christenebs's review against another edition
3.0
Tom Miller is no JK Rowling. It’s hard not to make the comparison when reading. When adding a magical element to WWI era there will obviously be some liberties taken to edit history. I felt there were too many to set the story in this time period. Tom Miller should have just created a fictional setting.
In his dedication Tom Miller says, “To Abby. Who once asked why there were so few women in my stories.” Nice try Tom but you need more practice writing female characters. I found many interactions to be improbable and had a hard time suspending my sense of disbelief. I also didn’t really connect with any of the characters.
There were so many “big” events that there weren’t enough pages to flush out characters, setting, and real plot points. I felt like Tom Miller was checking off boxes of things that should be included in a book about students at a magic school rather than following the true course of the story.
I liked this book but I didn’t love it.
In his dedication Tom Miller says, “To Abby. Who once asked why there were so few women in my stories.” Nice try Tom but you need more practice writing female characters. I found many interactions to be improbable and had a hard time suspending my sense of disbelief. I also didn’t really connect with any of the characters.
There were so many “big” events that there weren’t enough pages to flush out characters, setting, and real plot points. I felt like Tom Miller was checking off boxes of things that should be included in a book about students at a magic school rather than following the true course of the story.
I liked this book but I didn’t love it.
twislerguy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is amazing! I would describe it as Harry Potter like but set in American and if regular humans knew magic exist. The characters are fun and like able. I loved watching the characters go through their journey. I highly recommend it.
jj_cheezit's review
Chapter 6 opens with the MC telling his sister “don’t you think you’re over reacting?” when she says something perfectly reasonable. I just think the author could have made whatever point he was trying to say using a different phrase that isn’t used against women presenting people.
And that’s what made me shut this male author’s book. Maybe this is just a break and I’ll go back to it, because the first five chapters were really interesting. Still, that line was really not cool. And I’m not sure I’ve got it in me to forgive and forget.
And that’s what made me shut this male author’s book. Maybe this is just a break and I’ll go back to it, because the first five chapters were really interesting. Still, that line was really not cool. And I’m not sure I’ve got it in me to forgive and forget.
linneahedvig's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a total surprise. A friend texted me to tell me to read it and I was just like “huh, maybe fun?” Then it was an Audible Daily Deal, so I got it. It’s a really engrossing story about “empirical philosophy” (not magic because magic isn’t real) in the United States, mainly set around 1918. The plot focuses on a young man who wants to get into an all-women elite military corps. There’s a lot of delightful reverse-sexism that the author handles deftly. I was kind of worried about about the male perspective all the way through, but when the author brought up prophylactic charms (sigils), I knew things were going to be okay. There’s also a fascinating political conflict going on. I hesitate to compare this to other fantasy because to me it just felt so different, but it does take place mostly at a magic school and it does involve magic being used in innovative military ways so draw your own comparisons.
zolama's review against another edition
This was recommended to me because of a 'solid magic system', and I found the beginning chapters kind of fun. When it moved to the univisersity, it drifted off towards harry potter and pretty boring school squabbles and I lost interest.
It's an interesting idea, but the execution didn't grab me enough. DNF at 40%.
It's an interesting idea, but the execution didn't grab me enough. DNF at 40%.
zerosiero's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
ctglo's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
jmcgowan's review against another edition
I think I’ll come back to this at some point, because I want to like it, but it’s not grabbing me
hippstr's review against another edition
2.0
I made it through this entire book only to realize I have no idea how the "magic" portion works. How do you draw a sigil while flying? What are they drawing on? The mechanics make no sense, there were too many anachronisms, and there was almost no character development in a 400-page novel. The story was fine but it probably could have been cut in half.
petraarkanian18's review against another edition
5.0
This book was excellent. It had a nice mix of fantasy while at the same time feeling like a historical fiction novel. The worldbuilding and characters were very enjoyable. It was particularly interesting how a lot of the social issues the characters encounter seem to echo ones we encounter today. The medical / rescue & evacuation parts of the story were also thrilling. :)