Reviews

Revisionary by Jim C. Hines

oox's review

3.0

This book didn't grab me nearly as much as the other three, I had a hard time getting through it all.

amybraunauthor's review against another edition

4.0

This was the exact finale I was hoping to read for the MAGIC EX LIBRIS series! It was full of everything I loved: Action, adventure, drama, betrayal, magic, monsters, and an epic conclusion. The story was more akin to a political thriller than anything else as Isaac tries to deal with the fallout now that he let the world know that magic and monsters are real. This led to a lot of tension and aggression and fear from all walks of life, and a handful of people who found it exciting.

This story turned out to be one of my favourites and left me guessing right up until the end. It felt like a season's worth of TV packed into a single book! The characters continued to astound. Lena will always be my favourite, but Isaac definitely had the biggest growth. He went from being a nerd to a revolutionary (who's still a nerd). The boundaries of magic in this universe continued to be pushed, and it was fun to see more books used in action and spy-like scenes. The villain's goal was also beyond dastardly. I didn't really know it was coming, but when it was revealed... wow. It was terrifying!

I'm so glad I got to read this series. Every book in it was a celebration of creativity, literature, science fiction, fantasy, and book love. I recommend it to any and everyone who loves reading and always wanted to take part in their favourite stories. With MAGIC EX LIBRIS, you get pretty close.

jholloed's review

Now that magic is loose, it was quite interesting to see the consequences. As another reviewer said, we had to learn to adapt to this on a larger scale, even as the characters did.
I think how people adapted (or not) to magic revealed, can have some parallels in the modern world.

But honestly just a good, good book. Fun, but thought worthy as well, long after I closed the pages.

I like the fact that this book has an air of finality, while still leaving the door open in a natural way, should an awesome idea strike. :) This is actual book closure.

malreynolds111's review

4.0

I love this series.

tmleblanc's review

4.0

It’s over. My adventures with the coolest fictional librarian I’ve never known are over. Revisionary marks the end of the Magic Ex Libris series. No more pulling stuff out of books to save the World. Unless, of course, I find the time to re-read the series. And I hope I do. Because this series is just plain fun.

After finishing Unbound, I jumped right into Revisionary because I had to know how everything would all fall out. Issac was somewhat manic in the last book and I was concerned for his life. He’s did some crazy things in book 3 and it led to some pretty devastating consequences.

In the end, my copy of Revisionary is studded with post-it tabs. Eleven of them to be exact. This is a good sign that Jim had me feeling things and thinking deeply for most of the book.

Throughout the course of the book, Jim touches on human rights. He touches on what happens when your passion consumes you and how that affects other people in your life. He touches on our need to go at it alone whether that’s in our best interest or not. Overall, Revisionary is about change—the good and bad.

Revisionary is definitely an emotional book. The political aspects of the plot gets lost and muddled behind Issac’s drive to rescue and set things right. And while, I am an emotional reader, I do wish the political arguments would have been stronger because I can see a direct correlation between the conversations happening our real world about diversity, human rights and the current political climate. (I live in Iowa. The caucuses just finished up. Need I say more?)

My favorite thing about this series as a whole is the amazing growth of the characters. I look back at my review of Book 1 compared to how I feel now that I’ve read Book 4. These are characters I want to have in my life. I want Issac to dazzle me by pulling things out of books and pop culture references. I want to spar with Lena (and perhaps pig out on junk food with her, too). I want to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Nidhi. There is no question that these three have an amazing, unique relationship that no one questions. It just is. They depend on each other yet they are individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses. To me, they are real.

So who should read the Magic Ex Libris series? Fans of pop culture will definitely get a kick out it. Fans of magic and paranormal worlds will definitely feel a connection. Bookworms, in particular, should pay attention because books are magic. And in Issac’s world there is an amazing truth in that statement. If you have ever dreamed of having access to Lucy’s healing cordial to help a loved one or Dorothy’s silver slippers to skip your commute, the Magic Ex Libris series is definitely for you.


This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews

coltonh's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

setauuta's review

4.0

While I really liked how the author thought through the implications of hidden magic becoming public, it felt like the resolution was a little too easy for me - all of the loose strings were tied up just a bit too neatly. Still, though, a good ending to the series.

else's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

woohooo this is the first book I finished reading in 3 months. I've been rewatching buffy the vampire slayer and reading soooo much buffy fic :D and watching some tv series like heartstopper :D 

it feels good to listen to a book again. I did enjoy this book, although reading a book in short bursts over 3 months isn't the best way to experience it. 

 

I love the magic system of this series, I sometimes don't like the main character very much. He's so very arrogant and not aware enough of his own privilege and his blind spots stemming from that privilege. He's so convinced he is the only one who can save people and end their suffering, while not realizing his own shortcomings in identifying who is a person that needs to be saved. I don't know, he's trying, and he does try to lift people up but sometimes he just rubs me the wrong way. 

titusfortner's review

3.0

I didn't like this one nearly as much as the others, the plot felt like it got away here.

jonmhansen's review against another edition

5.0

"How did you find us?" she asked.
I cocked my head. "Magic librarian, remember?"