📖 Overview
Furthermore is a middle-grade fantasy novel about twelve-year-old Alice Queensmeadow, who lives in a world of magic and color. Born with no color in a vibrant magical land called Ferenwood, Alice must find her missing father who disappeared three years ago.
Alice embarks on her quest alongside Oliver, a boy she doesn't trust, through a strange realm called Furthermore. In this unfamiliar territory, the rules of magic differ from her homeland, and every step brings new challenges and dangers.
The story weaves together themes of self-acceptance, trust, and the power of seeing beauty in unexpected places. The relationship between color and magic plays a central role in this unique take on the classic hero's journey.
👀 Reviews
Readers describe Furthermore as a whimsical middle-grade fantasy with vibrant world-building and unique magic systems. Many highlight the creative settings, colorful prose, and Alice in Wonderland-like atmosphere.
Readers appreciated:
- Distinct writing style and descriptive language
- Character development of protagonist Alice
- Original magical concepts
- Visual descriptions of the various lands
- Themes of self-acceptance
Common criticisms:
- Pacing issues, especially in the middle
- Plot can feel meandering
- Some found the writing style too flowery
- Younger target age than some expected
- Worldbuilding rules not fully explained
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.9/5 (31,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,100+ ratings)
Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (200+ ratings)
"The descriptions paint such a vivid picture, I could see every scene like a movie" - Goodreads reviewer
"Beautiful writing but the story wandered too much for me" - Amazon reviewer
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin A Chinese girl embarks on a quest to change her family's fortune by seeking the Old Man of the Moon.
The Real Boy by Anne Ursu An orphan who works with magical herbs must protect his town when strange illnesses and disappearances threaten its inhabitants.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend A cursed girl escapes her fate and enters a magical realm where she must pass trials to join an exclusive society.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill A witch raises a moon-powered girl in a world where magic exists in unexpected places and forms.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin A Chinese girl embarks on a quest to change her family's fortune by seeking the Old Man of the Moon.
The Real Boy by Anne Ursu An orphan who works with magical herbs must protect his town when strange illnesses and disappearances threaten its inhabitants.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend A cursed girl escapes her fate and enters a magical realm where she must pass trials to join an exclusive society.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌈 The author was inspired to write Furthermore after realizing she'd always wanted to read a book about a colorless girl in a world of color - but that book didn't exist yet.
🎨 The vibrant world of Furthermore draws influence from Alice in Wonderland, but with its own unique magical system where color is literally consumed as food.
✍️ Tahereh Mafi wrote Furthermore during a difficult period in her life, and the book's themes of self-acceptance reflect her personal journey.
🌟 The main character Alice's name is a deliberate homage to Lewis Carroll's Alice, though their adventures and personalities are quite different.
🗺️ The magical lands in Furthermore were partially inspired by Persian folklore and stories Mafi heard growing up in a Persian-American household.