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caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment
ashylibrarian's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love the trans rep. I love the neurodiversity rep. I love the relationships, platonic and romantic. I love the way in which Lore calls out the education system's flaws in teaching reading. Everything else just fell flat. I didn't feel like a lot happened and I was a bit confused by the world under the water.
This won't likely be a go-to recommendation for me, but I'll keep it on my list.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence
shelvesofivy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Transphobia
Minor: Violence and Sexual harassment
solenekeleroux's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Transphobia
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
rickosborne's review
- 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
As a romance or a tale of magic bleeding into reality, it's more like 2½⭐️. Neither of these plot lines are entirely there. The world is vibrant and interesting, but it also feels somewhat unfinished. And maybe that's the point, that these things take a back seat to the ND story.
I'd love to read maybe just one more act which really ties everything together.
But I also hope that reading the struggles of Bastián and Lore help some readers figure out some things about themselves, regardless of the ratings or whether or not I think the story is complete.
Tags: #BIPOC #ConfrontingHomophobia #DualPOV #FearfulFearfulPair #FirstPersonPOV #MagicRealism #NonbinaryMC #SecretShame #SelfImageIssues #TransMC #Trauma
Moderate: Bullying, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism and Violence
struggling to passcameronreads's review against another edition
4.0
Watching Bastián properly come to terms with their ADHD was so powerful. They’ve been diagnosed since before the book starts and already have plenty of coping mechanisms - but also many things they still struggle with, one of which being not allowing themselves to come to terms with their bad days and letting that swallow them up. Watching them learn how to communicate and reconcile with themself was exactly what I needed. I may not have ADHD so couldn’t relate to the intricacies of what Bastián was going through, but I am autistic and the broader struggle of coming to terms with having aa neurodivergent brain was explored wonderfully.
Similarly, Lore’s dyslexia was explored very well, and there were some wonderful metaphors and explanations that really helped me, as someone who doesn’t have nor knows anyone who has dyslexia, understand at least a little of what it is like. I think it was really interesting to discover, as Lore does, (potential spoiler here) that it isn’t really the fact they’re dyslexic that bothers them, but rather who people see them as someone with dyslexia (as well as someone who is brown and non-binary).
Personally, I wasn’t that connected to the plot, and whilst this was a bit of an issue for my overall enjoyment of the book, I don’t think it matters for the book as a whole, as really it felt like a metaphor to allow these two characters to come to terms with themselves
The romance, whilst perhaps not necessary, was sweet, and I did really appreciate the open communication at the end.
The writing, whilst not my favourite style, was well done, both as a mode of communicating the discussions it had and creating an atmosphere for the main plot. The characters were relatable and flawed, and we all know those are my two buzzwords for characters.
Overall, this was well-done, and I’d definitely recommend.
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Misogyny and Transphobia
Minor: Racism, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence
readandfindout's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Themes: 4.5 stars
Characters: 3 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Worldbuilding: 3.5 stars
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Transphobia
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Medical content, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
jen_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying and Transphobia
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Hate crime and Sexual harassment
amoovin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment