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micaelamariem's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
2.0
I just couldn’t get into this. I love the authors and expected better, but there was a lot of info dumping, boring plot points, and a predictable end. But also is that just because I’m not in middle grade anymore? Maybe. Maybe not. But I can’t recommend this.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
kyliereads341's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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? No
4.0
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Torture, and Death of parent
ollie_again's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It wasn't exactly bad but I wasn't blown away either. The magical world seemed rich but never did it really felt that way, it actually felt kind of empty. The fact that every adult in this book behaved like an a-hole and the same can be said about most of 12yo characters, I didn't root for anybody in this mess.
Most of this book is spent on the school life of the main trio but at the same time, we don't see much of it at all. We are told what they were learning and with whom but apart from the pile of sand exercise we don't see much more. Sadly, those are the parts I enjoy in fantasy books the most aka the slow non-threatening parts in which we learn about the magic system and whatnot. The pacing is a bit off too because we go through the whole study year but I sometimes didn't know if hours, days or months went by.
Even with my complaints, it's not a bad book, I think it tried to tell too much within too little page count. I have a mild intrigue to continue the series but I can't say for sure I will.
Most of this book is spent on the school life of the main trio but at the same time, we don't see much of it at all. We are told what they were learning and with whom but apart from the pile of sand exercise we don't see much more. Sadly, those are the parts I enjoy in fantasy books the most aka the slow non-threatening parts in which we learn about the magic system and whatnot. The pacing is a bit off too because we go through the whole study year but I sometimes didn't know if hours, days or months went by.
Even with my complaints, it's not a bad book, I think it tried to tell too much within too little page count. I have a mild intrigue to continue the series but I can't say for sure I will.
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Ableism, Death, and Death of parent
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment and War
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