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thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Grief, and War
craftysnailtail's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
This one wasn't for me. It keeps making its way onto cozy book lists and I'm very confused by that. Sure, she works in a bakery, but you see very little of that life. You know, considering the brutal murders going on everywhere, including in said bakery? Nothing about a young girl being terrified for her life, pursued by a serial killer, corrupt government and police, and forced to fight in a bloody war, says "cozy" to me. This novel wasn't graphic, but it would've scared me if I had read it at what it seems was the author's target age- 14. The main character makes sure you know she's 14 about a dozen times, so I assume it's important.
As confused as I am about this book's target audience, if you like short stories that depict almost mundane forms of magic mixed with a reluctant protagonist solving a serial killer mystery, then this might be for you.
As confused as I am about this book's target audience, if you like short stories that depict almost mundane forms of magic mixed with a reluctant protagonist solving a serial killer mystery, then this might be for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Hate crime and Police brutality
Minor: Death of parent
cato_g's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Vomit, and War
palmkd's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was such a fun story about a young wizard who has bread magic. While she doesn't have much, Mona is content with her life working in the bakery making delicious baked goods and sometimes making the gingerbread cookies come to life and do a little dance. The story starts on the day Mona comes to work to find a dead body in the bakery... that's definitely NOT supposed to be there.
This story is full of zany fun and I definitely recommend it!
This story is full of zany fun and I definitely recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Violence and War
pvp_niki's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Excrement, Murder, and War
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Cannibalism and Death of parent
bubski_mcboo's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Gallows humour makes themes of heroism, political freedom, inept authority, and death approachable through the eyes of a fourteen-year-old baker forced to fix a big mess made by adults.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Vomit
billy_socks's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder, and War
Minor: Vomit
kmhst25's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
3.75
While this book is categorized as YA, I honestly think it belongs in the Middle Grade genre. The overall tone is much more juvenile than I expected and not in line with your average YA read. There's a shocking amount of "Golly gee willikers! It sure is hard being a kid in a grown-ups' world!" And the main character tells you over and over again that she's not equipped to deal with the things happening to her, because she's only fourteen years old. She probably mentions being fourteen every 5 pages. She also has a bad habit of referring to herself as a "kid" and adults as "grown-ups," which is not something I have ever known an actual fourteen-year-old to do. One gets the sense that the MC was younger at some point in the editing process.
Beyond that, it's an easy read and a fun story. There are some exciting twists and interesting plot points, but it's hard to shake the feeling that this isn't a book for adults (which I suppose it isn't, but it's widely read by adults, so maybe my expectations are the problem here).
Beyond that, it's an easy read and a fun story. There are some exciting twists and interesting plot points, but it's hard to shake the feeling that this isn't a book for adults (which I suppose it isn't, but it's widely read by adults, so maybe my expectations are the problem here).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Excrement, and Murder
Minor: Genocide, Blood, and War
growintogardens's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I love books that manage to make something somehow cozy and charming despite all the violence. Good at balancing the darkness and lighthearted moments. Anyway, off to add everything this author has written to my read list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
miguelito_juanito's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and War
"As soon as you let the government put you on a list for something you were born with you were asking for trouble."