#working on a ballroom scene from the labyrinth too just don't think I can get it done in time for the rest of these

[knockknockwhosthereartistism]

Summerween festivities from Chp,31

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[wondereads]

Personal Review (10/31/22)

Shades of Rust and Ruin by A. G. Howard

Summary

After her twin sister, Lark, died on Halloween night, Nix has been terrified of the holiday. She finds solace in her drawings of the Mystiquiel, a magical place where faerie lore and steampunk come to life. Years later, her fears manifest as her uncle is stolen away to the land of her drawings, leaving her and her best friend to save him and escape Mystiquiel, all before the clock strikes midnight.

Plot 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

I enjoyed this plot, but I have one major gripe with it. As someone who is a huge A. G. Howard fan, this book is shockingly similar to one of my favorites, Splintered. They're both about a teenage girl with a morbidly artistic touch who ends up in another world (alongside a childhood friend she has feelings for) because of a curse stemming from a classic piece of literature passed down through the family. Now, does that mean this story was unenjoyable? Absolutely not, I eat this up every time. Does it mean it's unoriginal? Unfortunately, yes. I can appreciate this story for the entertainment it brought me, but the similarities are a little too obvious to ignore.

On the bright side, I did love the worldbuilding. This book takes traditional faerie folklore and mashes it together with machinery and an industrial style, and it's really interesting to think about. I loved that it played off things the reader will be familiar with without rehashing the same characters again and again that would have made it a bit more dull. Also, Nix's powers of creation as an artist were very cool, and I hope to see more of how they work in the next book. This book is inspired by The Goblin Market by Christina Rosetti; the influences are clear beyond just Nix's obsession with the piece. As a side effect, other works inspired by it echo in this book, particularly the cult classic movie Labyrinth—there's even a ballroom scene. I love the callbacks to both the poem and the movie. Finally, as a forewarning, this book does end on a cliffhanger!

Characters 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Nix was a very interesting character. She is very apparently flawed, and the narrative preys off of that. I do wish she weren't so aware of those flaws, but seeing things like jealousy, a thirst for control, and extreme guilt in a character makes them a lot more compelling. It also opens her up to manipulation, so it's easier for the different forces in Mystiquiel to get their claws into her. However, I wish she'd been a bit more aware; she wrote some of these characters and yet she doesn't seem to notice the inconsistencies in their motivations.

Clarey is Nix's best friend, and he's also the love interest. In terms of how love interests are represented in YA, Clarey is pretty unique. He's a bit more delicate and feminine than male love interests tend to be, which is a breath of fresh air. His relationship to Nix is quite interesting considering he's also Lark's ex-boyfriend (the dead twin). It's been a while since Lark's death, but it's hard for either of them to move past it. It adds a layer of tension; neither of them want to endanger their friendship, and they also don't want to disrespect Lark's memory.

The Goblin King, who is sort of the antagonist but also kind of not, doesn't really get much attention this time around. I am hoping to see more of him in the second book, especially to see how Nix and him will interact. Finally, even though she's dead, Lark is a pretty major character through flashbacks and such. And I hate her guts. It's a good kind of hate, the kind that will make me care and root for Nix, but I just cannot find any sort of sympathy within me for her.

Writing Style 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

This is the third book by Howard I've reviewed, and the writing is as good as ever! As always, it isn't for everyone. It's quite flowery and detailed, which some people don't enjoy, but I do! The descriptions are absolutely gorgeous, which plays into the atmosphere of the book. It's so easy to get an amazing picture of what the creatures and the world look like, and it truly feels like the story is being told through the eyes of an artist.

However, I have to bring up the pacing. It takes over 100 pages before Nix is even in the Mystiquiel, so the ending feels rushed while the beginning drags. Establishing Nix's normal life and her state of mind is important, but it just took way too long.

Overall 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

I am so excited to get more A. G. Howard retellings! Although this book has its flaws, the writing is amazing, as usual, and I love the characters. It's a great Halloween read, and I'll most definitely be reading the second book when it comes out. This book has quite a few similarities to Howard's previous books; I found it pretty noticeable, but it doesn't directly detract from the reader's enjoyment, especially if you've never read the others. While I don't think it tops anything else by this author, it was still a fun, holiday-appropriate read!

The Author

A. G. Howard: American, 51, also wrote Stain, Splintered, and Roseblood

Check out my review of Stain here

Check out my review of Splintered here

The Reviewer

My name is Wonderose; I try to post a review every week, and I do themed recommendations every once in a while. I take suggestions! Check out my about me post for more!