review 1: I would not have given the Hugo to this novel but it is an enjoyable read. In a way it is a gigantic fan service as the book is about the diary of a 15 year old welsh girl that reads a ton of fantasy and science fiction. There are some fantasy elements but they are very light. The reason it works is that for science fiction/fantasy fans of my age the book is a gigantic trip through memory lane as all along classics that I read 25 years ago are quoted and mentionned all the time ( and sadly it is a huge eye opener on how little aside from the title I remember from those classics...) review 2: Loved this book. It is definitely a love letter to fantasy and science fiction books and reading. At times (often) the name dropping can be overwhelming, but the writing is... more beautiful and the characters, especially Mori, are memorable. Ultimately, this is a diary of a 15 year old girl who is away at boarding school and nothing much happens...and yet, I couldn't imagine how the book would end, didn't want it to end and was on the edge of my seat when it did. Then I walked around the house for an hour with a smile on my face, Definition of a great book. A must for fantasy lovers and book lovers in general. less
