sapphicsoilscientist's review against another edition
This book could have been half as long and it would have been twice as good. Not enough dragons, not enough fantasy, entirely too much ‘girl has medical issues you’re meant to dismiss because it’s Magic’s fault’ just without the requisite magic. I spent 5 hours of my life being bored by this.
amberdebo's review against another edition
2.0
I almost couldn't finish this book. The only reason I even checked out the second book from the library is to see what happens with Marco (who is NOT one of the main characters, so we'll see how well the second book holds my attention.)
Bad things:
I HATE KEEGAN. He's a bully, and a jerk, and he belittles Breen constantly. Why in the world is he written like this? I cannot stand him. Nora Roberts must have NO experience dealing with folks with anxiety, because I can tell you, the way she wrote Keegan and his handling of Breen's anxieties...woof. He's a straight up asshole to Breen about her very real concerns. He YELLS at her when she's dealing with panic attacks, and she magically gets "better." WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. F*CK. IS. THAT. That's not how anxiety works, NORA. Would you just scream at someone with a broken leg to get over it and walk? Good Lord.
Nora Roberts is big on fat shaming without actually saying it in so many words. I don't think I realized this when I read her in high school, but considering I devoured her books back then, I am pretty sure she's one of the reasons I have such self-hatred towards myself for my weight now. It's the little snide comments about getting "fat and lazy", or how working out is a major part of Breen's identity, or the comments about her body becoming "more like a warrior" and "less soft and useless." BLEGH.
My gosh is Breen an annoying character. NOT because of her anxiety--I actually related to that part of her, and the lack of self-worth, the most. But she's literally good at everything she does, even as she doubts every action. I cannot with that.
MagicK. First of all: what is with the k. Ugh. It's whimsical and fun, apparently! Gag. Besides that, it's just a dumb magic(k) system. Or at least I think it is...it's really ill defined, so maybe it's actually really awesome in practice. There are dragons! And elves! And mermaids! And cute little poems that double as "spells!" And a generic EEEEEEVILLLLL guy with no apparent reason for being EEEEEEVILLLLLL!
Bullocks the dog. Don't get me wrong, the dog himself is one of the best characters. But why in the world is his name Bullocks? I get that it's "funny" or whatever, but I've lived in Ireland and England, and even though it's funny, it's a little rude. Yes, maybe I could see a certain type of adult naming their dog that, but I just don't see a children's book being called that...it'd be like naming a dog "Ballsack" in an U.S. children's book. (I found this surprising, because I'm pretty sure Nora Roberts spends a ton of time in Ireland so she should know this.)
The good:
Marco. That's pretty much it. I love him, and I'm way more interested in how he handles this whole new world than in how Breen does. He better get a love interest or a significant plot of his own- I'm over "sassy and gay" being substituted in as entire identities.
The "we'll see":
Breen's mother. I just have mixed feelings, which I'm pretty sure is NOT what the author intended. She obviously wants us to hate her mother, because she's written as almost cartoonishly cruel. But idk, I feel like she has a few good points about why she did what she did, although OBVIOUSLY that doesn't excuse the behavior. But it does, IMO, make her more sympathetic as a character. I hope she gets a redemption arc.
Anyway. All this to say: if book two is as bad as this one, I will not be finishing this series. I hope there's less Keegan, although I'm sure it'll be the opposite. We shall see!
Bad things:
I HATE KEEGAN. He's a bully, and a jerk, and he belittles Breen constantly. Why in the world is he written like this? I cannot stand him. Nora Roberts must have NO experience dealing with folks with anxiety, because I can tell you, the way she wrote Keegan and his handling of Breen's anxieties...woof. He's a straight up asshole to Breen about her very real concerns. He YELLS at her when she's dealing with panic attacks, and she magically gets "better." WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. F*CK. IS. THAT. That's not how anxiety works, NORA. Would you just scream at someone with a broken leg to get over it and walk? Good Lord.
Nora Roberts is big on fat shaming without actually saying it in so many words. I don't think I realized this when I read her in high school, but considering I devoured her books back then, I am pretty sure she's one of the reasons I have such self-hatred towards myself for my weight now. It's the little snide comments about getting "fat and lazy", or how working out is a major part of Breen's identity, or the comments about her body becoming "more like a warrior" and "less soft and useless." BLEGH.
My gosh is Breen an annoying character. NOT because of her anxiety--I actually related to that part of her, and the lack of self-worth, the most. But she's literally good at everything she does, even as she doubts every action. I cannot with that.
MagicK. First of all: what is with the k. Ugh. It's whimsical and fun, apparently! Gag. Besides that, it's just a dumb magic(k) system. Or at least I think it is...it's really ill defined, so maybe it's actually really awesome in practice. There are dragons! And elves! And mermaids! And cute little poems that double as "spells!" And a generic EEEEEEVILLLLL guy with no apparent reason for being EEEEEEVILLLLLL!
Bullocks the dog. Don't get me wrong, the dog himself is one of the best characters. But why in the world is his name Bullocks? I get that it's "funny" or whatever, but I've lived in Ireland and England, and even though it's funny, it's a little rude. Yes, maybe I could see a certain type of adult naming their dog that, but I just don't see a children's book being called that...it'd be like naming a dog "Ballsack" in an U.S. children's book. (I found this surprising, because I'm pretty sure Nora Roberts spends a ton of time in Ireland so she should know this.)
The good:
Marco. That's pretty much it. I love him, and I'm way more interested in how he handles this whole new world than in how Breen does. He better get a love interest or a significant plot of his own- I'm over "sassy and gay" being substituted in as entire identities.
The "we'll see":
Breen's mother. I just have mixed feelings, which I'm pretty sure is NOT what the author intended. She obviously wants us to hate her mother, because she's written as almost cartoonishly cruel. But idk, I feel like she has a few good points about why she did what she did, although OBVIOUSLY that doesn't excuse the behavior. But it does, IMO, make her more sympathetic as a character. I hope she gets a redemption arc.
Anyway. All this to say: if book two is as bad as this one, I will not be finishing this series. I hope there's less Keegan, although I'm sure it'll be the opposite. We shall see!
alyssreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
xbritnicole's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
asullivan445's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
dtreads2023's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
lizbobun's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
windowplant's review against another edition
The attempt to write young people and especially a young, queer, black person fell so flat I didn’t want to continue. The dialogue was unbelievable for them both.
mnmtbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75