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danaslitlist's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall I found this to be a fun and fast read and an interesting take "Princess and the Pauper'-esque plot. I really enjoyed the two main characters Ellie and Lottie and think that they're a great example of characters being polar opposites but not constantly butting heads on every page. They understand each other's flaws and differences and allow for the other to be their own person without feeling the need to change the other. That's something I don't think there is enough of in books especially middle grade and young adult.
I liked the school and that basically everyone there is rich, famous or royalty. I wish that had been leaned into a bit more though. It's mentioned a few times that Lottie is the first scholarship student they've had in years but other than that and a few comments about her not belonging it was easy to forget that this was a school for elites. I also wish we got more interactions in the classrooms or insight into the school itself. Maybe that's something that happens later on in the series if it takes place on the premises of the school.
All that being said it wouldn't be a review from me if I didn't have a few critiques to make. The biggest one being that I cannot get over the fact that these characters are supposed to be thirteen years old. At first this isn't much of an issue, I mean thirteen year olds go to boarding schools. But it becomes an issue when we start learning more about how royalty works in this world (I'll get to that in a minute), how these characters speak and act, and some of the plot points. None of the thirteen year old characters speak or act like any thirteen year old I've met especially not in a modern day setting. It doesn't make sense that a thirteen year old would be tasked with being the bodyguard to the Princess and be a trained assassin in a modern day world. And it definitely isn't a good look to have a borderline sexual assault occur on page with a thirteen year old character and not have any serious consequences follow that.
The setting also suffers from a lack of thought and explanation. It took me a few chapters before I realized that this was set in our modern day world with phones, laptops, and first class jets. And I kept forgetting that element until it was tossed in. I don't understand how relations with other countries work or what rules or laws need to be followed in order to ensure safety for royalty attending the school. I'm still confused about the elite soldiers trained for protection of royalty. This book feels like it wants to be set in it's own, original world but the author was too scared to actually do that.
And my last issue is that I think this book introduces too many little side quests or future plot points in this book. Such as the painting and puzzle from Binah and the strange "magic" that Lottie has that is never really touched on at all. These needed more focus or structure in order for them not to feel thrown in just for the sake of being able to launch the next plot points in the following book.
Not a bad book by any means and definitely not the worst first book in a series! Will I continue reading? Probably not, but I do think this series has potential to improve for the best.
I liked the school and that basically everyone there is rich, famous or royalty. I wish that had been leaned into a bit more though. It's mentioned a few times that Lottie is the first scholarship student they've had in years but other than that and a few comments about her not belonging it was easy to forget that this was a school for elites. I also wish we got more interactions in the classrooms or insight into the school itself. Maybe that's something that happens later on in the series if it takes place on the premises of the school.
All that being said it wouldn't be a review from me if I didn't have a few critiques to make. The biggest one being that I cannot get over the fact that these characters are supposed to be thirteen years old. At first this isn't much of an issue, I mean thirteen year olds go to boarding schools. But it becomes an issue when we start learning more about how royalty works in this world (I'll get to that in a minute), how these characters speak and act, and some of the plot points. None of the thirteen year old characters speak or act like any thirteen year old I've met especially not in a modern day setting. It doesn't make sense that a thirteen year old would be tasked with being the bodyguard to the Princess and be a trained assassin in a modern day world. And it definitely isn't a good look to have a borderline sexual assault occur on page with a thirteen year old character and not have any serious consequences follow that.
The setting also suffers from a lack of thought and explanation. It took me a few chapters before I realized that this was set in our modern day world with phones, laptops, and first class jets. And I kept forgetting that element until it was tossed in. I don't understand how relations with other countries work or what rules or laws need to be followed in order to ensure safety for royalty attending the school. I'm still confused about the elite soldiers trained for protection of royalty. This book feels like it wants to be set in it's own, original world but the author was too scared to actually do that.
And my last issue is that I think this book introduces too many little side quests or future plot points in this book. Such as the painting and puzzle from Binah and the strange "magic" that Lottie has that is never really touched on at all. These needed more focus or structure in order for them not to feel thrown in just for the sake of being able to launch the next plot points in the following book.
Not a bad book by any means and definitely not the worst first book in a series! Will I continue reading? Probably not, but I do think this series has potential to improve for the best.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
Minor: Emotional abuse
The sexual assault doesn't go past grabbing and attempt, but was still startling to see it in this bookhexatrance's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
[Audio reread] This is like the fourth time I've read this book and it's just as magical as ever. Though it is the first time I've listened to it as an audio book. Connie's mum reading the prologue was a really nice touch and I loved that Connie narrated it herself. Although because 90% of the book is in Lottie's perspective, it took me off guard when there was different narrators for Jamie and Ellie's perspective. Also can't belive that for 5 years I've been reading Binah as Bine-ah and not Been-ah 😅
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
davyjones's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
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