I am going to write this review for the entire series instead of writing a review for each one. This series will always be so close to my heart. I don't remember how or where I discovered it when I was younger (early teens probably) but I loved this series so much, I read the entire thing again not long after first reading it. Being so young it was my first taste of the Dystopian novel, and I was fascinated. Looking back, I am still awed by what an impact these books made in my life and in my own writing as an adult now. From this very first book, where we are introduced to this whole new world, it was just nothing like anything I had ever read...I have been reading many of the reviews on here, hoping to find other people who have read the series and felt the same about it. I have read many mixed reviews, and I think perhaps that is why I love this series so much - because it is not for everyone, it is so unique and different, almost to the point of being creepy, almost like you are watching the Twilight Zone, is how I can best describe it. It's like a giant mind-fu**. Being told in first person, in diary entries is really the best way to do this kind of story, it was done perfectly, it makes the reader feel like we are Claidi's secret friend, the reader feels like she is whispering in your ear all the crazy secrets of her world and you can't help being excited and facsinated, because her world is a million times crazier than ours. In her world, she is brought up in "The House" which is a fascinating concept in itself. A place that she is told, is literally THE ONLY habitable place left on this earth. Imagine that, imagine being told your whole life that this giant house you live in with all these rich, royal families, is the only place anyone lives, you are the only people, this is the whole universe, this one house. They tell them this, I believe, so that the servants - who are treated badly - will never attempt to escape, which is brilliant really. They are terrorized with stories about the outside world, that everything is poisonous, that there are wild animals that will kill you. The only safe place is The House. The end all be all. Then the golden haired stranger comes and proves everything Claidi has ever been told is a lie. These books reminded me of when I read, "A Wrinkle in Time." because for a lot of people, they are confusing because they are so different, and they can sometimes make the reader feel uneasy because of the creepy aspect. But it's so fascinating, and I cannot believe one woman could create such a world that seems so very real...it makes you feel as if such a place does exist somewhere, and it is scary as hell. The whole concept of the towers and the government where they roll DICE and pick random things for people to do if they are chosen? Just crazy shit!! But in our world things don't always make sense either, it's easy to relate to in that way...you read about their government and laws and you think, "well yeah, life is random like that. It's not so far fetched if you think about it..." This review probably made little sense, but basically I would recommend this book to everyone. It's amazing, I would even go as far as to say life changing because it makes you think, and it's something so very different from what you have ever or will ever read. Such an amazing world. I will be re reading this soon just so I can go back. Prince Venn is my dream man...always will be ;)
I was at the library a week ago and I saw this book, remembering that I had read a it couple years back, and decided to give it a try once again. SPOILER ALERT, READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK o.o I like the beginning, and how the author beautifully describes Nemian, the Prince who changes Claidi's seemingly doomed life and whisks her away on an adventure that would change her life forever. "...his hair looked like golden flames itself..he had a gleam to him...life had polished the man. Being alive. Living. And he glowed." I also loved the rich descriptions of Claidi's travels, the scenery, and all the different types of people and creatures she meets. Nemian's progression from a lighthearted witty young man to a traitor and antagonist was very fascinating to read and an interesting plot twist that people usually don't expect. BUT no matter how hard I've tried to understand her, I find Claidi annoying, naive, and just plain pathetic. I found it hard to relate to her and I feel like the author didn't develop her character enough. She just didn't have enough PERSONALITY.She wasn't very interesting other than the fact that she sometimes was a bit sarcastic/stubborn but never the less it wasn't substantial. Sometimes the book was just too cutesy and wholesome, like when she stays with the Hulta, having her little "bonding moments" with the Hulta women. I find books hard to read when I don't even like the main character... I know...I don't make much sense...but give it a try, who knows. You might like it :)
What do You think about Wolf Tower (2001)?
I enjoyed this book immensely when I was younger, and for a while after but, as an adult, (and not having read it for years) I’m not sure how much enjoyment I would get out of it these days. I believe I would still enjoy it, but just not as much as when I was still young. It was written for young adults, and therefore (probably) best enjoyed by them.That being said…I liked the way it was told through diary entries. I’ve noticed that this doesn’t always work in books, as sometimes the writing seems to jump and jump and jump through events that, sometimes, never get told. However, the Claidi Journals addressed this well and I rarely found myself wondering what the heck was going on. Though it was quite obvious it couldn’t be a real journal (though, of course, it is in the books) for the fact that it was all to well written and remembered, that was easy to ignore.I enjoyed the writing and the plot. None of the characters particularly annoyed me, and I found Claidi’s naivety to be funny rather then bothersome. I remember laughing a little when she didn’t know what a skunk was.She was also a very believable character. Having grown up in the House, she believes all the people’s outside of it to be savages. Therefore, when she meets people outside for the first time, that is how she reacts to them; like they are savage, or at least not trustworthy. Her character develops, and there are no real hops from her being distrustful of anyone to suddenly being welcoming to everyone. We see her change from being afraid of the outside world, to being more accepting of it (and not just through this book).I liked the element of romance in the book, which wasn’t so heavy that it made the book unbearable, and it wasn’t so light that it was hard to catch onto. The couple was perfect and the way that got together made me (as a teen) sigh happily.Even though back then I didn’t really know what dystopia novels were (and therefore don’t know if I would have liked them), I have since realized that, though this whole book is not dystopia, it does have dystopian elements in this. Mild ones, and only in small parts (The Tower City, etc.), but it’s still there. I’ve also since realized that I quite like dystopia, even mild, fleeting ones. As I said, not this whole book is centered on a dystopian society, or even world, but it’s there strongly enough to be enjoyed (perhaps) by those who like dystopia.This series is also good for those who like bits and pieces of the entire story arc to be scattered through all four books. The reader picks up bits and pieces of what the whole Master Plot/Plan is, not just in one area or time in the book, but throughout all four books, until everything is tied together and shown to be related even if, sometimes, it seems they aren’t/shouldn’t be.The ending of the book was great and I remember wanting to go out right away and buy the next book, just to seem how Claidi’s journey would continue.All in all, I recommend this book to young adults who like very very mild dystopia, light LIGHT romance, a strong (if naïve) female lead, and a journey that you can’t wait to continue.
—Marishka Valentine
This was a quick and enjoyable read. The main character was very likable, and I found myself rooting for her the entire time. There were times I was confused as to who I wanted to see her with, as the one male does a great job in deceiving not only Claidi but the reader as well! I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!The author describes a new world in a way that the reader can picture exactly what Claidi sees. I am curious as to how the House and Garden, the Waste, and the other cities a
—Natalie
Cute story, but obviously meant for a younger audience. Something I would have loved when I was eleven. It was still interesting, good pacing, solid plot, and the characterization wasn't half bad either. It's one of those books where I don't think stars are fair because it was a good story and the younger generation would probably really enjoy it but it wasn't exactly for me. I don't want to bring the star rating down because it wasn't to my personal preference. Oh well, hopefully a lot of people who read it when they were little will give it a 5 out of 5 to drown mine out.
—Becky
