Reviews

this book was okay but the book needed to be flash out bit more, the atmosphere was okay and world building was fine. The writing was fine and the paced of plot was slow also the cover of the book was stunning. I found the characters to be okay but I found them bit dull and I feel at they needed to flash out bit more also the ending of the book was fine.

aamna_theinkslinger's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense medium-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

4.5

I read this book throughout my first week of college, and somehow it felt like Biddy’s emotions and tumultuous feelings as she enters this new world, the “real world” for the first time, echoed my own feelings of starting college. Most of you would know that the first ever week or so of college is quite overwhelming.

This was one of those books that I just found at the right time. I was extremely overwhelmed and confused during my first month of college. A lot of the things were up in the air. I had no set routine. There is so much to take in. College seemed like a beautiful and unpredictable monster, and somehow I found a reflection of all those uncertainties, fears and doubts in Biddy- the main character of this book, The Magician‘s Daughter.

Having lived a blissful yet lonesome life secluded on a magical island with only Rowan, her guardian and his familiar, Hutchincroft for company, relies on a library, her companion in books and reading.

I can’t tell you how much solace and camradrie I found reading about Biddy’s experience as she goes out into the outside word for the first time she is left to for herself in a completely unfamiliar and in hospital environment, it’s a coming of each story at its finest.

Biddy is such a genuine character. She feels all the unreasonable frustration and anger of a teenager. She rebels when she’s left out by the adults, but she has also grown up a lot. She subconsciously can still rationalise and understanding the mess of emotions she feels. Innately, she was raised to be kind, forgiving, and living among the wildness of nature and magic, she’s considerate.

As her life is constantly under threat, her character matures and aware of her emotions, even more, perhaps then her guardian Rowan, who is very similar to the eccentric, introvert genius stroke, despite being an flawed character, I got all the more attached to Roman‘s character .

Then there was Morgaine. The first ever, like, adult woman Biddy gets to know closely, and that is a very significant aspect of the story.

Biddy oscillates between trying to decide if she should look up to Morgaine, try to emulate her or see her as an example of why she should or should not do.

A lot of themes are discussed through her Morgaine, a woman among an entire system dominated by men. Someone who firmly believes in making changes from inside the systems. Her belief clashes with Rowan’s, who had never enjoyed being constrained by an authority anyway.

The Magician‘s Daughter creates miniature version of a corrupt system, complete with a leader who is charismatic leader, a bunch of old men who were too comfortable in their power with a hunger to hoard resources. It’s such a well-crafted story that combines an extremely character-centric narrative with an engaging, high stakes plot.

msk0515's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

4.0

hanakorc's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.0

ms_morri1's review against another edition

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4.0

A 4.5 for me. This is probably one of the best fantasy books with Irish/Celtic folklore as it’s source. I also love that the heart of this story is a relationship between a father and a daughter. Biddy begins the story as an innocent girl just wanting to see the world, but soon finds that her guardian, Rowan, is not the man she thought he was. Nor is the world like the storybooks she grew up reading. The two of them have to rebuild their relationship as Biddy is trying to find out why magic is leaving the world. Anyone who’s read any Irish folklore will recognize the undertones of the Tuatha De Dann within the tale, and a battle between the Irish gods and the dreaded Formorian Balor and his one eye. It’s a refreshing fantasy story from your traditional magical hero, and a book I will pick up again.

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