Official Review: The Silver Arrow (Illustrated)

[Azeline Arcenal]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Silver Arrow (Illustrated)" by Ieda Jonasdottir Herman.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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A mixture of Icelandic folklore and science fiction, The Silver Arrow by Ieda Jonasdottir Herman is an interesting novel filled with adventure and friendships. The settings range from the rural countryside of Iceland to a planet deep in outer space.

Finna and Erik come across their great grandpa’s old maps and writings that tell of a hidden world beneath Snaefell. With their friend Kalli, the trio venture out on their own in search of this hidden world, but they fall down into a hole where they find themselves in a huge cavern. As they make their way through the cavern, they discover that it is actually the hidden world they were trying to find. On their way back to the surface, the caves that they are in suddenly erupt and they use unicorns to escape from the destruction. The unicorns were supposed to transport them home, but they are transported to a planet where beings that are twice the size of them inhabit it. These beings turn out to be Norse gods whose planet is divided because of an evil god named Loki. Loki has sinister plans for not only his planet, but for Earth as well. Will the trio be able to stop Loki from invading Earth or are they doomed to be stuck on the strange planet forever?

I had a different expectation of this book because the blurb at the review page was totally different from the actual plot of the book. The characters were completely different from what was mentioned in the blurb, but the parts about Icelandic folklore remained the same.

This book was easy to read because the plot was simple and easy to follow. I feel like the plot could have been more developed because it felt a little rushed towards the end of the book. The beginning started off slow, but the transition from the climax to the end of the book was rushed. Not only were the transitions in the plot rushed, but the ending was abrupt was well. The ending left a few questions unanswered and it didn't wrap up the story nicely.

The descriptions of the scenery were vivid and I feel as if the author was describing what Iceland actually looks like. I know that the author is from Iceland so just reading the descriptions made me wish that I could visit Iceland and view the scenery myself. The illustrations scattered throughout the pages were helpful in visualizing the adventures of Finna, Erik, and Kalli. They were simple, black and white pictures that were hand drawn.

Written in third person, the book was mainly centered around Finna’s thoughts. Finna is a strong willed girl that loves to go on adventures, but the deaths of her family members still haunt her. She is able to overcome her fears with the help of her friends and she also helps her friends get over their fears. Erik and Kalli were secondary characters that provided some humor in the story and they played a big part in Finna’s development as a character.

There were a few grammatical errors and formatting issues, but there weren't too many so they didn't detract from the book. However, the abrupt transitions in the story as well as the disappointing ending makes me give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to readers who like to read science fiction novels mixed with a little folklore.

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The Silver Arrow (Illustrated)
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[kandscreeley]

I dislike books with a disappointing ending. I also am not sure of the cover. It looks a little childish which makes me wonder if the whole book would be that way. It's an interesting concept to be sure. Thanks for the review.

[Azeline Arcenal]

I dislike books with a disappointing ending. I also am not sure of the cover. It looks a little childish which makes me wonder if the whole book would be that way. It's an interesting concept to be sure. Thanks for the review.

The way the book is written makes it more suitable for readers in grade school or high school. However, it would still be an enjoyable read for those that are older. Thanks for reading!

[Jaime Lync]

Great review. I am intrigued by the mixture of folk lore and science fiction but I'm turned off by the disappointing ending. Thanks.

[Azeline Arcenal]

Great review. I am intrigued by the mixture of folk lore and science fiction but I'm turned off by the disappointing ending. Thanks.

Thanks for reading!

[Meggie Lou]

Pacing issues are one of my biggest pet peeves. Thanks for the review!

[Azeline Arcenal]

Pacing issues are one of my biggest pet peeves. Thanks for the review!

Thanks for reading!

[LivreAmour217]

The story sounds interesting, but possibly incomplete because of the abrupt ending. I enjoyed reading your review, but I don't think that I'll read this one.

[Azeline Arcenal]

The story sounds interesting, but possibly incomplete because of the abrupt ending. I enjoyed reading your review, but I don't think that I'll read this one.

Thanks!

[Amagine]

I love that this is an illustrated young adult book because you don't see much of those anymore. The characters seem interesting and I like the overall plot of the book. Even though there are formatting issues, hopefully its not enough to distract readers from the overall story.

Great Review! ?

[Azeline Arcenal]

I love that this is an illustrated young adult book because you don't see much of those anymore. The characters seem interesting and I like the overall plot of the book. Even though there are formatting issues, hopefully its not enough to distract readers from the overall story.

Great Review! ?

Thanks!