by MarcyKate Connelly
♦publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
♦release date: February 9th, 2016
♦hardcover, 432 pages
♦intended audience: MG/YA
♦series: Monstrous, book 2
review of book 1
♦source: ARC from publisher for honest review
A witch has come to the city of Bryre. She travels in a hut that has chicken feet, and is ravenous for children. And once she gets what she desires, she never lets it go.
But when the witch captures Hans, Greta’s little brother, Greta refuses to let her have him. The two strike up a bargain. Greta will retrieve something the witch desires in exchange for her brother’s freedom.
To get the prize Greta must travel to Belladoma—a city where she was once held captive—which brings back terrible memories. With the help of a new friend, Dalen, a magical half-boy and half-horse, Greta embarks on the journey and tries to overcome both foes and her own weaknesses.
For fans of Monstrous and new readers alike comes the story of an epic quest and a heroine who will stop at nothing to save the one she loves most.
But when the witch captures Hans, Greta’s little brother, Greta refuses to let her have him. The two strike up a bargain. Greta will retrieve something the witch desires in exchange for her brother’s freedom.
To get the prize Greta must travel to Belladoma—a city where she was once held captive—which brings back terrible memories. With the help of a new friend, Dalen, a magical half-boy and half-horse, Greta embarks on the journey and tries to overcome both foes and her own weaknesses.
For fans of Monstrous and new readers alike comes the story of an epic quest and a heroine who will stop at nothing to save the one she loves most.
Review: Ravenous is the second installment in the Monstrous series, and another charming tale that stretches the imagination! It's a fun mix of Hansel & Gretel and the russian Baba Yaga myth, but it's also a wholly unique and creative story full of dangerous adventure and gutsy characters. Also, though we get to revisit a few of beloved characters from Monstrous, this is a companion and stands on it's own, which I loved.
While I have to admit that I didn't fall in love with this one quite as much as I did Monstrous, it's still a great read. This time around, I found the writing a little flat until the second half and it really took me awhile before it grabbed me. I did love Greta again---I coulnd't hep admire her devotion to her brother and she is just as much of a fireball as she is in Monstrous. When the King of Bryre and Ren, who are also suppose to be her good friends, turn down her plea for help and accuse her of conjuring a fake brother to stall their plans to help Belledoma, she goes off on her own to save Hans from a hungry Witch. She is brave and resourceful, but after what happened with her friends, she is determined not to put her trust in anyone else. I love that by the end, she learn that a little help is not a bad thing and that often the most obvious option is often not the only option. I was also really liked how much revolved around her facing down her awful memories of being held captive in Belladoma and what she assumed about the people who, in her mind, let that happen. I liked the friendship that grew between her and Dalen, he was a sweet character, but again, until about the middle, I didn't feel very engaged by it.
It's when Greta makes an incredible discovery about her family that this story really drew me in. From this point to the end, the stakes were heightened and her decisions more meaningful and I really began to root for all of the characters to work together to find a way to each meet all of their opposing goals and triumph over all the evils they faced!
Even with the few problems I had, Ravenous was an enjoyable story and I look forward to more from MarcyKate Connelly!
Purchase Ravenous: Indiebound • BookDepository • Amazon
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