Rating:  Summary: Didn't find witty, or funny., but superficial and ornate! Review: While I have a great deal of respect for the author's work, I'm not ready to accept all of her ideas as gospel, or that her novels are superbly written. It is my belief that this book has a handful of flaws. Starting with the creativity, which although is imaginative to say the least; it lack originality, ambitious marble allegories, elegance. It is superficial, ornate, and imposing of lifestyles, which, in my opinion the author is completely alien or at least offence to some that are famaliar with various styles attempted. First she decisions about power and control when designing the plot and characters, from an imaginary large rabbit, the tarot cards, attempt efforts of screwball comedy, to covens that are suppose to be funny, which is a let down for those familiar with cults, covens and life in a specified setting (it is unbelievable). In the second, she writes of the importance of a vast cultural commons, which acts as the wellspring for her expression and the grounding plate for the souls at Rebecca's Cove, on this quirkly little island. To me, this isn't hilarious as intended, but somewhat distasteful. She attempted to deal with some very sophisticated issues presented in an easy-to-understand and concise format, but failed sadly in doing so.Maas's prose is improving as she drops the footnote-heavy habit of repeated retredic writing and adopts a bloggier style driven by anecdotes and attempted humorist. And what anecdotes she has - LB's years on the barricades have given a surprisingly large collection of tales that will make any artist or citizen cringe. Needless to say, I didn't find this book witty, appealing, or up to her normal quality of writing.
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