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A review by lizshayne
Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues by H.S. Valley
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was an adorably delightful school romance set in—what might be the first ever—a magical school where, if relevant, I could imagine sending my children. The worst things these kids do is engage in underage drinking and break curfew.
It was really interesting to have magic be a part of the texture of the world without it being a story about chosen ones or saving the world. It’s a boarding school romance at a magical school and the way magic informed the story and made it possible without really being the plot was actually great.
Also they did the thing with the “take care of an egg for high school credit” except it was magicked to kvetch and that was just the most obvious of the ways that Valley was having fun with the whole premise.
It was really interesting to have magic be a part of the texture of the world without it being a story about chosen ones or saving the world. It’s a boarding school romance at a magical school and the way magic informed the story and made it possible without really being the plot was actually great.
Also they did the thing with the “take care of an egg for high school credit” except it was magicked to kvetch and that was just the most obvious of the ways that Valley was having fun with the whole premise.