The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
jmkendall0218's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent
ashleechmiel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Minor: Death of parent
itsreyz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Sexism, Classism, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Misogyny, Child death, Addiction, and Bullying
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Abandonment, Medical content, and Drug abuse
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
bekahzabel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I noticed so much more allusion, foreshadowing, and hidden gems this second time around.
If you like:
Coming of Age Witches
Discovering & Developing Power
Found Family
Sisterhood
Dark Academia
Secrets & Plot Twists
then this trilogy will hit the spot for you.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny, Drug use, Death, Grief, Murder, and Self harm
ricksilva's review against another edition
- 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
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Minor: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Child death, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Misogyny
madisone's review against another edition
- 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
haleymaxinee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Self harm, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Bullying, Body shaming, Classism, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Toxic friendship
emilylovesgoodbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Bullying, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Self harm