The Puzzle Ring : Book Review

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Title : The Puzzle Ring

Series :  -

Author : Kate Forsyth

Pages : 394

Release Date : 2009

Publisher : Pan Macmillan Australia (my copy)

Format : Paperback

Source :  
** I received this book in exchange of an honest review **

My Opinion:


I actually discover The Puzzle Ring through one of Kristi over at The Story Siren's In My Mailbox vlog. I just fell completely in the with the gorgeous cover and wanted my own copy. I contacted the author to ask her if she had any copies for review, and she told me she had forwarded my address and email to her publisher. About two months later, I got my copy, although I had lost any hope of getting it, since it had been such a long time. But, I was thrilled to get it.

The story held such a great premise! I just wanted to dive right into it (mainly because I loved the cover and wanted to see if it did justice to the book... but the book wasn't that good :S). It's about Hanna Rose, the daughter of a supposed-to-be-dead-father-but-maybe-not-because-his-body-was-never-found and of a  science teacher. She has never met her father, since he disappeared the night after she was born, leaving her mother alone, and so, her mother decided to move from Scotland to Australia. Years afterwards, they receive a letter from Hanna's father's grandmother, asking them to come back to Scotland so she can see Hannah before she dies (and she doesn't even dies in the book! I MEAN, COME ON!), and they go. There, Hannah meets new friends, undo a curse, and *kinda spoiler* gets her father back from medieval time where he was a clown (hehe, that'S funny)

I was really sad that I didn't like this book as much as I thought I was. The Puzzle Ring is a Middle Grade read, and I normally like those a lot, since they are always a good break from all the heavy stuff that goes on in YA. But, I didn't like the book, mainly because I thought it was too slow for the plot and it was just a pain to read it.

The characters, although, were a really great side of the book, apart that it seemed like Hannah was always the one who was sick (well, not in the end). I was always smiling when Max (a nerd, like me :D) was talking about medical and sciency stuff.

I also thought that Hannah and Donovan would end up together.... although they didn't :S

Also, what I don't understand is that Scarlett (one of the 'friends'), went from total bitch to Hannah from almost best friend. I mean, really? That'S not how it works in real life... (in real like, the bitch stay a bitch and you slap her across the face :D)

The writing is, I hate to say, pretty good, apart from the too-many-details-I-do-not-want-to-know-how-many-hair-you-have, I really liked it. It was just too detailed for me, although I like some detailed books, this one was just... too much, especially for a Middle Grace read where I just want to relax and get lost in a cute and sweet little story.

RATING:

3 roses :S

Other book(s) by the author :

Author Bio : 

Kate Forsyth is the award-winning author of more than 20 books for both adults and children. 

Her books for adults include the bestselling 'Witches of Eileanan' and 'Rhiannon's Ride'. Her books for children include 'The Gypsy Crown', 'The Puzzle Ring', and 'The Starkin Crown' 

She had also published a collection of poetry called 'Radiance' and a magical realism novel called 'Full Fathom Five' under her maiden name, Kate Humphrey. 

Kate is currently studying a doctorate in fairytale retellings at the University of Technology.