ginnikin's review against another edition
2.0
Dear Sharon Shinn: Thank you for avoiding oogy nasty ablism.
Aside from that, the third book is much like the first three: a little unsubtle (thematic statement--drink!), a little fluffy, mostly inoffensive.
However, that so-called twist? Not so much. I'm just sayin'…
Aside from that, the third book is much like the first three: a little unsubtle (thematic statement--drink!), a little fluffy, mostly inoffensive.
However, that so-called twist? Not so much. I'm just sayin'…
nelsonseye's review against another edition
4.0
The Dream-Maker's magic was quite sweet with small touches of darkness. Like the other books in the trilogy, it covers years of the protagonist's life, but in a fairly smooth and interesting way. Kellen and her friends were likeable, and the mystery, though not surprising, worked out well. It was also nice to see characters from the previous books.
malaikah92's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so cute! The story is kind of sad at the start, but it has such a sweet ending =)
wordnerdy's review against another edition
4.0
https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2020/03/2019-book-69.html
Like its predecessor, the third book in this trilogy is set in the same universe, with cameos from previous characters, but focuses on a whole new town of people. The protagonist here is a young girl whose mother is convinced she's supposed to be a boy, and treats her as such. She ends up befriending a boy with a physical handicap (trigger warning here for child abuse) and their story is really sweet. I liked this trilogy a lot; bad things happened but only briefly, and everything always worked out exactly as it should. A-.
Like its predecessor, the third book in this trilogy is set in the same universe, with cameos from previous characters, but focuses on a whole new town of people. The protagonist here is a young girl whose mother is convinced she's supposed to be a boy, and treats her as such. She ends up befriending a boy with a physical handicap (trigger warning here for child abuse) and their story is really sweet. I liked this trilogy a lot; bad things happened but only briefly, and everything always worked out exactly as it should. A-.
blue_squishie's review against another edition
5.0
2016-02-13: hmmm I guess I've never put in a date read for this book. Oh well. This was a re-read. Still charming. And long enough past since the last time I read it I had forgotten the details.
burningupasun's review
5.0
Setting/World Building: 5/5
Main Character: 5/5
Other Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Triggering/Issues: 5/5 (Minor sexual harassment scene, but not bad enough to really be triggering.)
AVERAGED TOTAL: 4.6 out of 5, rounded to 5.
Maybe this book really is more of a 4.5 or a 4, but I liked it enough to bring it up to five stars. I liked it especially because of the novelty of Kellen; a girl raised as a boy, whose mother treats her as a boy no matter how she tries to act. It was an interesting glimpse at gender and how it affected her, and I liked how sort of neutral Kellen could be. She was both masculine and feminine, comfortable in boys clothes and eventually in girl's clothes, although she would always be a nice mix. I suppose the plot wasn't a very active one, I think it was mostly about her finding her place an I liked that. It was also really nice to see characters from the previous book, too. All in all, a great easy read!
Main Character: 5/5
Other Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Triggering/Issues: 5/5 (Minor sexual harassment scene, but not bad enough to really be triggering.)
AVERAGED TOTAL: 4.6 out of 5, rounded to 5.
Maybe this book really is more of a 4.5 or a 4, but I liked it enough to bring it up to five stars. I liked it especially because of the novelty of Kellen; a girl raised as a boy, whose mother treats her as a boy no matter how she tries to act. It was an interesting glimpse at gender and how it affected her, and I liked how sort of neutral Kellen could be. She was both masculine and feminine, comfortable in boys clothes and eventually in girl's clothes, although she would always be a nice mix. I suppose the plot wasn't a very active one, I think it was mostly about her finding her place an I liked that. It was also really nice to see characters from the previous book, too. All in all, a great easy read!
dainybernstein's review
5.0
http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com/2011/01/dream-makers-magic.html
As coming-of-age stories go, this one is really good. We follow Kellen from ten years old to sixteen, seeing her slowly realize what she wants and accept who she is. Both Kellen's and Gryffin's development is full of depth and color, and flows so smoothly. The way they grow into themselves is real and true-to-life - well, except for the magic part!
The feel and texture of the narrative struck me as so fitting, because I actually felt like I was in this tiny village, with ignorant, uncultured people, and when the story took us into the capital city, I felt the difference in sophistication. I think it takes a great deal of talent to create the effect of that movement from country bumpkin to city slick, and Sharon Shinn does that beautifully.
The plot kept me guessing for a good part of the book. I have to say, I was shocked when I found out who was the new Dream-Maker! I expected someone different entirely. One thing I'd say, though, is that although I didn't feel dissatisfied when reading the book, I did notice that there didn't seem to be a clear motivation or goal that the characters were working toward, and the ending was a big surprise because I didn't know the story was even heading in that direction.
Still, I like the book, the way I was drawn into the characters' lives, the weirdness of it all, and the way Kellen and Gryffin make lives for themselves.
As coming-of-age stories go, this one is really good. We follow Kellen from ten years old to sixteen, seeing her slowly realize what she wants and accept who she is. Both Kellen's and Gryffin's development is full of depth and color, and flows so smoothly. The way they grow into themselves is real and true-to-life - well, except for the magic part!
The feel and texture of the narrative struck me as so fitting, because I actually felt like I was in this tiny village, with ignorant, uncultured people, and when the story took us into the capital city, I felt the difference in sophistication. I think it takes a great deal of talent to create the effect of that movement from country bumpkin to city slick, and Sharon Shinn does that beautifully.
The plot kept me guessing for a good part of the book. I have to say, I was shocked when I found out who was the new Dream-Maker! I expected someone different entirely. One thing I'd say, though, is that although I didn't feel dissatisfied when reading the book, I did notice that there didn't seem to be a clear motivation or goal that the characters were working toward, and the ending was a big surprise because I didn't know the story was even heading in that direction.
Still, I like the book, the way I was drawn into the characters' lives, the weirdness of it all, and the way Kellen and Gryffin make lives for themselves.