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blewballoon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.0
Although I liked the book, it took me a while to get through it and I was forcing myself a bit. I did predict pretty much how everything was going to go fairly early on, but I do think it was in character for the protagonists to miss what the reader would be able to put together. The characters were interesting enough; Elsie grew on me later into her character development. The book feels very much like Elsie's story despite having Bacchus's perspective, and there is a small cast of supporting characters that play into the mystery. Overall it was an okay time and I plan to read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Ableism and Child death
breezer's review
3.75
Very mixed feelings, had a slow middle section and Elsie was SO frustrating to follow but the magic system was fun and it really picked up by the end. Wish it was a standalone tho.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Fire/Fire injury
whirl's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
goldengirlbookclub's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this one took me several chapters to get into but once in, it was such a fun read. There were lots of twists which I really enjoyed. At times, it was predictable but several were not. I’m a big fan of YA fantasy and often it’s predictable but I love when a book can still surprise you, as this one did. Ever since reading the Paper Magician series, I’ve found her books charming, engaging, and an adventurous escape from reality and this book was just that.
I also liked the introduction of a nonwhite, Barbadian magician and love interest who’s perspective was shared equally with the MC, and through which we saw the fear and wariness with which he was treated, microagressions that could be invisible to others but that read as xenophobic or racist or both. It was not the main focus but it was an aspect that this author has not always explored and that I really appreciated as a reader.
I also liked the introduction of a nonwhite, Barbadian magician and love interest who’s perspective was shared equally with the MC, and through which we saw the fear and wariness with which he was treated, microagressions that could be invisible to others but that read as xenophobic or racist or both. It was not the main focus but it was an aspect that this author has not always explored and that I really appreciated as a reader.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Racism, Xenophobia, and Murder