The concept of the book sounds really interesting. Calder is a Fetch. He has been dead hundreds of years but looks 19. His job is easy. Calder is to bring souls to the next world. But life isn’t easy for Calder when he falls in love with a mortal and soon the balance is disturbed.
I was excited to read this book, but my enthusiasm quickly faded. The author dropped the ball with this book. She made it dull. For instance, Calder falls in love with a mortal woman who is nursing a dying baby. But later his unhealthy, and somewhat creepy, infatuation turns cold when he realizes the woman of his dreams is not what he had hoped for.
Enter the Romanovs. I love the Romanovs and I love Russian history however those who are not well versed in this time period may find the story difficult to follow. The problem is the author does a poor job of explaining who the Romaovs are and unless you know your Russian history you will not understand the way the author ties history into this story. There are various historical events that are mentioned, including the Titanic, but unless you know your dates you might miss these nods to historical events.
The middle part of the story deals with a very unexciting quest around the world to find some dumb key. I never under stood this part of the story because I thought I read that Fetches don’t need a key to open a door…but maybe I got confused. Anyway the middle is quite dull and if you need something to help you fall asleep on some sleepless night then read the middle part of this book.
The love story was nonexistent. First Calder falls in love with a mortal woman then he moves on…to nothing. Then I am supposed to believe that there has been some burning romance between Calder and Anastasia because the author says so in the end of the book but doesn’t show it. Someone please explain to me how that works?
I can’t see how any teen would enjoy this. I know that’s a powerful statement to say, but I think the author had a great idea but executed it poorly, very poorly. Students of supernatural stories won’t enjoy it because it drags on and on. Students who love supernatural romances won’t like it because there is none. Students who enjoy historical fiction..well they may enjoy it.
Overall, I would pass on this book. I hear the author’s first book, A Certain Slant of Light, is quite good. Maybe I should have read that one.
Has anyone else read The Fetch. I would be interested to hear what you think.
6 comments:
I haven't read this one of A Certain Slant of Light, which was on our state award list a couple of years back. I've heard good things about that one, but this one doesn't really sound like something I'd enjoy, so I'll stay away.
I read it and reviewed it a while back. I'm a teenager and I REALLY liked it. I get what you mean about the historical facts, but I didn't find that hard to follow. I don't know too much about the Romanovs but I guess I know enough so maybe that's why. Either way even if I didn't know what I know, I don't think it'd be hard to follow. But maybe that's just me.
What I think threw off a LOT of people about this book is that the front cover says it's a "supernatural romance" and it's NOT. I liked it even if those folks are basically false advertising with that statement.
Overall it was a really enjoyable read for me. Sure there were some parts that didn't interest me much but for the most part it kept my attention and left me satisfied when it was over.
I guess this is just one of those books you either love or hate. I have read quite a lot of mixed reviews on it after all.
:D
A Certain Slant of Light is on my To Read and I've only heard good things about it. Agree, this does have an interesting premise, but thanks for heads up on passing.
I think the "supernatural romance" on the cover threw me. I kept reading and reading and reading expecting to find it, but never did. Maybe I was let down more than anything else and I could have judged the book to harshly on that.
Thanks for the honest review. As I don't know a lot about Russian history I think I shall give this book a miss.
I read it and agree completely about the dullness of it and the nonexistent love story. I didn't think the characterization (especially of Calder) was deep enough for us to care and I got lost in all the Fetch lore. It was disappointing.
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