Official Review: Tangled Web by L.W. Tichy
Posted: 03 Mar 2016, 15:16
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tangled Web" by L.W. Tichy.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Tangled Web (Book One in the Arrynna Doe Trilogy) by L. W. Tichy is a story about Ryne Doe, an orphan who has been mislabeled as an unstable psychiatric patient for the entirety of her life. While everyone else, or everyone "normal", assumes that what she sees are hallucinations, Ryne knows that the dark faeries she sees on a regular basis are real. However, the story takes a turn when the beings, the ones only she can see, notice her, starting Ryne on the path of an adventure full of magic, mystery, and self-discovery.
Containing great development of the main character, a plot that keeps a reader guessing, magical beings, and intricate court structures that will enthrall any fan of fantasy worlds, Tangled Web is a story very firmly situated in the young adult section of the fantasy genre.
Personally, I was prepared to love the book. It reminded me of many novels I had read as a preteen that were also filled with magical beings; I was eager to escape into the story. Regrettably, there was something I didn't take into account. While I am a massive fan of the fantasy genre and all things faerie, I'm also a stickler for grammar and spelling, especially when it comes to books.
Looking at only the plot and the storyline, Tangled Web is a wonderful book, if a little slow-building. The action in this story was often outnumbered by dialogue that would sometimes seem inessential to the plot, but that suited me just fine. I was more than happy just to read about the many characters and their intricacies, at least when I could tell them apart as they all had very similar names.
Unfortunately, what did stop me from absolutely loving this book was a few things. Most notably, the author had a love for suspension points, also known as the famous "dot, dot, dot". To be clear, there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes a pause in dialogue can be a good thing, but that's where the problem lies. Suspension points weren't just used occasionally, they were used all of the time.
When used correctly, suspension points can add to a story. However, when they should be replaced by commas, periods, or just a dialogue descriptor, they don't add to a story, they drag it down. This is what happened with Tangled Web.
Suspension points were used on almost every page, and frequently, even multiple times per page. There was more dialogue that included suspension points than dialogue that didn't. Now, I do realize what the author was trying to do. They were using the suspension points to add emphasis to certain words as well as to show a character's way of speaking.
All of that being said, I think the author needs to trust the literacy of their readers a little more. The average reader will know how to read dialogue without needing three dots every few words to show them exactly how to read it. Readers will automatically place emphasis on words based off of the connotations of certain words and the rhythm of the sentence based off of other punctuation like periods, commas, and semicolons.
The suspension points, for the most part, were not needed. They took my attention away from the story, and towards the end, I was almost more focused on inwardly groaning about yet another set of three dots than I was actually invested in the ending notes of the plot.
On top of that, there were various other errors. From missing words to sometimes the lack of proper quotations around dialogue, the story was rife with mistakes and grammar stumbles.
Even so, I can't bring myself to give Tangled Web a rating of anything less than or higher than a 3 out of 4 stars.
Despite the grammar issues, spelling mishaps, and a cast of characters that was sometimes too confusing to keep track of due to names that were very similar (Rayelle, Raveed, Ryne, Raider, Rashyd, Rhettin, etc.), I genuinely enjoyed the book.
Ryne, the main character, was wonderfully developed and her relationships with other characters were a delight to watch unfold. I also loved the ending and how everything played out. Don't worry, there are no spoilers here, but I was really pleased with how the story came to a close. In fact, it almost makes up for the mistakes.
I am so happy with the ending and interested in what will happen with the main character that I'll definitely be reading the second book whenever it comes out. . . even if the author still has their love for suspension points.
Anyway, all of that being said, I firmly believe that any reader with a love for faeries, magic, and sometimes dark character motivations will love Tangled Web.
All in all, with some editing, this story could very well be a four star book.
******
Tangled Web
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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3 out of 4 stars
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Tangled Web (Book One in the Arrynna Doe Trilogy) by L. W. Tichy is a story about Ryne Doe, an orphan who has been mislabeled as an unstable psychiatric patient for the entirety of her life. While everyone else, or everyone "normal", assumes that what she sees are hallucinations, Ryne knows that the dark faeries she sees on a regular basis are real. However, the story takes a turn when the beings, the ones only she can see, notice her, starting Ryne on the path of an adventure full of magic, mystery, and self-discovery.
Containing great development of the main character, a plot that keeps a reader guessing, magical beings, and intricate court structures that will enthrall any fan of fantasy worlds, Tangled Web is a story very firmly situated in the young adult section of the fantasy genre.
Personally, I was prepared to love the book. It reminded me of many novels I had read as a preteen that were also filled with magical beings; I was eager to escape into the story. Regrettably, there was something I didn't take into account. While I am a massive fan of the fantasy genre and all things faerie, I'm also a stickler for grammar and spelling, especially when it comes to books.
Looking at only the plot and the storyline, Tangled Web is a wonderful book, if a little slow-building. The action in this story was often outnumbered by dialogue that would sometimes seem inessential to the plot, but that suited me just fine. I was more than happy just to read about the many characters and their intricacies, at least when I could tell them apart as they all had very similar names.
Unfortunately, what did stop me from absolutely loving this book was a few things. Most notably, the author had a love for suspension points, also known as the famous "dot, dot, dot". To be clear, there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes a pause in dialogue can be a good thing, but that's where the problem lies. Suspension points weren't just used occasionally, they were used all of the time.
When used correctly, suspension points can add to a story. However, when they should be replaced by commas, periods, or just a dialogue descriptor, they don't add to a story, they drag it down. This is what happened with Tangled Web.
Suspension points were used on almost every page, and frequently, even multiple times per page. There was more dialogue that included suspension points than dialogue that didn't. Now, I do realize what the author was trying to do. They were using the suspension points to add emphasis to certain words as well as to show a character's way of speaking.
All of that being said, I think the author needs to trust the literacy of their readers a little more. The average reader will know how to read dialogue without needing three dots every few words to show them exactly how to read it. Readers will automatically place emphasis on words based off of the connotations of certain words and the rhythm of the sentence based off of other punctuation like periods, commas, and semicolons.
The suspension points, for the most part, were not needed. They took my attention away from the story, and towards the end, I was almost more focused on inwardly groaning about yet another set of three dots than I was actually invested in the ending notes of the plot.
On top of that, there were various other errors. From missing words to sometimes the lack of proper quotations around dialogue, the story was rife with mistakes and grammar stumbles.
Even so, I can't bring myself to give Tangled Web a rating of anything less than or higher than a 3 out of 4 stars.
Despite the grammar issues, spelling mishaps, and a cast of characters that was sometimes too confusing to keep track of due to names that were very similar (Rayelle, Raveed, Ryne, Raider, Rashyd, Rhettin, etc.), I genuinely enjoyed the book.
Ryne, the main character, was wonderfully developed and her relationships with other characters were a delight to watch unfold. I also loved the ending and how everything played out. Don't worry, there are no spoilers here, but I was really pleased with how the story came to a close. In fact, it almost makes up for the mistakes.
I am so happy with the ending and interested in what will happen with the main character that I'll definitely be reading the second book whenever it comes out. . . even if the author still has their love for suspension points.
Anyway, all of that being said, I firmly believe that any reader with a love for faeries, magic, and sometimes dark character motivations will love Tangled Web.
All in all, with some editing, this story could very well be a four star book.
******
Tangled Web
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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