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trickphoenix's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Neutral 2.5 stars - I think it was a fine book for a specific audience, but didn't suit my preferences. It helps to know from the start that character growth is a HUGE part of the story, so if you find the protagonist frustrating, keep that in mind.
I discovered while reading that I only like the enemies-to-lovers trope if BOTH characters dislike each other from the start. In this book the "enemies" part was very one-sided and it felt more like bullying than real rivalry or enmity. I didn't get very invested in the romance or the characters, just found them more vexing than lovable, and felt like their bonding was hard to believe. I also realized partway through that it hadn't given me any occasion to laugh, and I prefer a romance to involve some witty banter.
The plot didn't leave me guessing much, mostly as predicted with a slight twist at the end, so just a little too predictable for my tastes but not to an extent unusual for YA.
I enjoyed the world building, interesting setting, magic system, and culture built around music. The diversity of the characters was great, and there were some difficult topics handled quite tactfully. No complaints about the writing style itself either. Unfortunately just not to my taste.
I discovered while reading that I only like the enemies-to-lovers trope if BOTH characters dislike each other from the start. In this book the "enemies" part was very one-sided and it felt more like bullying than real rivalry or enmity. I didn't get very invested in the romance or the characters, just found them more vexing than lovable, and felt like their bonding was hard to believe. I also realized partway through that it hadn't given me any occasion to laugh, and I prefer a romance to involve some witty banter.
The plot didn't leave me guessing much, mostly as predicted with a slight twist at the end, so just a little too predictable for my tastes but not to an extent unusual for YA.
I enjoyed the world building, interesting setting, magic system, and culture built around music. The diversity of the characters was great, and there were some difficult topics handled quite tactfully. No complaints about the writing style itself either. Unfortunately just not to my taste.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment