erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This was a book that was recommended to me by StoryGraph, but I'm not really enthused. Still trying to decide if I should give it 3 stars? because it's not really worth that.
It ticked a lot of the boxes that should put it in the running for a favourite for me: teen quest with prophecies in a world where magic is real and incorporating a lot of myth and legend from different places, loads of puns, multicultural rep with characters who are an international grab-bag, shape changers, geriatric warriors, magical creatures, an unknown betrayer, a non-binary character, and some LGBT+ rep. The title itself could even be considered a reference to Princess Bride "..as you wish." And yet..
I don't know how much of the cringe I get from this title comes from the performance of the narrator, who seemed to be hired for her talent with Tagalog but who fails MISErably when challenged to pronounce Japanese, Irish or French words, and even some English ones. I don't believe that they camped near a corpse of trees (copse, surely), groused doesn't rhyme with caroused, plover doesn't rhyme with clover, or wizen with horizon. English aside, the narrator sounds like she hasn't heard of the Marquis de Carabas (from the story of Puss in Boots), and I struggled to hear the actual name of the mythical Japanese sword but from guessing it as Ju-uchi ? I managed to websearch 十千夜寒 Juuchi Yosamu (clearly I haven't watched enough Naruto). I just about howled and threw down the book in disgust when she tried to read Oisín as Oy-sin.
I would feel like the work of the author had been heinously wronged by these abuses, but it seems to match with her literary prowess, in that while it is functional and sometimes interesting, it is often not very aesthetically pleasing. I feel like parts of the story are written to make it more accessible, but it just means lots of clumsy tautologies; saying everything twice... (humour intended). Descriptions were full of things like "noisy din", "large titan" or the mindboggling "daybreak broke through the horizon". I TRY to ignore these things and focus on story. I'm owning that part of this is my own snobbish insistence on conventional language.
It's really unfortunate that most YA fantasy authors seem to think that stories become more exciting with magical weapons, mythic monsters, and cinematic fight scenes. Possibly this book would work better as a graphic novel, because blow by blow battles are not really made any more fascinating for me with mythic swords, sticks, extending staff, electric whip or groovy scythe. A protracted fight scene is still... kinda dull. Multiple protracted fight scenes.. even more so.
I wonder if I got more or less out of this book by already knowing quite a few of the stories the characters were based on. Kay and Gerda were obviously lifted from the Snow Queen, though in this telling he was also Sir Kay from Arthurian legend. The Locksley and Nottingham family feud was no surprise to those who recognise the names from the Robin Hood stories. I did have a chuckle at the transMOGrification of Cheshire. Melucine was combined into the legend of the Little Mermaid in stories told by the characters. There was a lot of world explanation, history and politics that was spelled out in dialogue between characters. Unfortunately that didn't make it feel much more relevant or less dull. The theory of how the magicks work was, as is common in this type of story, covered in training montages or discussions of magic-school lessons.
Although there was a diverse cast, and some cool Pinoy family parties with loads of food, which made me smile, there were also a lot of low-key problematic things in the story.
Pro: a powerful city in the magic land that is inhabited by beautiful people from Africa
Con: and we think it's really important to focus on how hot these women are, that they win Miss Universe pageants, and we need to try and keep the boys from flirting with them
Pro: a diverse cast of teens from different areas of the world and different strengths and weaknesses
Con: casual meanness / teasing about those people's gifts and weaknesses, such as trying to get a character to "shut up" when he's having a conversation with an animal, or laughing at the guy who doesn't understand idioms, or the guy who is always honest and doesn't understand how it hurts people's feelings.
Pro/con: The use of pro/con lists, and the hassling of the use of pro/con lists.
I was so keen to like this story. I still rate it as better than Shannon Messengers "Keeper of the Lost.." series, but (as so wonderfully addressed) "m'ladies, m'gentlemen, m'NBs"... unfortunately, for me, that's a bounce.
It ticked a lot of the boxes that should put it in the running for a favourite for me: teen quest with prophecies in a world where magic is real and incorporating a lot of myth and legend from different places, loads of puns, multicultural rep with characters who are an international grab-bag, shape changers, geriatric warriors, magical creatures, an unknown betrayer, a non-binary character, and some LGBT+ rep. The title itself could even be considered a reference to Princess Bride "..as you wish." And yet..
I don't know how much of the cringe I get from this title comes from the performance of the narrator, who seemed to be hired for her talent with Tagalog but who fails MISErably when challenged to pronounce Japanese, Irish or French words, and even some English ones. I don't believe that they camped near a corpse of trees (copse, surely), groused doesn't rhyme with caroused, plover doesn't rhyme with clover, or wizen with horizon. English aside, the narrator sounds like she hasn't heard of the Marquis de Carabas (from the story of Puss in Boots), and I struggled to hear the actual name of the mythical Japanese sword but from guessing it as Ju-uchi ? I managed to websearch 十千夜寒 Juuchi Yosamu (clearly I haven't watched enough Naruto). I just about howled and threw down the book in disgust when she tried to read Oisín as Oy-sin.
I would feel like the work of the author had been heinously wronged by these abuses, but it seems to match with her literary prowess, in that while it is functional and sometimes interesting, it is often not very aesthetically pleasing. I feel like parts of the story are written to make it more accessible, but it just means lots of clumsy tautologies; saying everything twice... (humour intended). Descriptions were full of things like "noisy din", "large titan" or the mindboggling "daybreak broke through the horizon". I TRY to ignore these things and focus on story. I'm owning that part of this is my own snobbish insistence on conventional language.
It's really unfortunate that most YA fantasy authors seem to think that stories become more exciting with magical weapons, mythic monsters, and cinematic fight scenes. Possibly this book would work better as a graphic novel, because blow by blow battles are not really made any more fascinating for me with mythic swords, sticks, extending staff, electric whip or groovy scythe. A protracted fight scene is still... kinda dull. Multiple protracted fight scenes.. even more so.
I wonder if I got more or less out of this book by already knowing quite a few of the stories the characters were based on. Kay and Gerda were obviously lifted from the Snow Queen, though in this telling he was also Sir Kay from Arthurian legend. The Locksley and Nottingham family feud was no surprise to those who recognise the names from the Robin Hood stories. I did have a chuckle at the transMOGrification of Cheshire. Melucine was combined into the legend of the Little Mermaid in stories told by the characters. There was a lot of world explanation, history and politics that was spelled out in dialogue between characters. Unfortunately that didn't make it feel much more relevant or less dull. The theory of how the magicks work was, as is common in this type of story, covered in training montages or discussions of magic-school lessons.
Although there was a diverse cast, and some cool Pinoy family parties with loads of food, which made me smile, there were also a lot of low-key problematic things in the story.
Pro: a powerful city in the magic land that is inhabited by beautiful people from Africa
Con: and we think it's really important to focus on how hot these women are, that they win Miss Universe pageants, and we need to try and keep the boys from flirting with them
Pro: a diverse cast of teens from different areas of the world and different strengths and weaknesses
Con: casual meanness / teasing about those people's gifts and weaknesses, such as trying to get a character to "shut up" when he's having a conversation with an animal, or laughing at the guy who doesn't understand idioms, or the guy who is always honest and doesn't understand how it hurts people's feelings.
Pro/con: The use of pro/con lists, and the hassling of the use of pro/con lists.
I was so keen to like this story. I still rate it as better than Shannon Messengers "Keeper of the Lost.." series, but (as so wonderfully addressed) "m'ladies, m'gentlemen, m'NBs"... unfortunately, for me, that's a bounce.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Gore, Grief, Abandonment, Ableism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, and War
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Slavery, Murder, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Colonisation, Genocide, and War
fromjuliereads's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay this book was so good and I enjoyed it so much! I was a little hesitant because I haven't seen much about it but I am SO GLAD that I read it.
The beginning has a LOT going on. There is a lot of worldbuilding, magic, and tons of characters. It was a bit overwhelming for the start but as I continued, I got really invested in quite a few of the characters! Plus there is a JOURNEY with a rag-tag group that has to work together and I am always all for that 🙌
I think the only things were that because there are so many characters, it's a little hard to keep track at first and some of them are not as well developed. But I'm hoping we get more in book 2!
All of the references to fairytales and how they were spun for this world was AWESOME! I loved the references and characters that were mentioned and how they were brought into the history and the story. It was woven in really well!
The beginning has a LOT going on. There is a lot of worldbuilding, magic, and tons of characters. It was a bit overwhelming for the start but as I continued, I got really invested in quite a few of the characters! Plus there is a JOURNEY with a rag-tag group that has to work together and I am always all for that 🙌
I think the only things were that because there are so many characters, it's a little hard to keep track at first and some of them are not as well developed. But I'm hoping we get more in book 2!
All of the references to fairytales and how they were spun for this world was AWESOME! I loved the references and characters that were mentioned and how they were brought into the history and the story. It was woven in really well!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, and War
Mention of ICE, threat of deportation, detention centers for childrentahsintries's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Genocide
Minor: Homophobia, Bullying, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This fantasy is chock-full of fairy tale and legendary references in terms of history, locales, and powers, but it's also a dystopia, so naturally, the worst parts of our society remain, villainous ICE agents included. In the truly garbage Royal States of America, Tala has inherited her family's curse, making her a Spellbreaker who disrupts magic. Her best friend is the heir-in-hiding for the defeated and iced-over kingdom of Avalon. As his 18th birthday nears, it's time for Alex to take his homeland back.
There's a lot to love in this book, including funny chapter titles a la Rick Riordan. Of many favorites, "in which bad bureaucratic policies have consequences" is a true knockout, and another gem is "in which objects in mirrors are closer than they appear," and "in which the castle wants Tala to be its guest" earns a gold star. I could have literally picked any three random chapter titles, people. They're that entertaining. The pop-culture references are also sublime, from Star Wars to the TARDIS to the power of Grayskull. This provided extra tasty seasoning over a healthy diet of Wonderland, Camelot, and Neverland plot elements.
I also loved the ethnically diverse main cast with a Filipina protagonist at the helm. We are also graced with a gay King Arthur descendant and a non-binary Chinese-Canadian Loki among the main characters. The teenage leads form a promising group with hilarious quirks and a good mix of individual strengths and weaknesses that complement one another as a team.
There were some downsides for me. I felt buried in world-building at the start of this book, and other info dumps still arose later in the story. The front-loaded world-building made for a slow start to the plot and sporadic characterization. While I liked the cast, I don't feel I saw their full range. There was definitely that anticipatory "first book in a series" feeling to suggest that the real action is yet to come. The last part is a matter of personal taste. There's a lot of prophecy in the story from seers to visions to a personal "doom" spoken at birth, and these strands of fate were not always tricky to decipher. It rendered certain events predictable and paused the flow of the story.
For fans of fairy tale retellings, especially the epically chaotic variety that smooshes them all together for maximum effort, this book is for you. Definitely check it out if it sounds like your cup of ya fantasy tea.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Genocide, Grief, Homophobia, Police brutality, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Vomit
malloryfitz's review against another edition
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Xenophobia
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Violence, Racism, Murder, Homophobia, Genocide, and Cursing
azrah786's review against another edition
4.5
[This full review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Wicked As You Wish is a magical, action-packed adventure with a diverse cast of characters and a sassy firebird that will keep you entertained from start to finish. It takes place in an alternate universe where fairy-tale lands and characters exist. In recent history a war between the Kingdom of Avalon and The Snow Queen of Beira resulted in Avalon being frozen and the demise of its monarchy, the disappearance of the Snow Queen and magical repercussions worldwide.
The story follows Tala Warnock, a descendant of the Makiling clan - a Filipino bloodline with a curse that repels magic. Like her mother she is a Spellbreaker. Allies to Avalon, Tala’s family were of a number of refugees that managed to escape the kingdom when it fell, and took residence in the city of Invierno, Arizona. Invierno is a place where magic doesn’t work, and in the Royal States of America where using magic means punishment and being an Avalonian refugee means deportation, it’s the perfect place to hide.
Also hiding in Invierno is Alexei “Alex” Tsarevich, Crown Prince of Avalon, the sole survivor of his family’s massacre. 12 years of living undercover and being moved from location to location for his own safety has now landed him in the custody of the Warnocks and the Katipuneros (a group of celebrated Avalonian warriors). However, on his 18th birthday everything changes when the legendary firebird - Avalon’s biggest weapon - returns, setting Tala and Alex off on an adventure to save Avalon.
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Wicked As You Wish is a magical, action-packed adventure with a diverse cast of characters and a sassy firebird that will keep you entertained from start to finish. It takes place in an alternate universe where fairy-tale lands and characters exist. In recent history a war between the Kingdom of Avalon and The Snow Queen of Beira resulted in Avalon being frozen and the demise of its monarchy, the disappearance of the Snow Queen and magical repercussions worldwide.
The story follows Tala Warnock, a descendant of the Makiling clan - a Filipino bloodline with a curse that repels magic. Like her mother she is a Spellbreaker. Allies to Avalon, Tala’s family were of a number of refugees that managed to escape the kingdom when it fell, and took residence in the city of Invierno, Arizona. Invierno is a place where magic doesn’t work, and in the Royal States of America where using magic means punishment and being an Avalonian refugee means deportation, it’s the perfect place to hide.
Also hiding in Invierno is Alexei “Alex” Tsarevich, Crown Prince of Avalon, the sole survivor of his family’s massacre. 12 years of living undercover and being moved from location to location for his own safety has now landed him in the custody of the Warnocks and the Katipuneros (a group of celebrated Avalonian warriors). However, on his 18th birthday everything changes when the legendary firebird - Avalon’s biggest weapon - returns, setting Tala and Alex off on an adventure to save Avalon.
"Most things in life none of us signed up for. But you've got friends looking out for you every step of the way. Every bad seed will always be outnumbered by the good sprouts. Remember that."
This was my first Rin Chupeco book and I am now determined to pick up every single one of her works.
To start off I absolutely loved the world-building in Wicked As You Wish. Rin instantly throws us into this captivating universe where fairytale lands coexist with the various nations of our modern world. Where characters from said fairytales have been intricately woven into our world history. To me it instantly felt reminiscent to the TV show Once Upon A Time, though everything has been retold in a refreshing way and the addition of ,b>Asian folklore and myths have made it all the more unique and enjoyable. It does take a few chapters to comprehend and feels a bit info dumpy at times but I personally loved all the detail.
The magic system is equally fascinating - outlined by the author to be inspired by Full Metal Alchemist and Bleach. It is pretty multifaceted and again does take some time to fully understand, but the main gist behind it is that in order to claim any form of power/magic you must sacrifice something of equal measure in return. An element of the magic system that particularly interested me was the Spelltech – items imbued with magical spells, including technological items. I mean how useful would an “antigravity hands-free selfie spell” on your phone be!?
Magic plays a key part in the overall plot of the story too, mainly in the form of curses and prophecies. However, it is a resource with many regulations attached in this world due to its involvement in past events. Thus it also has a big role in the global power play and I as a reader LOVE when there’s a dash of politics in fantasy.
Along with worldly political tensions Rin also touches on various other topics and issues which are relevant in today’s society. From racism and homophobia, to American immigration policies and the treatment of refugees, to child abuse - the writing and how thoroughly developed all these elements are makes it evident just how much time and effort has gone into this book.
Also can we take a second to appreciate how unapologetically Filipino this book is! The culture and folklore, the lingo, the family and community dynamics, the FOOD!!! Since reading this book I have had the biggest urge to eat all the Filipino food and that is the magic of #OwnVoices representation.
"Just because you've never been to the Philippines doesn't mean their rivers don't course through your blood. It doesn't mean you don't have their mountains in your eyes. It's not where we are, it's who we are. You'll always be both a Makiling and a Warnock, and always a Filipina. Never forget that."
Tala and Alex have a heart-warming platonic friendship and as the main protagonists were wonderful to follow however, I really enjoyed how the third person narrative allows us to really get to know the side characters too. We have Tala’s parents and the Katipuneros who act as extended family to both protagonists. The heme of family is very central to this story and is wonderfully written.
Then we have the Banders, a found family themselves, who on orders from the Cheshire (the Duke of Wonderland) have the task of protecting Alex and Tala on their adventure. I did feel at first that some scenes involving these character were a bit congested with one too many personalities. Though that being said as the story progresses we become more accustomed to each of the members, and their banter and relationships are great. Furthermore it becomes clear that they all have a bigger role to play in the story when aforementioned prophecies and subplots come into play. This has me super excited for the rest of the books in the series. My enemy to lovers obsessed heart is particularly excited to see more of a pair at the centre of a Robin Hood inspired family rivalry.
Last but not least I need to of course mention the firebird – truly a treasure. I’m looking forward to returning to this world, all these characters and the quirky Riordan-esque chapter titles in the future A Hundred Names for Magic books!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Bullying, Racism, Child abuse, and Violence
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