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inkshadows's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Racism and Toxic friendship
the_cheerful_necromancer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Glorious fun! I was lucky enough to discover the Chrestomanci series right before I aged out of their target audience.
Wynne Jones' world pulls me in perfectly every time; every single setting feels wonderfully real and charming, if you'll excuse the pun. These are definitely comfort books for me and Charmed Life is no exception. It's a great little tale of strange new beginnings, surprisingly dark circumstances, and stepping out of someone else's shadow.
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Incest, and Racism
Readers should note that this book, unfortunately, falls into the all-too-common trend of "fat people are usually mean or unpleasant." There are some 'plump' characters who are good or morally grey, but unfortunately it does play into this trope all the same. Otherwise, I've not rated any of the themes as "severe" as none of them are graphic, they are all age-appropriate. However, note that the main characters are orphans and the main character's sister is emotionally abusive. [child death]:eni_iilorak'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt
gothicmoon'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? No
4.0
I love Cat and I wanna hug him and adopt him as my own. Janet is the best. When Cat's just died and Janet's relieved that he's well and talks and talks and talks as she does and Cat falls asleep feeling "safe and cared-for?" I weeped like a baby.
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty and Fatphobia
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Violence
Toxic sibling