kshertz's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.0
I thought it was extremely cute. I rooted for the good characters, I was happy to see the bad ones fail. There’s a ton of life lessons. I fell in love with a dragon. I think it’s a great really young YA book ❤️ It’s not my typical read but I still enjoyed it and it was light enough to bring joy overall. I loved the message.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Violence
captainoliimar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Confinement, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Child death
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Violence
happylilfaerie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
2.75
The main issues that bought the star rating down: the absolute misogynistic, abliest way the woman who's child was taking away was framed and treated throughout this book. I understand the villain characters gaslighting her and calling her a "madwoman", I have no problem with that. What I do have an issue with is the narrator doing it too?? It was very disappointing, this could have been addressed and shown how she was a woman in grief, abused and mistreated and had every right to act the way she did without being labelled as "crazy", instead the narrator went along with it as if there was no problem in the way the town's people treated her and that the problem truely lay in her.
Also this novel did SO MUCH telling and not showing. We're constantly told how the male character is so brave and such a good person and everyone loves him and how his love interest is of course not like other girls in the town, and she's so kind and so smart and bla bla and we are never shown any of this. We're told at the end that she always knew there was something up and who the villain was but of course it was her kindness that led her not to take any action until it personally affected her(!)
Don't get me started on how bafflingly stupid the witch is and all the decisions regarding the mc were, how did she think that was going to work out?? why didn't she record the important things that she needed to remember if she knew her memory was so terrible? why didn't she write everything down to be passed down if she thought she won't be around to explain everything? why didn't she try to undo the spell? why did she leave so much to chance? it was infuriating and seemed to only exist to drive the plot for the author.
I don't know, I expect a lot more out of this the way everyone hyped it up and was very disappointed.
Also this novel did SO MUCH telling and not showing. We're constantly told how the male character is so brave and such a good person and everyone loves him and how his love interest is of course not like other girls in the town, and she's so kind and so smart and bla bla and we are never shown any of this. We're told at the end that she always knew there was something up and who the villain was but of course it was her kindness that led her not to take any action until it personally affected her(!)
Don't get me started on how bafflingly stupid the witch is and all the decisions regarding the mc were, how did she think that was going to work out?? why didn't she record the important things that she needed to remember if she knew her memory was so terrible? why didn't she write everything down to be passed down if she thought she won't be around to explain everything? why didn't she try to undo the spell? why did she leave so much to chance? it was infuriating and seemed to only exist to drive the plot for the author.
I don't know, I expect a lot more out of this the way everyone hyped it up and was very disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death
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