A review by brookeisbusyreading
My Name Is Magic by Xan van Rooyen
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.5
[I received an eARC. It’ll be published on 9/27!]
When I started reading My Name is Magic, I compared it a bit to Harry Potter…but it’s NOTHING like it and I love this book for that reason.
The characters and magic system are my favorite things about the book! Taika is a great MC who proves that being normal is unique (in more ways than one) and Morgan makes an amazing sidekick! They’re relationship is cute, witty, and surprisingly balanced! The development between Taika and all the other characters is just perfect for the story. I do find their development with Toivo so pleasing too - that big moment near the end I can’t spoil had my jaw on the floor!
The magic system is also very cool since it builds on the 4 basic elements, which I enjoy in a fantasy book. Add some interesting creatures, a magical (at times political) hierarchy, and a mystery to solve and I’m invested!
Queer representation in My Name is Magic wasn’t overbearing or underrepresented - instead a good balance to clearly identify the book as queer. Gender roles were reversed a bit too, which is an element of storytelling I’m a huge fan of.
I enjoy a book with culture woven into its pages as well! While I literally know nothing about Finnish culture, about 99% of the Finnish words/phrases I understood or could figure out through context. There were a few moments I couldn’t decipher a word or phrase but, in a novel, that’s nothing. (I’m just one of those people who doesn’t like having to look things up if I don’t understand them.)
But I love My Name is Magic and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fantasy mystery with queer representation!
When I started reading My Name is Magic, I compared it a bit to Harry Potter…but it’s NOTHING like it and I love this book for that reason.
The characters and magic system are my favorite things about the book! Taika is a great MC who proves that being normal is unique (in more ways than one) and Morgan makes an amazing sidekick! They’re relationship is cute, witty, and surprisingly balanced! The development between Taika and all the other characters is just perfect for the story. I do find their development with Toivo so pleasing too - that big moment near the end I can’t spoil had my jaw on the floor!
The magic system is also very cool since it builds on the 4 basic elements, which I enjoy in a fantasy book. Add some interesting creatures, a magical (at times political) hierarchy, and a mystery to solve and I’m invested!
Queer representation in My Name is Magic wasn’t overbearing or underrepresented - instead a good balance to clearly identify the book as queer. Gender roles were reversed a bit too, which is an element of storytelling I’m a huge fan of.
I enjoy a book with culture woven into its pages as well! While I literally know nothing about Finnish culture, about 99% of the Finnish words/phrases I understood or could figure out through context. There were a few moments I couldn’t decipher a word or phrase but, in a novel, that’s nothing. (I’m just one of those people who doesn’t like having to look things up if I don’t understand them.)
But I love My Name is Magic and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fantasy mystery with queer representation!