Review by Nebulakitsune -- The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow...
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Nebulakitsune
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 23 Nov 2019, 16:27
- Currently Reading: Uncle Yuta has an Adventure
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- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nebulakitsune.html
- Latest Review: Chasing Dreams by Claire Youmans
Review by Nebulakitsune -- The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow...
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy (series)" by Claire Youmans.]
It's time once again to go back into the Japanese Fantasy world and follow the Toki-Girl, Azuki and her Sparrow-Boy brother, Shota on another adventure. This time however they don't travel as far as the young girl has fallen sick at home from an unknown illness. Her Uncle, Yuta has brought in human doctors to see if they can determine her illness but to no avail. They have asked their friend, Renko, who is the Dragon Princess to ask aid from her father to see if he has heard of such illness or to ask of other dragons and if they are to know anything. As they await an answer Shota remembers the tale of the Crane-Girl, who could be like them. The tale is older than them and she might not be a tale but a real person who might know what this illness may be. With determination and fear for his sisters' life Shota flies off in a hurry, not heading his uncles cry out for him to come back. Will Shota be able to find this Crane-Girl or is she just a tale of ages. This is the main story of The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy (series): Book 3: Together by Claire Youmans.
What I liked most from the third book in the series is that it follows the same writing style as the second book. It was an easy read and the story flowed consistently not taking to many leaps in time and showing the struggles of all parties had with trying to figure out Azuki's illness. Showing the struggles she was feeling as she tried to stay obligated to the weaving of her textiles and making the kimonos that she loved to make and felt pride in but also trying to stay true and follow Yutas order to rest until they figured it out. Then Shota being the reckless boy he is and just plunging in headfirst to help his sister. Even if didn't see what worries he was bringing his family but learning at the end of it all. I enjoyed the edition of bringing in Renko more into the story and seeing her grow as a person and trying to figure herself out as she tries to build her friendships around her, with friends and family alike.
What I disliked the most was the constant retelling of the first two books. It's fine to recap the books given the time of when they originally came out but they constantly tell what happens to them with every new character they meet. They give a brief but constant telling of what happened to their parents, what they have done to get this far and who they have met. I enjoyed when Shota met up with the Egrets again and how they go about storytelling. That was a fun way to recap the last two books. I just wasn't thrilled to read the same recap, in slightly different ways a few times through the book. I would have been fine with once at the beginning of the book and another later down the line in the book.
I would give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. I give it this rating since it didn't draw me in like the second book did but was still enjoyable. There are parts of this book where it feels like they are trying to fit in many story lines at once and during some parts it works. During other parts, it feels a little forced but still works itself out in the end. I did enjoy that they kept the main focus again on the children's adventure and stuck with it this time instead of flipping around to another narrative.
This type of story will suit a younger readers interest, especially if they have read the first two before. Mostly if they enjoyed the second book this will be an easier read to follow from how that one ended. This is not for people who want a fast-paced adventure, it goes at a steady rate and stays mostly like that till the end where it picks up.
******
The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy (series)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
It's time once again to go back into the Japanese Fantasy world and follow the Toki-Girl, Azuki and her Sparrow-Boy brother, Shota on another adventure. This time however they don't travel as far as the young girl has fallen sick at home from an unknown illness. Her Uncle, Yuta has brought in human doctors to see if they can determine her illness but to no avail. They have asked their friend, Renko, who is the Dragon Princess to ask aid from her father to see if he has heard of such illness or to ask of other dragons and if they are to know anything. As they await an answer Shota remembers the tale of the Crane-Girl, who could be like them. The tale is older than them and she might not be a tale but a real person who might know what this illness may be. With determination and fear for his sisters' life Shota flies off in a hurry, not heading his uncles cry out for him to come back. Will Shota be able to find this Crane-Girl or is she just a tale of ages. This is the main story of The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy (series): Book 3: Together by Claire Youmans.
What I liked most from the third book in the series is that it follows the same writing style as the second book. It was an easy read and the story flowed consistently not taking to many leaps in time and showing the struggles of all parties had with trying to figure out Azuki's illness. Showing the struggles she was feeling as she tried to stay obligated to the weaving of her textiles and making the kimonos that she loved to make and felt pride in but also trying to stay true and follow Yutas order to rest until they figured it out. Then Shota being the reckless boy he is and just plunging in headfirst to help his sister. Even if didn't see what worries he was bringing his family but learning at the end of it all. I enjoyed the edition of bringing in Renko more into the story and seeing her grow as a person and trying to figure herself out as she tries to build her friendships around her, with friends and family alike.
What I disliked the most was the constant retelling of the first two books. It's fine to recap the books given the time of when they originally came out but they constantly tell what happens to them with every new character they meet. They give a brief but constant telling of what happened to their parents, what they have done to get this far and who they have met. I enjoyed when Shota met up with the Egrets again and how they go about storytelling. That was a fun way to recap the last two books. I just wasn't thrilled to read the same recap, in slightly different ways a few times through the book. I would have been fine with once at the beginning of the book and another later down the line in the book.
I would give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. I give it this rating since it didn't draw me in like the second book did but was still enjoyable. There are parts of this book where it feels like they are trying to fit in many story lines at once and during some parts it works. During other parts, it feels a little forced but still works itself out in the end. I did enjoy that they kept the main focus again on the children's adventure and stuck with it this time instead of flipping around to another narrative.
This type of story will suit a younger readers interest, especially if they have read the first two before. Mostly if they enjoyed the second book this will be an easier read to follow from how that one ended. This is not for people who want a fast-paced adventure, it goes at a steady rate and stays mostly like that till the end where it picks up.
******
The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy (series)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Latest Review: Chasing Dreams by Claire Youmans
