Moira Fowley-DoyleCritiques

IT WAS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO PUT THE BOOK DOWN!!!!

Like for real!! It’s been a while that a book had consumed me as much as this one did. I have no idea why I kept putting it off but a huge thank you to ChapterOne bookstores for this rec.

A funeral of a mysteriously dead person but her youngest sister believes otherwise because of a letter that is left behind.

A curse haunting the family for generations that can only be broken at the end of the world.

A hunt for the letters left behind with stories detailing the lives of their cursed ancestors.

There are several other mysteries to be discovered as we go on the journey with Deena and her companions as they set out to search for Mandy. A very beautifully written and highly required novel that dwells into the misogyny and suppression that women went through since the beginning of times and which continues to date, All the bad apples is a must read.

I am going to repeat it again, I WAS INCAPACITATED. I simply could not stop reading.

4,1 stars

unexpectedly enjoyable.

In some ways, a book about the lies that we tell in order to cope with our realities, in others, a book of secrets. Pleasingly mysterious and dances beautifully in the liminal space, where reality may or may not be hanging out. Good suspense, and a well told tale.

I'm not sure how to describe this book. Its got magic realism and kinda ghost stuff happening and its a book about family and trauma and secrets. The idea of an accident season isn't really something I have encountered before and I thought it was very interesting even though the book wasn't specifically about that as much as I was expecting. I liked it. But I see how some people might find it off putting. The story gets a bit scrambled at times and its not always possible to tell whats really happening in the moment and what is happening in imaginings and memory and magic. And if you need a concrete ending an explanation of events this is not the place to go looking.

V

teen fiction (suspense with paranormal elements and romantic twists; family secrets)

Maybe it's more about firsts. Maybe every first is a loss.

There was something quite lovely about this book. Set in Ireland, a sweet f/f pairing, bi rep, great relationships between siblings and friends. Definitely recommend!

Four and a half stars—it’s not a perfect book, but it is close. The story is an emotional roller coaster in the best way. It’s angry, desperate, and triumphant by turns, and very very feminist throughout. Also, banshees have never been so terrifying. Read it at night under the covers for maximum effect.

I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, this book. I barely had an inkling of what All The Bad Apples had in store for me, and I’m actually glad for that. It made discovering this book all the more bittersweet. See, there is a deep message under all the beautiful, lyrical writing. By the time I reached the ending of this story, I was in tears. I’d honestly be surprised if you aren’t as well.

Deena lives in a world where being a “nice, normal girl” is what is expected. Raised by her older sister, judged from afar by her absent father, attending a strict Catholic school, Deena feels hemmed in. She notes the girls around her who are brave enough to stand tall, to show their true colors, but she doesn’t know how to be one of them. This is why I loved Deena, and why I’m so glad that she was our main character. She wasn’t immediately fierce, but instead her bravery grew as she went on the journey to find her missing sister. A hero’s journey, if you will. Each piece of the puzzle that fell into place, each lesson learned from her ancestors, brought her closer and closer to the person that she wanted to be. It was a beautiful, brutally honest journey, and it was just perfect.

I loved how Fowley-Doyle was able to bring in so much rich, albeit damning, history into this story. Deena’s journey is told in alternating chapters between current day Ireland, and historical Ireland. Within these chapters, the author starkly lays out the similarities between people who lived hundereds of years ago, and the girls who are involved in the modern day story. It’s terrifying how much similarity there is between the two of them. There’s a definite focus on the people considered to be on the fringes of society, or the bad apples if you will. People who dared to love outside of the “norm”. People who looked different, or acted different, or merely wanted something more than what society told them they should have. I can’t express enough how poignant all of that is. I don’t want to spoil anything, since this is something to discover, but reading the author’s note at the end broke my heart in two. I had no idea of this history before this book, and I’m so glad that it was all laid out for me in such a spectacular way.

Admittedly, you’ll need to suspend disbelief to really appreciate this story. It reads much like the fairy tales of old, where good things happen to good people and true villains are as human as the rest of us. It reads in an almost magical mannner, blurring that line between the real world and the fairy tale one that lurks underneath. I thought it was a perfect way to tell this sometimes tragic and sometimes hopeful tale. I ended with a full heart, and that’s pretty much the best explanation I can give you as to why you need to read this book.

If you’re looking for something historically based, that will enchant you and make you cry, this is your book.

The first half to two-thirds of this book was phenomenal. Then it took a turn toward the mundane that I found didn't live up to the promise of the earlier part of the novel.

A Dublin teenager, Deena, on the precipice of her 17th birthday accidentally outself herself to her much older sister Rachel and her conservative father. Her other, wilder sister Mandy (Rachel's twin) goes missing, and when her car is found by some cliffs on the other side of Ireland, she is presumed dead by everyone but Deena.

Instead, Deena goes on a road trip with her best friend, a mixed-race bisexual boy named Finn, and meets a previously unknown niece and an attractive young woman along the way. They pick up clues in the form of letters from Mandy about the troubled history of women in Deena's family going back centuries which includes forced pregnancy, rape, ostracization, accusations of witchcraft, abortion, and imprisonment in the notorious Magdelen laundries. The whole time they are pursued by three banshees adding an element of magical realism.

This movie ties together a story of contemporary sexism, homophobia, and discrimination in Ireland with folklore and history. But does it with very little subtlety. My mind wandered a lot during this book but let's chalk that up to reader error. I'm sure this is a perfectly good book for young adults who want stories of adventure and family history with positive female and LGBT characters.½

In Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle, a small town's annual bonfire is the catalyst for some very unusual occurrences.

A meandering tale with chapters alternating between three points of view, the novel has a unique premise that, unfortunately, quickly becomes repetitious and lacks any type of forward progress. The many soundalike names (Olive, Rose, Ivy, Hazel, Rowan, Laurel, Holly, Ash, etc) make is virtually impossible to tell the characters apart. The chapters are narrated in first person and with the exception of Olive, the voices are so similar, it is impossible to tell them apart. Much of the supporting cast is also somewhat bland with little to distinguish them from the others.

Olive is one of the few voices that is distinct and easy to follow. Her family is also unique and their interactions are truly delightful and incredibly enjoyable. Olive's friendship with Rose (who is rather distinctive) is quite heartwarming and their text messages are hysterical. Olive's sister Emily is also a breath of fresh air and she is wise beyond her years.

Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle's does have some unexpected plot twists and a wonderfully diverse cast of characters. However, readers will need plenty of patience as they work their way through this convoluted, incredibly slow-paced young adult novel.

Deena’s sister Mandy has disappeared and is presumed dead; another bad thing to happen to Deena’s family. Deena refuses to believe that her sister Mandy is actually gone and her theory is supported when letters start arriving after Mandy’s funeral. The letters from Mandy are about their family’s history and curse, a curse that is handed down through the generations. Now Deena is on a mission to find her sister.

The first 3/4 of the book I really enjoyed and then it sort of lost me at the end. I’ll definitely be checking out other books by this author.

Warning: this is not a light hearted book. It covers some deep topics.½

Sometimes, it’s better to believe in an insane notion than facing the horrible truth. It’s a coping mechanism many people employ to help them navigate through life. Other times, though, those beliefs can be more harmful than one might expect. Because physical scars may fade, but you can’t run away from the secrets you’ve kept – even from yourself – since childhood. This is the message I ultimately received from reading The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle, and I think it’s an incredibly important message.

The Accident Season begins with a conspiratorial feel, lathered with mystery and the paranormal, which kept me turning the pages. The story builds up for the first 80% of the book, showing how unlucky these characters are. I mean, you have to have been either cursed by a gypsy or be the world’s unluckiest family to have a whole month dedicated to accidents. However, the truth for the existence of this so-called “season” is soon revealed with the assistance of an unlikely – and forgotten – member of the family. Intense moments, powerful revelations, and tricky relationships combine to make an addictive read with an incredible balance between truth and fantasy.

Honestly, I loved this book. I loved the way the characters were crafted, the way the story ended, as well as the message the author wanted to send. Bad things do happen, adults do lie to their children, families aren’t always wonderful, but it’s never too late to set things right.

Young adult readers will enjoy this book, especially those who love their contemporary novels with a bit of a twist. Readers who enjoyed Lies Like Love by Louisa Reid or All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven will also find pleasure in reading The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle.

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Updated Review

Actually this book is a solid 4 stars for me. I have to say when I finished it I didn't think it was. This book though has had some lasting grip on me though, enough so i found myself reading [b:The Accident Season|23346358|The Accident Season|Moïra Fowley-Doyle|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1428338423s/23346358.jpg|42905086] right away, I don't know what to say other than the writing has a quality that makes certain moments so clear you could touch them. The Characters were all given enough story that you wanted to know more but were not let down when you were not given the "more".

Now with that said I do remember the exact moment the pieces clicked together for how the book was going to go and how I completely turned on my PLL brain and pushed the right answer away.
The edge of magic-realism in this book was well worth the read. The book as a whole put me in the mind of a Alice Hoffman-esque book with more modern, young adult/teen feel. I'd almost call it a gateway into the whole wonderful genre

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a solid 4 stars fore me. Moira has crafted a intertwining story, the characters are the kinds you want to cry with or protect from the world.

This is the second book I've read by this author and I am excited for her new book ( [b:All the Bad Apples|40545833|All the Bad Apples|Moïra Fowley-Doyle|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1552954867s/40545833.jpg|62958964] ). While reading this book I couldn't help notice the themes that stay the same between this book and [b:Spellbook of the Lost and Found|30079439|Spellbook of the Lost and Found|Moïra Fowley-Doyle|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492078908s/30079439.jpg|50499449] are probably why I am drawn to these books, but like the last book I wish the author had expanded on the idea of Peter Pan, Lost Boys and Never Neverland, I think she has such a way of taking that theme and making it modern.

This book read very atmospheric and I found myself going pin crazy over it. The folklore and vivid descriptions of the smallest things (that yes sometimes are actually unimportant) make it feel real and like maybe we all might be wandering over that realm of fantastic and reality.

I will say the end seemed a little too happy for the events and a little rushed, like maybe we needed another chapter and the end could have been an epilogue, just something a bit more. The beginning of he book was a little slow but was building a nice world. Over all I really felt touched again by the writing.

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I really liked almost all of this book--the history, the time jumps in the narrative that showed the lives of different generations of women, the queer relationship portrayal. I was simply left scratching my head by the ending. I still don't really think I get what the protagonist was initially trying to accomplish with how she handled things, and my head spun a little at the switch from magic to "oops, not magic" and back to "maybe magic?" and on and on. But the rest of the book made up for that, in my opinion.

My goodness, these crazy teenagers. It's a wonder anyone survives adolescence, what with their crazy antics.

Fowley-Doyle actually has a pretty interesting premise on her hands with The Accident Season. For the month of October, Cara and her family become incredibly accident-prone. They stub their toes, fall and break bones, collect bruises and cuts galore. Occasionally, accidents are even fatal. See, that's a cool premise.

Fowley-Doyle's real issue is that she's unwilling to commit to fantasy, or even magical realism. She flirts right up to the edge, but she's afraid to cross over. As a result, the book is filled with loose ends from half-fulfilled fantasy plot lines that are suddenly abandoned. The bus with the mirror teens? Never explained! The disappearing costume shop? Lolz, it's basically the polar bear from Lost. The tin man? It's a metaphor, and metaphors need no explanation. It doesn't help that Cara and her cohort are unrealistic to the point of twee. What teenager carries around tarot cards for impromptu readings? What teen sets up a typewriter for students to type out their secrets? Like, what is this? Who actually does this in real life?

To its credit, The Accident Season stayed interesting until the end, when I realized none of the lingering plot holes would ever be addressed. And for YA, it's decently written.

So yeah. Ok. Kept me entertained at the gym. A glowing review, truly.

I really loved this book. The writing was beautiful, and the whole story just moved me in a variety of ways. Painful and sad, but beautiful and hopeful... it was a very creative and interesting way to tell a coming of age story, as well as coming to terms with one's painful past. Can't wait to read more by this author.

well written, but it took a while to really connect to any of the characters. it was also pretty easy to guess the major twist. I definitely enjoyed this book, though!

I loved this book.

I loved this book.

3.5 Stars

“Be careful what you wish for; not all lost things should be found.”

This book was honestly one big mindwarp. But I kinda liked it. It’s gritty and seductive, with an air of mystery that created a perfectly surreal environment for the story. We follow Olive, and her best friend Rose, as they begin to lose things after the town’s annual bonfire. They meet up with 3 mysterious teens, Hazel, Rowan, and Ivy, who have lost things of their own. The ragtag group begins to find diary pages from a girl named Laurel and an ancient spellbook that can recall lost things. Magic, mystery, and mayhem ensure in this seductive and enchanting read.

Things I Liked
The different friend groups present in the story are all really fantastic. I loved how Olive, Rose, Hazel, Rowan, and Ivy’s story was paralleling Laurel, Ash, and Holly’s. I also loved the friendships between Olive & Rose, and Hazel, Rowan, & Ivy. The developed and established friendships made the entire team up more enjoyable and believable.

There was this surreal feeling atmosphere over the entire story. It created this serendipitous world where everything happened and was interconnected. It really matched the subject matter and I liked that.

At the end of the story I was left with some unanswered questions, but I don’t think everything in this story needed a clear answer. I like that I’m left wondering about some aspects of the story. It matched the mysterious nature well.

There was also some great representation in this book. Hazel identifies as a lesbian, and Olive and Rose identify as bi. Rose mentions that she's half-Indian. Olive is is deaf in one ear, and uses a hearing aid. I loved the seemless inclusion of different sexuality, race, and ability.

Things I Didn’t Like
While I did enjoy the overall surreal feeling, it did have this weightless quality that made it hard to connect with the characters in the beginning of the story. The magicalness was perfect for the mystery, but it did keep the story from being grounded for me.

I found that in the beginning third of the book, the different POV chapters ran together for me; especially because we’re introduced to the three groups at roughly the same time. The different groups finding the other’s “lost things” also didn’t help differentiate the people/

Ivy left a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth after a reveal that happened in the last quarter of the book, and I didn’t really like her much after that. I know everyone in this book is selfish, but I felt like that she did went a little too far.

Spellbook of the Lost and Found is a magically captivating read that draws you into a world of loss, mystery, and endurance. The dynamics really shined, while I found the romances to be a little lackluster. This is my first book from Moïra Fowley-Doyle, but it definitely intrigues me enough to check out more of her work.

I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Holy. Shit.