fishsticks26's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
silquesoleil's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not going to do a lengthy review, I think I'll reserve that for the last part of this trilogy, but I can already say that this book was definitely the best in the series. It was the least offensive.
The one aspect I really like was that for once, one has a nice and approachable mentor figure; I just really wished the main reasoning behind this hadn't been the mentor/student relationship. Also why have we as a society not yet moved past the 'my love interest's ex is way hotter than me and also evil' trope? It was so unnecessary.
A bit like the rest of the trilogy; I don't loathe the other books but I wouldn't have been mad had they not existed. The paper magician works just fine as a standalone novel.
The one aspect I really like was that for once, one has a nice and approachable mentor figure; I just really wished the main reasoning behind this hadn't been the mentor/student relationship. Also why have we as a society not yet moved past the 'my love interest's ex is way hotter than me and also evil' trope? It was so unnecessary.
A bit like the rest of the trilogy; I don't loathe the other books but I wouldn't have been mad had they not existed. The paper magician works just fine as a standalone novel.
callins23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
janko27's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am frankly quite surprised at some of the negative reviews, however I'm easily amused and am satisfied with a book if I have been entertained. I don't spend a lot of time analyzing or criticizing minor inconsistencies or historical inaccuracies, and a bit of fluff with a predictable ending doesn't bother me. The originality of the premise intrigued me and, in spirit, it reminded me a bit of Miss Peregrines' Home for Peculiar Children.
holl3640's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
andycowley's review against another edition
2.0
I tried, but I ended up giving up on this. The American spellings, grammar and phrasing I found jarring for a book set in London about British magicians. I just think it's a bit lazy in terms of research and it drops me straight out of the story as soon as I notice it.
I didn't like Ceony as a character. I just couldn't relate to her. The first quarter of the novel where she and Emery are getting to know each other is quite captivating, but once we get trapped in the heart, it just descends into a mire of stodgy sentiment that's dictated to us like a poor biography. I'm sure it ends well, but the middle is all filler.
Not for me. Your mileage may of course vary.
I didn't like Ceony as a character. I just couldn't relate to her. The first quarter of the novel where she and Emery are getting to know each other is quite captivating, but once we get trapped in the heart, it just descends into a mire of stodgy sentiment that's dictated to us like a poor biography. I'm sure it ends well, but the middle is all filler.
Not for me. Your mileage may of course vary.
setauuta's review against another edition
4.0
While I feel the romance in here is a little sudden and forced, I REALLY like the world-building and the magic here. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.