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dragynn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Violence
moonafall's review against another edition
3.0
This book didn’t change my life but I did have a fun time reading it. I appreciated the way that the magic is kind of approached as this normal, every-day occurrence. The book quickly rushes into this “yes, magic is normal and everywhere” type of logic that I wish we got to see more of all throughout the book. Instead, Patricia experiences this kind of writer’s-block but for witches and cant commune with nature anymore for quite some time, and then when she’s older the way that magic is looked at is very different. I think part of the initial acceptance is because it is first seen through the eyes of a small child. I just wish it made more of an appearance in the same manner as when it was first introduced.
I think the story failed to draw me into the last half, maybe last third of it. I didn’t like Laurence because he seemed too pretentious up until the very end. I was quite happy when he cursed himself to save Patricia. (Also the line about her being his rocket ship was A+.) I kind of wish we got to see more of the intermingling between science and magic. I feel like the tree was the first part of something really great that we just missed. I feel like the story ended too abruptly and things were just about to get good.
Reason to read this book: Maybe you’re missing the Magicians or witches are in your reading wheelhouse.
Favorite side character: Dorothea
I think the story failed to draw me into the last half, maybe last third of it. I didn’t like Laurence because he seemed too pretentious up until the very end. I was quite happy when he cursed himself to save Patricia. (Also the line about her being his rocket ship was A+.) I kind of wish we got to see more of the intermingling between science and magic. I feel like the tree was the first part of something really great that we just missed. I feel like the story ended too abruptly and things were just about to get good.
Reason to read this book: Maybe you’re missing the Magicians or witches are in your reading wheelhouse.
Favorite side character: Dorothea
skynet666's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read a book like this in a long time. I haven't read science fiction for many years and I haven't read fantasy, although I used to a lot more. This story combines both and does a wonderful job.
sara11_reads's review against another edition
2.0
I really didn't like this book - the concept seemed promising but I didn't like a single character, both main and secondary. By the end of the book, I could have cared less whether they saved the world or not.
juller's review against another edition
1.0
I started this story thinking that it might be different, but in the end a creative setting and beginning did not mask the obvious trite story line. I thought the story line boiled down to a simple boy and girl meet, finally get together, something happens to drive a wedge between them, and then they get back together. Throw in save the world, and then that sums up the book. While I know that for most books, the plot can be overly simplified, I am not a fan of these "romance" types of books, and so did not enjoy it very much.
For those that wondered if this was a young adult book, my opinion is that it isn't. The reasons for that classification are explicit sexual material and strong profanity.
For those that wondered if this was a young adult book, my opinion is that it isn't. The reasons for that classification are explicit sexual material and strong profanity.
lyndings's review
adventurous
medium-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
3.75
porkbowl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sbn42's review against another edition
3.0
Anti-gravity rays and wormholes and witches that talk to trees and birds and an AI that creates a social media device that keeps people connected and…
What a bizarre blend of sci-fi and fantasy that strangely blends quite well, until the last couple chapters. A boy science genius and girl witch meet in school where they are misfits. Even once they realize they are the only two members of the misfit club, they still have trouble acknowledging it, until the boy is saved by the AI that he created on the supercomputer he built in his closet and the girl helps him escape a weird situation.
The vast majority of the book was a fun “what next” adventure, but it sputtered and fell when the author seemed to have hit her “number of words” target. It’s too bad because up until then the weirdness worked.
What a bizarre blend of sci-fi and fantasy that strangely blends quite well, until the last couple chapters. A boy science genius and girl witch meet in school where they are misfits. Even once they realize they are the only two members of the misfit club, they still have trouble acknowledging it, until the boy is saved by the AI that he created on the supercomputer he built in his closet and the girl helps him escape a weird situation.
The vast majority of the book was a fun “what next” adventure, but it sputtered and fell when the author seemed to have hit her “number of words” target. It’s too bad because up until then the weirdness worked.
alpacacapalca's review against another edition
5.0
i had to read this four times before it sunk in properly. it’s worth it <3
toc's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, [a:Charlie Jane Anders|4918514|Charlie Jane Anders|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1532450668p2/4918514.jpg]. Can you do no wrong?
A charming little modern day techno/magical romance. I quite enjoyed seeing technology placed on as even a footing as magic as a worthwhile human endeavor. Yeah, a bit of a hobby horse of mine ("but technology is so unnatural", friends of mine are fond of saying) so it's good to know that not only do others get it but they can celebrate it in this enjoyable form. Good characters, good situations, everybody makes mistakes, everybody gets to be a hero. Life's like that, ya know?
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Update: Having recently read [b:Even Greater Mistakes: Stories|56179333|Even Greater Mistakes Stories|Charlie Jane Anders|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612203951l/56179333._SY75_.jpg|74009966] by Charlie Jane I now know what happened to Berkley the cat. And was filled with an urge to read [b:All the Birds in the Sky|25372801|All the Birds in the Sky (All the Birds in the Sky, #1)|Charlie Jane Anders|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429225322l/25372801._SY75_.jpg|45119441] once again. And I am sure glad I did! While my review above is spot on it misses mentioning the richness of the narrative and characters. Gee whiz, why did I previously rate this with four stars? Five all the way. Enjoyable and thought provoking, Exciting and peaceful, with a range of characters that is not to be missed.
A charming little modern day techno/magical romance. I quite enjoyed seeing technology placed on as even a footing as magic as a worthwhile human endeavor. Yeah, a bit of a hobby horse of mine ("but technology is so unnatural", friends of mine are fond of saying) so it's good to know that not only do others get it but they can celebrate it in this enjoyable form. Good characters, good situations, everybody makes mistakes, everybody gets to be a hero. Life's like that, ya know?
---
Update: Having recently read [b:Even Greater Mistakes: Stories|56179333|Even Greater Mistakes Stories|Charlie Jane Anders|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612203951l/56179333._SY75_.jpg|74009966] by Charlie Jane I now know what happened to Berkley the cat. And was filled with an urge to read [b:All the Birds in the Sky|25372801|All the Birds in the Sky (All the Birds in the Sky, #1)|Charlie Jane Anders|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429225322l/25372801._SY75_.jpg|45119441] once again. And I am sure glad I did! While my review above is spot on it misses mentioning the richness of the narrative and characters. Gee whiz, why did I previously rate this with four stars? Five all the way. Enjoyable and thought provoking, Exciting and peaceful, with a range of characters that is not to be missed.