The Long Journey Home

Cassandra Pierce

What rating would you give it?
2/2.5 of 5 Stars (at best… :/)

Give us a summary.

(Goodreads Description)
For eighteen years, Wren has lived isolation with his guardians, Grum and Krulch, in the heart of a deep, peaceful forest. His life is tranquil except for the doubts that torment him: why does he look so different from his parents, and how did two male ogres manage to birth a small, pale creature like Wren?

Everything changes when he accidentally wanders too far from home and comes upon an entire village of people who look like him. One in particular, a scribe’s apprentice named Valerus, is simply the most beautiful being Wren has ever seen.

His elation soon turns to fear when the people of the village tell Wren he is one of their own and must remain with them—abandoning the ogres who raised him. Though he would love to stay with Valerus and build a new life, he doesn’t want to do it at the expense of the life that made him. But if he wants to enjoy a promising future, he’ll have to find a way to unravel his mysterious past.

What did you think of the book?

Although this isn’t considered a YA book, I’d definitely classify it as one. It wasn’t a bad read, it just wasn’t all that good, either. I think there were too many vague urges trying to find purchase for it to be a cohesive tale. I was torn reading it, because there were moments I liked… but far too many I didn’t.

Any warnings you wish to make for your readers?

To be… confused. I think this story fell short on its grand notion. Two daddies? Check. Displaced teen? Check. Warring worlds? Check. What any of this has to do with one another to make a story that actually has meaning and depth outside of what I already mentioned? Yeah… big, fat red X there.

Does it count towards any reading challenges?

Tons and tons, per usual.

2015 GoodReads Reading Challenge
You Read How Many Books?
52 Books in 52 Weeks
Read A Million Pages
105 Reading Challenge (Category: 1, 2, 4, 10)
2015 New To You Reading Challenge (New Series To Me)
2015 Graphic Novel and Comic Reading Challenge
NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge

Would you recommend this book?

I doubt it. I just… ughh… I can’t even explain WHY it was so irritating a read. I think it stands to reason that it fell short on so many levels it’s just not worth bothering other people about.

Reviewed by AMS (amomentsilence)

Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Publication Date: July 2015
Format: eBook, RvC
Pages: 42
Genre & Themes: Fantasy, M/M Relationships,
YA, Fairy Tales, Romance, Prejudice, Orges,
Insta-love, Family, Isolation,