Beautiful detail and story
926888
Beautiful detail and story. The author makes you feel like you are there.
2594737
I bought this on a recommendation for my 9 year old. The illustrations and details are exquisite. The story is good and raises good questions (which is why it was recommended to me.)
1890769
Broken-down walls and crumbled stones seemed to possess a secret language all their own. What stories would they tell, if she finally listened?

A castle lost to time, a family mystery, a grandmother ravaged by the disease of Alzheimers, a girl seeking to discover her familys history and a journey that bridges past and present to change her forever. All of these elements combine to form a beautiful story of love, loss, and war that inspires a legacy of faith that extends to now and all future generations.

This story follows Ellie Carver a young girl caring for her grandmother who is suffering from the ravages of Alzheimers. As she visits her grandmothers bedside one day, she expects her to be silently lost in the world of her mind, but instead her grandmother begins speaking of a secret past, a lost love, a enchanted castle and a hidden chapel that played a special role in the French resistance during WWII. As Ellie is drawn in by her grandmothers words, and the mystery surrounding the castle she embarks on a journey that will take her to the Loire valley of France and lead her to discover who she truly is.

Bridging the past and present, this story is told between three time periods, the French Revolution, WWII, and present day. Cambron is a masterful story teller whose sense of environment and place really sets the scene for the reader. Her descriptive prose and attention to even the smallest detail, really brings each historical period to life. The character development of Ellie and her journey of self-discovery was one of the best parts of this book and the way in which she weaves the historical time periods together comes together nicely in the end to deliver a satisfying conclusion.

The one main complaint I have, was also one of the things, that as far as the development of the story goes, was the most successful. The waffling between three time periods often made me loose track of where in the story I was. It also felt like every time I got interested in one plot it would switch to another. Two different plots are hard to handle, three may have just been one to many to keep track of.

Overall this story was descriptively gorgeous, and though it isn't without its mistakes, I loved the story as a whole and thought it came together nicely in the end. I give this book a solid 4 stars.

Thank you to #netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishers for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.
1634289
Siren Suicides is a wonderfully detailed, well-told story dealing with some hard subjects: suicide, parental abuse, and heartbreak. Although at times the story felt like it was geared a bit more toward people around the age of the protagonist (teens, whereas I am middle-aged), I still found a ton that I liked and could relate to. And the story is both vividly written and easy to read.

And the ending! Another reviewer had mixed feelings about the ending of this story, but for me the it was the best part. In some books, when you see "Epilogue" you get an addition to the story, something that comes after the story and maybe provides some additional details or closure. In Siren Suicides, the Epilogue is VITAL to the story. It is, in many ways, the redemption of everything that has come before it.

This is the third book of Ksenia's that I have read, and I've never been sorry for the time I've spent in her writing.
781104
I loved this book. M. Mariz has created a beautiful tale of love, family, science, technology, and suspense, with characters you will love and a story you won't forget.

I enjoyed the details immensely, and M. Mariz is great at fluid description that keeps you fully immersed in the fantastical world of Gaia. A myriad of intertwining plots all come together perfectly to give the reader a solid resolution, with no loose ends.

I'm insanely jealous of the technology in the story, and completely fell in love with the characters. This is not a book you want to miss.
1416752
This was a great read in terms of character development and for vivid picture painting.  I was swept up in the story from start to finish.  It was like a well made work of art versus a quickly made poster.  Rich in detail and feeling.
2796178
My 5-year-old loves this book, and so do I. The pictures are so richly detailed, and the story of how the trees got their voices is beautifully told and nuanced with a deep understanding of the magic and wonder of the natural world.
1740039
Just beautiful ... The detail... Takes you back to a time period that is gone but can be recreated
3404312
The WordMIght is a beautifully written story about philosophy, spiritual journeys, sacrifice and ancient magic.  Its a tale that spans over several generations but at the heart its a story about love, about a Prince who will walk the world for as long as it takes and risk everything in order to save his love from an ancient beast.

The storyline is set up so that it moves back and forth between three separate periods of time. Each time period unfolds into a detailed story that reveals the interwoven pieces that connect the events and characters to one another. I particularly enjoyed the parts concerning Master Baccus and how he came to Alymphia. The Sisterhood was fascinating and I wouldnt mind reading some short stories further detailing their existence. At some points I did find the jumping back and forth between periods of time and characters a bit distracting. I had to flip back to the beginning of a chapter to remind myself what period of time the story was at in order to confirm my place within the storyline.

Bussiere does an amazing job with using words to paint a visual fantasy for the reader. The scenery was complex but the attention to the scenic details and lack of dialogue sometimes took away from the development of the characters. Its evident that Bussiere is a poet. His descriptions and care for detail bring the senses into full awareness. Its as if the words are a melody on paper creating a symphony. Overall, I found the writing romantic and dreamy.

Copy provided for review.
Reviewed by Joy for Crystal's Many Reviewers
2493748
I enjoyed this book and the story. It is written well and one can close his eyes and imagine it all. The artwork is wonderful and compliments the story perfectly. Someday I hope to be able to read it to some young grandchildren.
4933469
Beautiful story. I love all the details and description that the author used to tell about us about how life could thousands years ago.
4077663
As a librarian, I am familiar with the pros and cons of what is termed the 'graphic novel,' but to be honest have never seen such an argument for them. This book tells its tale entirely in pictures, no little 'bubbles' of thought to distract from its honest and beautiful theme...not that you need them. Its sepia-toned and varied artwork 'reads' almost like an old-fashioned film strip, the eye drawn from one to the next in a continuous story. I 'read' the story through in a few minutes, but there is so much gorgeous detail that I could spend a few minutes on each page. Each section feels like a separate work of art. Not to mention the extraordinary themes of sacrifices for love, overcoming the past, hope for the future, empathy with others, beauty in simplicity, and many many others. The perceptive reader will catch the references to the very real past of immigration and war among the fantastical, but even a younger reader may enjoy the story of the young man in a strange place, working to bring his family where there is still peace and beauty. This book shines like a jewel in a dark world. In my opinion, if there is any sense in the book-award-winning world, this will gain the shining accolades it well deserves. Buy it, read it, absorb it, read it again, and put its message into practice. The world will be a better place for the kindness of strangers.
686785
This is a well-known story that I grew up hearing. I love the illustrator's work in this book!  His detail is amazing.  I not only own this book, but have also given it as gifts.
4285834
This book is beautiful both in the story and the illustrations are terrific. This is a story written from the heart.
378448
I found this story when I was helping in a second/third grade reading group. The kids enjoyed the story and the pictures are incredible with detail and color. Purchased for our family's 5 yr. old who loved it! It's the oldest known Cinderella story. It seems that just about every culture has a Cinderella story! The back cover gives detail about the story and other "Cinderella" stories.
4424698
What a beautiful book! The story is compelling and powerful, and made me tear up on the initial read. Even before reading it to my kindergartner, she was already picking up on the themes of the story through the pictures. We've had some great conversations as a result.
447769
A beautifully crafted book. The quality of the artwork astounds me. When I visit my granddaughter we always sit together and read the book, and she's endlessly fascinated by the pictures. The story blends perfectly with each picture, and makes you want to start again when you finish. I hope there's a follow up!