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Oct 31, 2020TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I have a liking for fantasy novels, for they tend to transport me into a fun, exciting dimension. However, this novel (The Lion, Witch And The Wardrobe) failed to give me the experience I usually expect. There are things that work in this novel - the world-building is effective, for instance. We are immediately hooked, and the novel gets into the bulk of its main conceit quite quickly. I loved that the main characters were children because this subverted a lot of needless teen cliches we usually see in mainstream novels. This touch also made this novel very relatable and to a large extent, rooted. So then why is this novel such a disappointment? Yes, it's a bit much to expect logic in a fantasy novel, but there's a lot of moments in the novel that make even the most avid readers question the proceedings. The novel consistently dips in energy, making for a sadly boring experience at times. For that matter, even the protagonists don't go anywhere after their refreshing establishment. The staging of plot points is terribly generic, and the dialogue feels very standard and basic, though it's thankfully not very melodramatic. Overall, this isn't the best novel I've read, and I fail to understand the reason behind its acclaim. (2.5/5) @SSGDP of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board While this isn’t my favorite novel I can say it’s still very enjoyable to read. It starts off in WW2 and these four siblings are being sent away to a home from children for safety so as you can see its very bleak but then it lightens up as the youngest sibling finds a wardrobe that leads into the magical realm of Narnia and soon the once bleak story is filled with magic and adventure. Personally I’m not a huge fan of fantasy so I didn’t lie it all too much but I think anyone who does enjoy reading fantasy novels then you’ll enjoy this one. I know one thing I enjoyed most was the characteristics of the four siblings considering the younger two are so innocent but the older two find it’s their job to take care of each other which I found to be wholesome and I personally enjoy that very much in a novel. 2/5 @Celine of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board