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azurrra's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.5
tfaison3's review against another edition
One note characters and an incredibly underwhelming plot. Feels like there should be character building and politics happening to set the stage for future books but there just… isn’t. Truly just a nothing burger
megareads42's review against another edition
3.0
If I had stopped halfway through, this would easily have been a four-plus star read for me. However. The premise was great. Enjoyed the different magics at play. Didn't mind the swaps in POV, although some were definitely stronger than others. But the ending just felt so...blah. And rushed. And honestly, once we got into wormholes and time travel, I lost interest a little bit. I enjoyed it more when it felt like a locked-room mystery with stakes within the group. I also felt there wasn't enough detail around the Society itself and these varied outside threats. Don't know if I'll continue with this series.
mel_kk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
scijessreads's review against another edition
4.0
It took me at least half of the book to settle into the characters and actually enjoy the plot. This story is all about the individuals, and while there is an underlying plot driven by “mysterious forces,” the true story takes place within the interaction between the characters and in their own understanding (or lack of understanding) as to who they are and how they fit in with each other.
This is driven by magic (it kind of reminds me of a mix of The Magicians and a type of “Skull & Bones” society). But more than magic, it is driven by the pursuit of power and position. Can you truly be an individual and look out only for you, or is creating alliance a better path?
The central mystery as to why all of these magicians end up at the Alexandria Society and what their actual purpose is wasn’t answered at all in this book, but getting to know the players and the setup of the chessboard was definitely accomplished. Definitely going to read the next book.
This is driven by magic (it kind of reminds me of a mix of The Magicians and a type of “Skull & Bones” society). But more than magic, it is driven by the pursuit of power and position. Can you truly be an individual and look out only for you, or is creating alliance a better path?
The central mystery as to why all of these magicians end up at the Alexandria Society and what their actual purpose is wasn’t answered at all in this book, but getting to know the players and the setup of the chessboard was definitely accomplished. Definitely going to read the next book.
millylewis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jintangg_'s review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
frogggit's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
romiress's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I thought it had a good, strong start, but some very basic world building with major holes. The book doesn't feel finished - it feels like half a book, like some editor said 'cool, this can be the end of book one' and chopped the manuscript in half.
Midway through I was struck very strongly with 'this author wrote HP fanfiction', and was very much right.
Midway through I was struck very strongly with 'this author wrote HP fanfiction', and was very much right.
kasylia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0