 10, 2020
Full of imagination, Grauer's expansion of Shakespeare's Tempest allows a reader to dip from past to present with backstories that flesh out the unfolding tale on the titular island. Readers familiar with the source material will enjoy seeing new takes on a familiar story. The tale includes a blood sacrifice, a mechanical army, and a physical manifestation of evil that was a creepy and surprising delight in the final chapters. Readers might be well warned that sexual assault plays into two plot lines, though as with Shakespeare's tale, the story focuses on the relationships between the various pairings: parent/child, master/slave, lovers, and friends. It's the culmination of all these pairings that gives the book its heart and strength.
January 20, 2023
This story took a while to get into
As this is retelling it is not entirely surprising to find this slightly more difficult to read, yet I did find myself struggling more than usual.
The writing style is relatively easy to follow and the narrative straightforward. The characters are ... intriguing.
This story is an acquired taste and definitely not everyone's cup of tea. But for those who have an appetite for Shakespeare might find it quite enjoyable.
As this is retelling it is not entirely surprising to find this slightly more difficult to read, yet I did find myself struggling more than usual.
The writing style is relatively easy to follow and the narrative straightforward. The characters are ... intriguing.
This story is an acquired taste and definitely not everyone's cup of tea. But for those who have an appetite for Shakespeare might find it quite enjoyable.
Read
May 16, 202013/55 books read in 2020.
Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
full review to come soon.
Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
full review to come soon.
Want to read
August 25, 2021 I received an advanced digital copy of this book, courtesy of the author and publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
RTC
RTC
December 25, 2019
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
On the isle of sound and wonder is a retelling of William Shakespeare's The Tempest and it's brilliant and evocative.
Since Mira and her father Dante were shipwrecked on an island, they were forced to adapt themselves and live there, getting to know the flora, the fauna, reading, learning. When another ship, years later, shipwrecked on the island, Mira starts to realize her father is not what she thought he was, when he made the ship crash using his dark magic and scattering the survivors all over the place. This way, he starts his own revenge, using the plan he orcherstrate years before. The reader swings from past to present, getting to know more about Dante and his story, how he found himself on this island, who is his slave, Aurael, who is the monster in the island, Karuban, who was Mira's best friend when they were little. Told by multple POVs, the story is divided between past, present, Mira, Karuban and Aurael, and between the survivors, the prince Ferran, his uncle Bastiano and his friend Torsione,the fool Truffo and Stephen, the valet, Gonzo, the advisor, When Mira saved Ferran's life and then Gonzo's, they started to understand that the presence of the survivors on the island isn't accidental and to uncover misteries from the past.
This book is incredibly layered, full of complex characters with their own goals and desires. Set on a magical and misterirous island, with a stroke of steampunk (Gonzo is an automaton), the story is captivating and thrilling. The reader gets to know brave and resourceful Mira, curious and trapped into his role Ferran, afraid to be a disappointment to his father the King, Karuban, manipulated and played by Aureal, bitter and revengeful, who is, in turn, enslaved to the cruel Dante, who is using him to get his own revenge. There is Bastiano, the king's brother, who is in love with his friend Torsione (and viceversa), but didn't manage to tell him the truth until the island. Corvina is an interesting character, her own presence setting the story in motion and keeping it running until the end.
An important and recurring theme is the prison. Aureal is enslaved to Dante, and before punished by Ouberan. Ferran felt his own life as a prison, since he can't do what he wants, study what he wants, Karaburan is kept away from Mira and used both by Aurael and Dante. Dante himself is imprisoned by his own revenge and bitter past. Mira, even though she's trapped into the island, is free from the past and thoughts of revenge and punishment. They move on the island as pawns, until they decided, helped by Mira to break free.
It's a book about freedom, revenge, forgiveness, love and sorrow. The story is full of twists, interesting characters and beautifully written, really evocative.
On the isle of sound and wonder is a retelling of William Shakespeare's The Tempest and it's brilliant and evocative.
Since Mira and her father Dante were shipwrecked on an island, they were forced to adapt themselves and live there, getting to know the flora, the fauna, reading, learning. When another ship, years later, shipwrecked on the island, Mira starts to realize her father is not what she thought he was, when he made the ship crash using his dark magic and scattering the survivors all over the place. This way, he starts his own revenge, using the plan he orcherstrate years before. The reader swings from past to present, getting to know more about Dante and his story, how he found himself on this island, who is his slave, Aurael, who is the monster in the island, Karuban, who was Mira's best friend when they were little. Told by multple POVs, the story is divided between past, present, Mira, Karuban and Aurael, and between the survivors, the prince Ferran, his uncle Bastiano and his friend Torsione,the fool Truffo and Stephen, the valet, Gonzo, the advisor, When Mira saved Ferran's life and then Gonzo's, they started to understand that the presence of the survivors on the island isn't accidental and to uncover misteries from the past.
This book is incredibly layered, full of complex characters with their own goals and desires. Set on a magical and misterirous island, with a stroke of steampunk (Gonzo is an automaton), the story is captivating and thrilling. The reader gets to know brave and resourceful Mira, curious and trapped into his role Ferran, afraid to be a disappointment to his father the King, Karuban, manipulated and played by Aureal, bitter and revengeful, who is, in turn, enslaved to the cruel Dante, who is using him to get his own revenge. There is Bastiano, the king's brother, who is in love with his friend Torsione (and viceversa), but didn't manage to tell him the truth until the island. Corvina is an interesting character, her own presence setting the story in motion and keeping it running until the end.
An important and recurring theme is the prison. Aureal is enslaved to Dante, and before punished by Ouberan. Ferran felt his own life as a prison, since he can't do what he wants, study what he wants, Karaburan is kept away from Mira and used both by Aurael and Dante. Dante himself is imprisoned by his own revenge and bitter past. Mira, even though she's trapped into the island, is free from the past and thoughts of revenge and punishment. They move on the island as pawns, until they decided, helped by Mira to break free.
It's a book about freedom, revenge, forgiveness, love and sorrow. The story is full of twists, interesting characters and beautifully written, really evocative.
April 11, 2020
I read that this was a retelling of Shakespeare's "The Tempest". I still want to read the original play, so I thought I might understand it better if I read this retelling first, just so I understand the main points better. I do have to say that this book sadly did not convince me.
Let me start with the main character: Mira. She just wasn't my type of person, I did not like her and anything she did or said. She just had this constant "I am better than you" aura surrounding her. She put herself above Ferran (the prince) which I find was totally unnecessary, just because she might know the island better and because she's a woman and "oh so much better than him". Her misandric approach was just over the top.
The other characters were okay, might have just annoyed me at times but Mira was just the character that I disliked the most. The characters were nothing special, to put it that way.
The plot was also just okay, I found the rape and how it was retold totally unnecessary, you really could've left that part out of the story. The way it was executed and how the consequences fell together were just weird to read, I really do not know how else to put it. The writing style was just really not my type, it was very bland, had nothing special to it and quite straight to the point. Not really a use of many adjectives and little descriptions. The one thing I liked where the island-vibes that I got from the book. The water, the swimming, living on a deserted island in nature, and how idyllic it must be.
This book was more of a chore to read than that it was of any pleasure to me. The plot and the characters were just very boring and it just was not interesting. I really felt like this book had some real potential. but the execution of it just went wrong somewhere.
I do not recommend this book. and if you are looking for a retelling of "The Tempest" I would go looking for another book, because this book will sadly not cut it.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Let me start with the main character: Mira. She just wasn't my type of person, I did not like her and anything she did or said. She just had this constant "I am better than you" aura surrounding her. She put herself above Ferran (the prince) which I find was totally unnecessary, just because she might know the island better and because she's a woman and "oh so much better than him". Her misandric approach was just over the top.
The other characters were okay, might have just annoyed me at times but Mira was just the character that I disliked the most. The characters were nothing special, to put it that way.
The plot was also just okay, I found the rape and how it was retold totally unnecessary, you really could've left that part out of the story. The way it was executed and how the consequences fell together were just weird to read, I really do not know how else to put it. The writing style was just really not my type, it was very bland, had nothing special to it and quite straight to the point. Not really a use of many adjectives and little descriptions. The one thing I liked where the island-vibes that I got from the book. The water, the swimming, living on a deserted island in nature, and how idyllic it must be.
This book was more of a chore to read than that it was of any pleasure to me. The plot and the characters were just very boring and it just was not interesting. I really felt like this book had some real potential. but the execution of it just went wrong somewhere.
I do not recommend this book. and if you are looking for a retelling of "The Tempest" I would go looking for another book, because this book will sadly not cut it.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
November 20, 2014
I received an ARC of On The Isle of Sound and Wonder in exchange for an honest review.
The further I read, the more I liked this book. I'm not familiar with Shakespear's The Tempest, as it happens, but the human strengths and, particularly, weaknesses and ignorances in each character compacted with layers of schemes that start to unravel in the worst way is something Sound and Wonder shares unmistakably in common with the classic playwright's style. Aly's spin revolves around the shipwrecked crew of an airship, a neglected young girl, a magically deformed boy, a devious air spirit, a midwife witch, and a nobleman whose magical ambition plunges all of their lives into utter chaos.
The descriptions and voice Aly infuses into this story have a bright, delightful quality that really draws out the wonder of this alternate universe where automaton butlers and magical fays are not-so-quietly at work in the background of the drama. At the same time, the story possesses some dark, serious subject matter. The story becomes gut-wrenching as the connections between characters and their fates come together.
Very entertaining. Read it!
Also...isn't the cover art just amazing? If for no other reason, get yourself a copy of this book so you can stare at the gorgeous cover for a while.
The further I read, the more I liked this book. I'm not familiar with Shakespear's The Tempest, as it happens, but the human strengths and, particularly, weaknesses and ignorances in each character compacted with layers of schemes that start to unravel in the worst way is something Sound and Wonder shares unmistakably in common with the classic playwright's style. Aly's spin revolves around the shipwrecked crew of an airship, a neglected young girl, a magically deformed boy, a devious air spirit, a midwife witch, and a nobleman whose magical ambition plunges all of their lives into utter chaos.
The descriptions and voice Aly infuses into this story have a bright, delightful quality that really draws out the wonder of this alternate universe where automaton butlers and magical fays are not-so-quietly at work in the background of the drama. At the same time, the story possesses some dark, serious subject matter. The story becomes gut-wrenching as the connections between characters and their fates come together.
Very entertaining. Read it!
Also...isn't the cover art just amazing? If for no other reason, get yourself a copy of this book so you can stare at the gorgeous cover for a while.
February 6, 2020
"This is no ordinary storm."
Lost meets Shakespeare in On the Isle of Sound and Wonder and I greatly enjoyed it! I loved the author's take on Mira and Prince Ferran’s relationship and how she was treated as her own being, with an intricate backstory, skills and personality and I loved how unexpectedly creepy the story would get from time to time, those backstories gave me chills more often than not. I would have appreciated if the "villains" in this book had been given much more space and depth, their outlook was so captivating and interesting (embarassed to say I crushed on Aureal just a tiny little bit 👌) and I would have loved to explore them some more. Nonentheless, I really enjoyed reading this and it made me want to re-read its original!
📚 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2020: A book with more than 20 letters in its title
Lost meets Shakespeare in On the Isle of Sound and Wonder and I greatly enjoyed it! I loved the author's take on Mira and Prince Ferran’s relationship and how she was treated as her own being, with an intricate backstory, skills and personality and I loved how unexpectedly creepy the story would get from time to time, those backstories gave me chills more often than not. I would have appreciated if the "villains" in this book had been given much more space and depth, their outlook was so captivating and interesting (embarassed to say I crushed on Aureal just a tiny little bit 👌) and I would have loved to explore them some more. Nonentheless, I really enjoyed reading this and it made me want to re-read its original!
📚 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2020: A book with more than 20 letters in its title
November 22, 2014
This book was enchanting from the moment I started reading it. Each and every character was mesmerizing as we get lost on the Island of sound and wonder. I absolutely loved the world author Alyson Grauer conjured up for us. This book is one I can see letting my son read in just a few years. He will absolutely love the mystery adventure Alyson created.
The in-depth detail Alyson describes from start to finish was perfect. There were many times I could picture myself right along with Mira, Ferran, Dante and all the other characters.
My favorite character was Mira. This poor girl has been raised on an island with an overpowering and very dangerous father. The only friends Mira has ever has ever known are a monster who I absolutely adore and an air spirit. That is until her father crashes a ship on their coast.
This story is filled with many is filled with many fascinating character that are all interwoven together flawlessly by the author. More than once I was surprised by her surprises.
Exploring all the wonders with Mira and deciding what is right was just what I need for a weekend escape.
If you want a story you can get lost in this is the story for you.
The in-depth detail Alyson describes from start to finish was perfect. There were many times I could picture myself right along with Mira, Ferran, Dante and all the other characters.
My favorite character was Mira. This poor girl has been raised on an island with an overpowering and very dangerous father. The only friends Mira has ever has ever known are a monster who I absolutely adore and an air spirit. That is until her father crashes a ship on their coast.
This story is filled with many is filled with many fascinating character that are all interwoven together flawlessly by the author. More than once I was surprised by her surprises.
Exploring all the wonders with Mira and deciding what is right was just what I need for a weekend escape.
If you want a story you can get lost in this is the story for you.
January 19, 2018
This was a delightful ride--the magic was super fun without feeling intrusive or overbearing, and the story itself managed to be fresh while also definitely echoing back to what little of the original. I might have liked it more if I had more familiarity with the original play (lol I have zero knowledge and my brain is made of swiss cheese). I'm also pretty unfamiliar with steampunk as a genre of writing, but I love how the magic and tech intertwined here, and it felt like it supported the story rather than overwhelming it like I think people assume it will? Regardless, I really strongly encourage people to read this, especially if you have a greater love of The Tempest than I do.
March 24, 2015
I won a free copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book overall. It had a wide variety of unique characters, is a fantasy, and is a retelling of Shakespeare's "The Tempest," all of those things were just great. It was very well-written. Karaburan and Aureal were my favorites.
The only problem I had with it is that for a steampunk book, there was not enough steampunk. Sure, there were airships and a robot character, but I felt more as though it was just a general fantasy book that had a few steampunk things thrown in. I would have liked more. I also wasn't a fan of the renamed countries/cities, they were a bit too obvious and silly-sounding.
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book overall. It had a wide variety of unique characters, is a fantasy, and is a retelling of Shakespeare's "The Tempest," all of those things were just great. It was very well-written. Karaburan and Aureal were my favorites.
The only problem I had with it is that for a steampunk book, there was not enough steampunk. Sure, there were airships and a robot character, but I felt more as though it was just a general fantasy book that had a few steampunk things thrown in. I would have liked more. I also wasn't a fan of the renamed countries/cities, they were a bit too obvious and silly-sounding.
April 2, 2015
I won this book through the Goodreads giveaways. It is a spectacular book and I am pleased to be adding it to my bookshelf.
This is a book that could be enjoyed by a large audience. It is possibly a story more geared to the young adult audience, but can certainly charm a much older one with little effort at all. It has a touch of magic, a hint of mythology and even a little steampunk, through Gonzo, the metal companion to the prince.
I love the character development and the interpersonal storylines, even the ability to overcome the fear that surrounds much of the modern world through certain secrets told.
This is a marvelous book and I expect many great things from this author. I will be watching and waiting for more.
This is a book that could be enjoyed by a large audience. It is possibly a story more geared to the young adult audience, but can certainly charm a much older one with little effort at all. It has a touch of magic, a hint of mythology and even a little steampunk, through Gonzo, the metal companion to the prince.
I love the character development and the interpersonal storylines, even the ability to overcome the fear that surrounds much of the modern world through certain secrets told.
This is a marvelous book and I expect many great things from this author. I will be watching and waiting for more.
August 9, 2023
It's pitched as a steampunk Tempest, but the delivery was more of a low-tech rainstorm. While it was great to see a spunky, sassy Miranda (Mira) without the Shakespearean insta-love, she was a wee bit stuck in the Innocent Fanservice Girl trope. The story would have benefited from not adhering so closely to the original. The side stories of the secondary shipwrecked survivors really didn't add anything apart from the token gay, an occasional snippet of steampunkiness and diverted the attention away from some otherwise very cool characters. Mira, Prospero, Aureal and Karaburan, this should have been your story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
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