My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Publication Date: September 13th 2016
Publisher: Putnam
Point of View: 3rd Person & Alternative
Recommended Age: 12+
Pacing: Slow
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Magic, Pirates, Books about Books
BLURB:
Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken, or if she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind, an object she comes to realize is a book—a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and find out what really happened the day her father was killed—and punish the people responsible.
This book is so interesting, so interesting. And not only because it’s a book that focuses on the adventures of a reader who has the ability to read the Book.
You know, I have read ‘‘books about books’’ in the past. I can name a few – Ink and Bone, Fangirl, The Book of Speculation – but they’re all petty rocks in comparison to this gem of a story.
Traci Chee’s The Reader is an exquisitely-written debut fantasy novel with a large set of diverse characters – pirates, assassins, thieves, magicians aka ‘‘Illuminators’’ – with overlapping stories in a world where writing and reading is forbidden and… uncharted territory.
The world-building the author introduces us to is teeming with hidden magic, danger at every corner and… huge potential. This is only the first book in a trilogy and already there is so much we know and yet so little, because there are still multiple layers to be peeled off in the future books.
The more information is revealed to us, the less we seem to know. And that’s when you know a book is worth your time. Because, even though you have more questions, these are questions you want – no, need – the answers to and therefore it’s something to be looking forward to as you’re reading. You’re reading because you want answers; you want to know what will happen next; you want to know how what you just learned will affect the story.
Not only are there various point of views from the majority of the characters we meet, but there are also short stories forming a side story incorporated in the main story. These stories are the ones Sefia is reading in the Book. So when Sefia, the Reader, is reading, we are also. I found that extremely clever. It made me feel closer to Sefia and the book itself.
Do not fear, the story may be complex and multi-layered, but everything inside of it unfolds in a slow, precise way. I mean it, this is a slow-paced fantasy, although well-balanced in terms of events.
There is so much to love about The Reader I’d be surprised if it doesn’t become a New York Times bestseller.
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I scored a copy of this too! It’s about 3rd back on my list right now though, hoping to get to it next week. Excited to hear you enjoyed it so much!
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Oh interesting and this is the first I have seen anything about it. I think I might like this too.
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This book sounds amazing! I love the cover and your review sealed the deal. I’m adding it my to read list.
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Sooooo glad to hear you enjoyed The Reader. I like stories that are complex and multi-layered. AND I LIKE the idea of scoring an ARC of this book, but alas I’ve heard nothing back on my Netgalley request since I requested in May. I’m not sure if I can hold out on reading this until its fall pub date, but I’m trying so hard.
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This wasn’t really on my radar, but seeing that you enjoyed it so much I think I’ll have to add it to my TBR! I’m not normally a slow pace fan, but everything else involved sounds so interesting and I love multilayered stories.
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I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about The Reader from everyone who read it so far (:
My hopes are high for this one, especially after this review ^^
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Since I love books, then yes books about books, of course I adore those
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I also managed to get a FTR copy of this – it’s the next book I will pick up! So excited, especially now I have seen your 5/5 rating!
Great review!
Book Reviews By Di
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Awesome review. I requested this one, but never heard back. I will have to add it to my TBR because it sounds fantastic.
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Eh gad. I’m not a fantasy reader but you make it sound so good.
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I am honestly not a fan of this cover but very excited for this book! Especially after your review 😉
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Your review absolutely sold me on this. I’m so excited! 😀
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Eeeep! I just featured this book on my WoW post and I was already excited about it…now I’m pretty much jumping up and down in my seat about it 😀 I can not wait to get my hands on this!! AWESOME review^^
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I do love a good “bookworm delight” (i.e. books about books) 🙂 I’m not sure how I feel about that cover though…
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Sounds like I’d love this one 😀
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I was so excited when I scored an eARC of this from First to Read – now I’m even more excited after seeing your 5 star review! 😀
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Whoops I’m gonna put this book on my TBR then, sounds promising, and your review, gahhh ❤
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You know, often I find that books about books are the ones that disappoint me most. Perhaps because we’ve grown so accustomed to our own experiences of reading that stepping into another person’s shoes seems disorienting. I felt that way about Penumbra’s and Bookishly Ever After- but there’s just something about books centered around books in sci-fi/fantasy surroundings that is just SO intriguing. This sounds like a marvelous, thought-provoking, entertaining read, so thank you for sharing. I know I simply HAVE to give it a go. And as always, great review. 🙂
~ Aimal @ Bookshelves & Paperbacks
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