Customer Reviews

Flora's Dare: How a Girl of Spirit Gambles All to Expand Her Vocabulary, Confront a Bouncing Boy Terror, and Try to Save Califa from a Shaky Doom (Despite Being Confined to Her Room)

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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Maybe I should stop right there, with a one-word review. It's not easy to describe a novel that defies comparison to anything else I've ever read in nearly half a century of bookwormery, nor seen, dreamt or even imagined. Ysabeau Wilce's stories are always a weird and wonderful concoction of woolly West and court manners, mosh pits and magic mansions, humor and gore, and Flora's Dare (etc.) is a worthy follow-up to the first book in the series, Flora Segunda (etc.). I had just finished the YA bestseller Twilight when I read this, and wow, what a perfect antidote! You won't find anything insipid about the characters, the plot or the writing style in Flora's Dare. Instead be prepared for a strangely spiced dish that leaves you craving more.

I enjoyed Flora Segunda's world a great deal - very very inventive - but the plot arc suffered from inaction and lack of focus for most of the first half. The second half was much better, but the ending disappointed--felt stapled on. So when I heard Flora's Dare had come out, I wasn't too interested. Then a friend urged me to buy it, saying it was better than the first, so I searched it out. I have to say, before I go on, how very disappointed I am in the lack of marketing and visibility for this wonderfully inventive, enjoyable, creative book, worthy of Diana Wynne Jones' stamp of approval on the back--Indeed the author is the ONLY YA fantasy author writing now that I know of who has the potential to be a worthy successor to the amazing Diana Wynne Jones. I went to buy this book at the Strand, a huge, famous bookstore in NYC--and not only were they out (!), but the knowledgable staff knew nothing of the book! Why oh why is garbage promoted and this inventive creation invisible???? It's true that this book also suffers from lack of focus in the beginning--the first 100 pages or so could have been cut completely, and the book should have started at the party scene; any information such as the giant squid tentacles could have been introduced via short backstory. This is more the fault of the editor. But please hang in there, if you get a bit impatient at the slow pace of the beginning. It's a really good book, and I'm picky. For those who like intelligent creative fantasy, with a very well thought out world, strong characters, and (after page 100 or so), a strong plot with twists and turns, this is definitely very strongly recommended. And SPREAD THE WORD!!

Okay, as a rule, I don't really read all that much fantasy, so it was with mild reluctance that I started reading this one. As of page 2, I was hooked. Flora's Dare is a little gem of a fantasy/fiction book that brings to light a strong, daring, brave, intelligent and absolutely fun heroine with the name of Flora. I am a big fan of ANY book that makes its main character a strong female - even though she is obviously aimed at a younger audience - which is just fine with me. I love that the message in this book is a powerful one - Yes, a girl can be strong, brave, intelligent and fun!!!! As far as I am concerned that is a message that cannot be passed along at a young enough age.

I discovered that this is actually the second book in the series (I am going to buy the first book for sure). In Flora's Dare, Flora has alot to deal with - she needs to figure out a new language and for this she needs a special instructor. She has to deal with Udo's schemes (and their fallout), as well as her somewhat missing-in-action sister Idden. If that was not enough, Flora has just discovered the source of some deadly earthquakes that have occured.

I loved the writing, it was fresh and clip and the action was absolutely non-stop. I read this book in less than 3 days and enjoyed every minute of it. Yeah for Flora!!!! Girl Power!!! and all that.

Flora Fydraaca is one busy young lady.

Between her search for a Gramatica instructor, dealing with the fallout of her best friend Udo's moneymaking schemes in the bounty-hunting biz, elder sister Idden's desertion from Califa's military, discovering and thwarting the source of a series of deadly earthquakes threatening the city, a freshly sober and keenly aware father, a burgeoning crush on Califa's greatest living magickal adept and old Fydraaca family enemy Lord Axacaya, tentacles accosting her in public bathrooms, family secrets, assassination attempts, and inadequate sartorial resources - it's a wonder the girl has time to breathe.

At least this time around, Crackpot Manor's one and only accessible potty is up and running...

There is so much going on in FLORA'S DARE that it's by no means an overstatement to call the book a fantasy fiction lover's treasure trove. Author Ysabeau S. Wilce has done a remarkable job creating and populating Flora's world with multiple, complex plots and subplots, and plenty of intriguing information to keep readers coming back for more.

I deeply appreciated the level of sophistication Ms. Wilce has invested in the creation of Flora's world. She easily juggles plot threads without causing any confusion to the reader. By building the backstory of Flora's friends, family, adversaries, and the heroine herself into the narrative, she has created a series that will sustain itself over a number of books, striking the perfect balance between a compelling story and characters that are quirky yet deeply flawed.

Reviewed by: Cat

The intrepid Flora Fyrdraaca returns in another fast paced steam-punky adventure in an alternate San Francisco. While this book is worth reading, it suffers in comparison to the first book in the series, which combined adventure with opulent descriptions and character development. This one is all plot, moving so quickly from fires to earthquakes to giant squid to ghoulish grannies and bossy husbands that it's hard to take a breath.

I am reading this book to my nine year old daughter, and I have had to skip parts related to drugs, alcohol, sex and thinly disguised swear words (fike! give me a break.) So she won't be going back to re-read this one multiple times on her own as she did with Flora Segunda.

Even better than the first book in the series, which is saying a LOT. Flora's Dare is funny, exciting, magical and emotionally powerful, with all the humor and sparkling worldbuilding of the first book, but with even more fast-paced adventure, wonderful new characters, and a series of shocking (but perfectly set-up) revelations at the end. I can't wait to read the third book in the trilogy!

Flora's Dare is the sequel to Flora Segunda and although there are quite a few references to book one, this book is a stand alone. Flora is a typical teenage girl living in the Magikal city of Califa. Her parents expect her to follow the family tradition of joining the Califa army when she comes of age however Flora's secret goal is to become a Ranger. To do this she has to master the Magikal language of Gramatica. Flora is determined to find a teacher so that she can become as powerful as her Ranger hero Nini Mo.

Flora's plans are all changed as she's attacked by tentacle that comes up through the plumbing while attending a concert with her best friend Udo. She narrowly escapes the tentacle and figures out that the creature in the plumbing is the Lolgia monster trapped under the city long ago by a woman threatening to overthrow the government by unleashing the monster. Now Flora has to team up with Lord Axacaya who promises teach Flora Gramatica. Together they can free the monster and save the city. As the story unfolds Flora loses her best friend, gets grounded for passing curfew, travels in time, gets betrayed by someone close to her, discovers the truth about her family and of course saves the city.

At first I was hesitant about reading this book. It's second in a series that I hadn't read and it is 511 pages. However once I started it was hard to put down. Wilce writes a funny story that is great for both YA and adult readers of fantasy books. The magikal city of Califa is very believable and Flora's daring adventures keep you turning pages until the end. I will definitely be reading book one and eagerly awaiting book three in the sequel.

My only complaint ... where was the rest???? Though rather more complex than her first book it still is Wilce all over the place. This is truly a sequel taking the threads started in Flora Segunda and explaining more of what you began. Though you will like me be left searching Amazon for when her third will appear on the shelves.

I somehow got ahold of this book before reading the first. I cannot recommend this order of reading, however, I still truly enjoyed Wilce's invitation to her imagination. Flora is a wonderful, strong young woman character and there is magic involved too! I love how she doesn't depend on her friends for all of the solutions, but does a lot of things herself. I recommend anything by Wilce. Her world that she created it delightfully interesting.

I fell in love with Flora and her world in FLORA SEGUNDA. Wilce doesn't disappoint me in the sequel FLORA'S DARE, which further fleshes out the already fascinating world of Califa. I will confess to finding this a weaker book than the first in terms of plotting, but I was so absorbed by Flora's backstory and the history of Califa I didn't care. I wanted to crawl into the world and explore it myself!

Once again, absolutely and utterly recommended.