Nightbird (ARC Review)

Nightbird | Alice Hoffman

Published by: Simon & Schuster UK, February 26th 2015

Genre: MG, Fantasy

Pages: 208

Format: Ebook

Source: Simon & Schuster, via Netgalley

In her first novel for middle-grade readers , bestselling author Alice Hoffman tells a bewitching story of love and friendship that is truly magical.

Twig lives in Sidwell, where people whisper that fairy tales are real. After all, her town is rumored to hide a monster. And two hundred years ago, a witch placed a curse on Twig’s family that was meant to last forever. But this summer, everything will change when the red moon rises. It’s time to break the spell.

Nightbird is a bittersweet tale of friendship, secrets, and familial love. With a hidden, winged brother, Twig Fowler lives surrounded by secrets. Her town has history of witchcraft. Her family is cursed. And a new family just moved into the witch's old house. Her summer is shaping up to be

I enjoyed this once it got going. I didn't really get into it until about 40% but then I found myself interested in the story, the secrets, and especially Twig's brother James. I liked the magic of the town, both the fantastical kind and the fascination Twig found in everyday things and people. I especially loved the historian and the garden Twig planted. But there was something that kept me from loving the book. I liked parts but was a little bored in others, didn't feel the characters sometimes, and found the book slow. But still, it was a nice enough story.The ending was probably my favourite part, and I liked the message of acceptance it shows, with James and the townspeople. I could have done without Twig's dad's appearance being the magical salve for her family and life but it didn't ruin the book so much. 

This is a sweet children's story of magic and friendship and the secrets families keep to protect each other.

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

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Reading round up (66)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

16th February

I finished A Magic Dark and Bright (19% read) and THAT ENDING!!! How cruel you are, Jenny Adams Perinovic! I need the next book right now.

I also started The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes which was kind of a wildcard pick for me. I love the cover, was interested in the blurb (although put off by it being a contemporary and my general non-enjoyment of those...) but it could have gone either way. Happily, the survival element of the story is PREVALENT and it's AWESOME. I love this, how the MC has been silenced by a reputation she didn't earn, the exploration of male and female voices and which are heard or ignored, and also the fact it's set in a Wild Mountain Landscape. Uber cool. I read 58% in one sitting.

17th February

I finished The Distance Between Lost and Found and it was harrowing and left a hollow feeling in me. 

I started Suspicion by Alexandra Monir (81 pages) but I'm not sure what to think yet. I like the aristocracy thing but not sure about the MC, whose voice has changed like 3 times I swear.

Because I reckon Suspicion will be a slow read for me, I also started Nightbird by Alice Hoffman (33%), which is odd and maybe boring (I can't tell) but may turn out fairly good. As someone who enjoys middle grade, I haven't enjoyed the past 3 I've read. Which is fair upsetting.

18th February

I finished Nightbird (67%), which was pretty sweet if slow the whole way through. Didn't reeeeeeeeally like it, but didn't hate it either.

19th February

I read 22 pages of Suspicion. The more insults that are thrown at England and the English, the less patience and enthusiasm I have with this. Thought it'd be Amazing but so far it's kind of Alright. 

I had hoped to cut Suspicion with Bound By Prophecy by Melissa Wright, my first Saruuh explores NA read, but I read the entire thing in one sitting (252 pages). Oops. It is SO GOOD. My first NA novel and it blew me away. Crazy, insane, wildly good urban fantasy with characters that I adore!!

20th February

Abandoning Suspicion for now because it's not holding my attention or interest and I'm low on patience. However, I am ADDICTED to the Descendants series. I read Shifting Fate by Melissa Wright. All 214 pages of it. What an exciting, romantic, thrilling series!!!!

21st February

I read 80% of Reign of Shadows, the last in the Descendants series. So far I can't stand Callan but that's to be expected. What's his deal with trying to 'help' Brianna. More like trying to own her.

22nd February

Finished Reign of Shadows (20%) and it was a great ending to the series!! Even if the end of the book did feel a little rushed and I kept expecting more conflict.

I also started Crow Moon by Anna McKerrow (read 82 pages) and it's really interesting!! The MC is a guy of colour and it's set in Devon and Cornwall which is uber cool.

Books finished this week: 6
Books DNF'd this week: 1

A Vision for the Future | Melissa Wright

King of Ash and Bone | Melissa Wright

Shifting Fates | Melissa Wright

Reign of Shadows | Melissa Wright

Sooooooo I adored Bound By Prophecy and went and downloaded everything I could get my hands on by Melissa Wright. I plan to read Frey and buy the rest of the series if I love it ASAP!! I can't wait to start Shifting Fate and Reign of Shadows, and the other two sound suitably exciting!!

A Magic Dark and Bright (scheduled for 25th April)

The Distance Between Lost and Found
Nightbird (scheduled for TOMORROW)
Bound by Prophecy (scheduled for March 7th)
Shifting Fate (scheduled for March 10th)
Reign of Shadows (scheduled for March 12th)