flohbeutel's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3,5 Sterne.
Ich mochte Amari und das Spiel der Magier nicht so gerne, wie den Vorgänger.
Das lag zum einen daran, dass der Plot von wahnsinnig vielen Zufällen getragen wurde. Zum anderen wurde nichts erklärt, was im letzten Band auch nur im Vorbeigehen erwähnt wurde. Es wurde wohl darauf gebaut, dass man im ersten Band jederzeit nachschlagen kann, was man wissen muss. Leider hatte ich diesen aus der Bibliothek ausgeliehen und nicht zur Hand. Ganz abgesehen davon, dass diese Vorgehensweise echt nervig gewesen wäre.
P.S.: Wirklich nett von den Bösewicht*Innen, dass sie immer auf die Sommerferien warten, um Unfug zu treiben.
Ich mochte Amari und das Spiel der Magier nicht so gerne, wie den Vorgänger.
Das lag zum einen daran, dass der Plot von wahnsinnig vielen Zufällen getragen wurde. Zum anderen wurde nichts erklärt, was im letzten Band auch nur im Vorbeigehen erwähnt wurde. Es wurde wohl darauf gebaut, dass man im ersten Band jederzeit nachschlagen kann, was man wissen muss. Leider hatte ich diesen aus der Bibliothek ausgeliehen und nicht zur Hand. Ganz abgesehen davon, dass diese Vorgehensweise echt nervig gewesen wäre.
P.S.: Wirklich nett von den Bösewicht*Innen, dass sie immer auf die Sommerferien warten, um Unfug zu treiben.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Bullying
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Amari is starting back at school after having passed her first junior challenge, and all of a sudden there is a new person in charge of the magical world. At a meeting of the ruling council, something or someone has stopped time. Now limited to the room on which the disturbance was centred, the only people halted are the people who were in charge, leaving a power vacuum that is filled by the Deputy Prime Minister and his chief spindoctor.
The person who has taken over has some extreme bigoted views and starts deporting the Unwanted - anyone whose ancestors were on the wrong side of the centuries old war against the Night Brothers. The talking points, and the fact that he himself is technically considered one of those Unwanted, bring to mind a certain dark haired little man with a toothbrush moustache. As the media and the politicians sow a climate of fear, he gains more and more popularity and power, and one of the types of people that he is prejudiced against is Magicians, like Amari. As she proves unwilling to be a pawn in his publicity stunts, the powers that be try to separate her more and more from her friends, She is forced to wear a badge that singles her out as dangerous. (All rather familiar - but an interesting way of encountering these ideas if you are a younger reader and don't recognise them.)
Just as all this is happening, Amari's once friend come nemesis, Dylan, escapes from his prison, and as the only two people who are the Born Magicians of their generation they are pitted against each other to vie for Vladimir's Crown, the symbol and vessel of power that would allow them to rule over he League of Magicians... and it looks like they are gearing up for a war.
This is the second book of the series and I'll admit that I had forgotten much of the plot of the first one before I got back into it. As far as audiobooks go, it's recorded a little slower than regular speaking pace so it can probably bear being listened to on a faster speed.
One thing I do love about this series is that the cast is racially diverse. It wasn't until the dedication at the end of the book that I realised the author was a man (one of those things about having a main character who is a girl, and having the audiobook narrated by a woman) and a Christian, which may be one reason why there isn't any form of romance in the story. This does make it an ideal choice for many looking for a good middle-school read. The age-group for these books (using the rule of thumb "main character's age minus 3 years") is probably 10+
The trials and puzzles in this and the mystery that the friends investigate make this quite a fun read, even for older people. There are a couple of cute sidekick/pets and some flashy powers and things to keep younger audiences interested and a couple of prophetic visions and big reveals that are really satisfying.
All in all it's good.. not super great.. but entertaining. I hear there's a third book?
The person who has taken over has some extreme bigoted views and starts deporting the Unwanted - anyone whose ancestors were on the wrong side of the centuries old war against the Night Brothers. The talking points, and the fact that he himself is technically considered one of those Unwanted, bring to mind a certain dark haired little man with a toothbrush moustache. As the media and the politicians sow a climate of fear, he gains more and more popularity and power, and one of the types of people that he is prejudiced against is Magicians, like Amari. As she proves unwilling to be a pawn in his publicity stunts, the powers that be try to separate her more and more from her friends, She is forced to wear a badge that singles her out as dangerous. (All rather familiar - but an interesting way of encountering these ideas if you are a younger reader and don't recognise them.)
Just as all this is happening, Amari's once friend come nemesis, Dylan, escapes from his prison, and as the only two people who are the Born Magicians of their generation they are pitted against each other to vie for Vladimir's Crown, the symbol and vessel of power that would allow them to rule over he League of Magicians... and it looks like they are gearing up for a war.
This is the second book of the series and I'll admit that I had forgotten much of the plot of the first one before I got back into it. As far as audiobooks go, it's recorded a little slower than regular speaking pace so it can probably bear being listened to on a faster speed.
One thing I do love about this series is that the cast is racially diverse. It wasn't until the dedication at the end of the book that I realised the author was a man (one of those things about having a main character who is a girl, and having the audiobook narrated by a woman) and a Christian, which may be one reason why there isn't any form of romance in the story. This does make it an ideal choice for many looking for a good middle-school read. The age-group for these books (using the rule of thumb "main character's age minus 3 years") is probably 10+
The trials and puzzles in this and the mystery that the friends investigate make this quite a fun read, even for older people. There are a couple of cute sidekick/pets and some flashy powers and things to keep younger audiences interested and a couple of prophetic visions and big reveals that are really satisfying.
All in all it's good.. not super great.. but entertaining. I hear there's a third book?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Racism, and Violence
edie_maeve's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
mackef's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
Minor: War
chamaeleontis's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
This review has been postponed due to the Harper Collins strike.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Deportation, Gore, Racism, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, War, Abandonment, Classism, Medical content, Confinement, Gaslighting, Blood, and Bullying
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Confinement, and Deportation
kianareads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Amari. Is. Back.
AMARI AND THE GREAT GAME is full of twists and turns with almost every chapter ending on a cliffhanger. Amari continues to be a brilliant protagonist–smart, empathetic, passionate, vulnerable, and brave. She stands her ground and pushes back against racism, prejudice, and discrimination, especially now as it comes from the very top of the Supernatural government.
In this book, we see once again how strong of a magician Amari is. But it’s not her magical powers that make her great and strong. It’s who she is a person: her willingness and desire to never give up, to give others a chance (and a second chance), and to lean on the strengths of her friends.
Readers are shown a battle between good and evil. But when lines blur, motives are hidden, and hope is ignited...it isn’t always easy telling the difference between the two.
The ending made me gasp and sets the stage for what will surely be a dramatic third installment in the Supernatural Investigations series.
We read Amari and the Night Brothers as our first class novel this year and it was complete magic. To say my students were devastated to leave her world when we finished the book in December is an understatement. Now, I have a long list of new 5th graders who plan on coming back to my classroom to visit and borrow this much anticipated sequel 🧡
(Thank you so much NetGalley for the e-arc!)
AMARI AND THE GREAT GAME is full of twists and turns with almost every chapter ending on a cliffhanger. Amari continues to be a brilliant protagonist–smart, empathetic, passionate, vulnerable, and brave. She stands her ground and pushes back against racism, prejudice, and discrimination, especially now as it comes from the very top of the Supernatural government.
In this book, we see once again how strong of a magician Amari is. But it’s not her magical powers that make her great and strong. It’s who she is a person: her willingness and desire to never give up, to give others a chance (and a second chance), and to lean on the strengths of her friends.
Readers are shown a battle between good and evil. But when lines blur, motives are hidden, and hope is ignited...it isn’t always easy telling the difference between the two.
The ending made me gasp and sets the stage for what will surely be a dramatic third installment in the Supernatural Investigations series.
We read Amari and the Night Brothers as our first class novel this year and it was complete magic. To say my students were devastated to leave her world when we finished the book in December is an understatement. Now, I have a long list of new 5th graders who plan on coming back to my classroom to visit and borrow this much anticipated sequel 🧡
(Thank you so much NetGalley for the e-arc!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Racism
theirgracegrace's review
challenging
inspiring
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
4.25
An explosive second book that promises an even more powerful third! With the Supernatural Congress frozen in an act of apparent terrorism, Amari blamed and suspected of the attack, and the threat of the League of Magicians going to war if Amari doesn't win the Great Game, the Good Magician has her plate full. An amazing sequel where I can never predict what happens next and where I can find something to admire about every character (yes, even ). Excited for the finale!
Spoiler
Dylan and his struggle with choosing evil when he enjoys being good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Death, Xenophobia, War, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Racism, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Stalking, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Child abuse, Confinement, and Torture
Minor: Genocide and Gun violence
The book does (through allegory) talk at length about white supremacy, white terrorism and related bigotry, including an event that is revealed toSpoiler
directly parallel the January 6th coup attempt in the U.S.kari_f's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
- 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
4.0
Reading a series you love that is still in process is always a hard thing, because it’s so exciting to get the next installment, but then you have to wait another year or two to find out what happens next.
After finishing Amari and The Night Brothers (yesterday), I dove right into book 2 and could *not* put it down (to the point where I finished it in less than a day)! I’m already excited about rereading both of these before book 3 comes out someday, and Amari has been officially added to my list of favorite juvenile/middle grade series.
Some of my favorite aspects:
🔥 Character growth from so many people, and coming to terms with evolving friendships.
🔥 Exploration of other departments in the bureau.
🔥 Lessons involving supporting each other’s successes, how easily society is swayed by the media, and the importance of second chances.
🔥 An ending that was unique and already has me ready for the next installment!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for this advanced e-copy! I’m definitely going to be purchasing a physical copy later on down the road.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
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