A review by anracli
Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell

lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Very low stakes and somewhat repetitive. The events of the book take place over a short period of time and the FMC's magic parallels with mental illness so it's understandable to a degree.

The FMC is immature, the MMC is paperthin, the FMC hardly views the MMC as a whole person (expecting him to still be the same as he was as a child), and the most interesting part of the story,
the FMC's confrontation with her mother
, is not resolved in this book. Neither, really, is how the general population reacts to FMC; by the end of the book her bad reputation for having unruly magic just seems to disappear. A plot hook regarding the council is also introduced but not explored.

Did enjoy the casual existence of queer characters without comment save one scene where an apprentice says they appreciate their teacher having a shared identity.

Good for young readers who might be looking for a relatively easy introduction to media dealing with parental trauma and mental illness. Also good for those looking for a low stakes read with a happy ending, who are okay with several plot lines being left unresolved.
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