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anracli's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Very low stakes and somewhat repetitive. The events of the book take place over a short period of time and the FMC's magic parallels with mental illness so it's understandable to a degree.
The FMC is immature, the MMC is paperthin, the FMC hardly views the MMC as a whole person (expecting him to still be the same as he was as a child), and the most interesting part of the story,the FMC's confrontation with her mother , is not resolved in this book. Neither, really, is how the general population reacts to FMC; by the end of the book her bad reputation for having unruly magic just seems to disappear. A plot hook regarding the council is also introduced but not explored.
Did enjoy the casual existence of queer characters without comment save one scene where an apprentice says they appreciate their teacher having a shared identity.
Good for young readers who might be looking for a relatively easy introduction to media dealing with parental trauma and mental illness. Also good for those looking for a low stakes read with a happy ending, who are okay with several plot lines being left unresolved.
The FMC is immature, the MMC is paperthin, the FMC hardly views the MMC as a whole person (expecting him to still be the same as he was as a child), and the most interesting part of the story,
Did enjoy the casual existence of queer characters without comment save one scene where an apprentice says they appreciate their teacher having a shared identity.
Good for young readers who might be looking for a relatively easy introduction to media dealing with parental trauma and mental illness. Also good for those looking for a low stakes read with a happy ending, who are okay with several plot lines being left unresolved.
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Mental illness, and Abandonment
asahome's review against another edition
3.75
TL;DR: A young woman must put aside her personal feelings in order to learn to control her magic. A new teacher helps her learn that Elsa (from Frozen) has a better way of dealing with her emotions.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Bullying, Vomit, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
Ableism:sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, and Vomit
Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Abandonment
wishbea's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
A captivating story with compelling characters that are all flawed in their own way, the magic genuinely talks to its wielder and I particularly enjoyed Clara's personal journey of becoming more confident in herself. The queernormative world was refreshing and the ending to the book felt truly earned. I'm a little sad this is a standalone because I would love to see more of this world and these characters, I never would have thought that a book about depression could be such pure joy to read.
Minor: Bullying and Emotional abuse
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