Title: Tris & Izzie
Author: Mette Ivie Harrison
YA Retelling
Published 10/11/11 by EgmontUSA
Goodreads summary:
A modern retelling of the German fairytale “Tristan and Isolde”, Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until — she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.
Review:
I want to appreciate this cover for a second. Because even though it pretty much has nothing to do with this book, it is gorgeous. I especially love how the redhead’s hair matches the raining autumn leaves. And even though Izzie is described in the first few paragraphs as having “dark hair,” I really love this cover. It makes you think you’re going to read this really poetic romance.
That’s not the story that I read though. In fact, I think the cover was the best part of this book.
I really like the legend of Tristan and Isolde. The myth is layered with complicated emotions of love and betrayal and heartache. Tris & Izzie does not have things like emotions to clutter it.
Not that they’re not supposed to, you understand. But everything about this book just felt flat.
I didn’t connect to a single character. Not a one. Not even Izzie, and since the book is written a close first person narrated by Izzie, that was especially disappointing. Forgiveness is granted in the blink of an eye, complicated emotions happen in a heartbeat and nothing develops– it simply is.
The world-building just didn’t make a great deal of sense. I don’t want to spoil things for you if you decide to read it, but a great deal of things are explained away in a manner that just didn’t feel plausible. Magic is kept a secret from non-magic folk seemingly by dumb luck and yet the need for secrecy is impressed upon the reader time and time again. It didn’t add up.
The major problem with this book can be summed up in three little words: “told, not shown.” Characters shouldn’t have to spell out exactly what they’re feeling and doing. Things should be nuanced, body language should communicate, moods should be set, pacing should express how the action and timing are perceived. I didn’t get that here. It felt like I was being talked down to… or talked at, even. The writing in general seemed to be dumbed down: as though that was what the Young Adult audience has to mean, but if you’re even reading this blog, I’m sure you already know that not to be the case.
I think the author had a great idea modernizing Tristan and Isolde. Unfortunately, I don’t think she followed through on it very well.
To be honest, I was dreadfully bored while reading this book and it was supposed to be a thrilling romance and adventure. At least it wasn’t a long book.
Rating: 1/5. It wasn’t the worst book I ever read, but I was very disappointed by it after looking forward to reading it. Exciting premise. Major let down.
I received an e-ARC from the publishers via NetGalley. This in no way affected my review.
*I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you choose to purchase the book through this link, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. This in no way affected my review.
