bzliz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Gemma Doyle leads a group of sheltered girls into a world of magic that she herself doesn’t understand and has only just begun to experience. The group discovers the past tragedy of a group before them called the Order whose desire for power had deadly consequences and tread the fine line of falling into that same tragedy.
Portions drag on a little and to enjoy this you need to endure the historical trappings of misogyny and racism, plus the performative propriety and customs of the time. The magic system explored is less of a system encountered in many fantasy novels and is more like a nebulous innate ability that no one can explain and at times it left me outright confused.
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Racism, Self harm, Vomit, and Sexism
ricksilva's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In spite of warnings to stay clear of these secrets, Gemma and three friends begin to explore their own magical potential, eventually finding their own way into the Realms in the hope of changing the fate that awaits them all back at their dreary school.
This story careens headlong toward tragedy with little effort on the part of any of the main characters to stop it, in spite every possible warning.
The characters are definitely not always likeable, but they all do grow beyond their original simple impressions, and the character development helps keep things interesting and keeps the reader engaged even as terrible and obvious mistakes are made again and again.
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm and Sexism
madisone's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Child death, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, and Body shaming
Minor: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Adult/minor relationship
zombiezami's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Reading this as an adult, there are parts that I'm not so enamored with, hence the lower rating. The friendship between the main characters strikes me as much more toxic than it did when I was a teenager, especially since Pippa and Felicity never apologize for tormenting Ann. I also find it hard to root for Kartik to be with Gemma, since Gemma keeps implying threats that she will get him arrested, which, at that time period, would basically be a death threat. That being said, I still really like Ms. Moore as a character.
I look forward to my re-read of the rest of the series.
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Self harm, Suicide, and Sexism
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Neglect, Antiziganism, Seizuresatrkula's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Lesbophobia, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, and Death
danibanani's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Despite its shortcomings, I was compelled to finish the reread, and mostly enjoyed it. Huzzah!
Graphic: Animal death, Suicide, Fatphobia, Murder, Child death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism, Self harm, and Sexual harassment