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kokechii's review
4.0
After months of being disappointed that I haven't read anything new-new, this was such a breath of fresh air.
Very original and imaginative, specially in the way the author uses descriptions. Saida was also something completely new, and her magic making her more than unique (if very lonely) from other protagonists I've read recently. Even the worlds we travel to and from felt fresh - each of the five senses represented by its own world in a unique way. I loved Saida and felt for her and I just loved immersing myself in this world the author created. I'm sure to be thinking of it for a long while.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens for providing the ARC.
Very original and imaginative, specially in the way the author uses descriptions. Saida was also something completely new, and her magic making her more than unique (if very lonely) from other protagonists I've read recently. Even the worlds we travel to and from felt fresh - each of the five senses represented by its own world in a unique way. I loved Saida and felt for her and I just loved immersing myself in this world the author created. I'm sure to be thinking of it for a long while.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens for providing the ARC.
mythian's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
This book's biggest strength is its descriptive writing. The author transports the readers to the different sensory worlds and makes them feel as though they are experiencing what the characters are feeling. The worldbuilding is unique, I've never seen sensory magic before. Many of the touches were very creative, such as hearing loss being a useful defense against sound magic. The heavy reliance on the senses did make the worlds feel a little small however, and some of the writing felt a little clumsy, such as euphemisms like "Sounddammit!" and "Holy Sound!"
I really enjoyed the characters; I loved Saida and her journey of self-love and recovering from a painful past. Alesio was a wonderful friend; I appreciated how much he cared for Saida. Unfortunately I found the side characters to be forgettable, but the story mostly focuses on Alesio and Saida anyway.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed the characters; I loved Saida and her journey of self-love and recovering from a painful past. Alesio was a wonderful friend; I appreciated how much he cared for Saida. Unfortunately I found the side characters to be forgettable, but the story mostly focuses on Alesio and Saida anyway.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping and Toxic relationship
smoakrising's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, the story and the magic system were unique. I really could have read this in one sitting if I had the time. I would definitely recommend this to someone wanting a unique story.
I received this as an ARC from book sirens in exchange for an honest review.
I received this as an ARC from book sirens in exchange for an honest review.
cschaepe84's review
4.0
Thank you BookSiren and Emmie Christie for the opportunity of reading this arc!
What a trip!
A very unique journey into a strange world where all the senses represent worlds of their own, the five together creating one universe, but in order to save the magic that binds them together from dying completely, a magical being must trim access magics and transplant it in the other worlds.
We meet Saida, a magical fox person, Shapeshifter who has the ability to transfer into different worlds of the five senses to transplant magics to help even the score and balance of the universe. She feels lonely as she's the only one with this ability, and as a result, creates friends with the magical artifacts she collects along the way. Some sort of apocalypse had occurred a long time ago, and now she tries to restore balance. But a dark force follows her and tries to stop her.
Then we have Alesio, a citizen from the world of Sound. He's a "strait", which is a lower class citizen, in contrast to the "pipers" and dreams of singing in the Cadenza to make music instead of using his voice for violence. He reaches for bigger and better things despite the hand that he's dealt, and this all changes when he comes across a certain fox person Shapeshifter.
I can certainly say that this is not like any story I've read before, so imaginative, original, and yet discussing themes that anyone can relate to. Saida struggles with trusting other people and so is unable to love and be loved as she deserves due to trauma, while Alesio struggles trusting in others to help themselves while helping him feel safe as well. When they find each other, there's an immediate pull between the two, a sweet, kind of slow-burning romance as they run from a horrible shadowy monster that keeps getting bigger, threatening to devour them all. Strange things start happening to the people of Sound when the monster from the Primal Plane begins turning them into zombie like creatures, forcing Saida and Alesio on a race through many dimensions.They journey through all the Five Senses to pick up magics and along the way, encounter other strange monsters and binds that they must escape, saving the world while saving themselves.
I really enjoyed the amount of imagination that went into this as well as the journey Saida and Alesio take within themselves as well as together. There were moments when the description of the worlds as a bit lacking, but overall I love how well Alesio and Saida's emotional trauma and tumult are depicted and how they eventually come together.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What a trip!
A very unique journey into a strange world where all the senses represent worlds of their own, the five together creating one universe, but in order to save the magic that binds them together from dying completely, a magical being must trim access magics and transplant it in the other worlds.
We meet Saida, a magical fox person, Shapeshifter who has the ability to transfer into different worlds of the five senses to transplant magics to help even the score and balance of the universe. She feels lonely as she's the only one with this ability, and as a result, creates friends with the magical artifacts she collects along the way. Some sort of apocalypse had occurred a long time ago, and now she tries to restore balance. But a dark force follows her and tries to stop her.
Then we have Alesio, a citizen from the world of Sound. He's a "strait", which is a lower class citizen, in contrast to the "pipers" and dreams of singing in the Cadenza to make music instead of using his voice for violence. He reaches for bigger and better things despite the hand that he's dealt, and this all changes when he comes across a certain fox person Shapeshifter.
I can certainly say that this is not like any story I've read before, so imaginative, original, and yet discussing themes that anyone can relate to. Saida struggles with trusting other people and so is unable to love and be loved as she deserves due to trauma, while Alesio struggles trusting in others to help themselves while helping him feel safe as well. When they find each other, there's an immediate pull between the two, a sweet, kind of slow-burning romance as they run from a horrible shadowy monster that keeps getting bigger, threatening to devour them all. Strange things start happening to the people of Sound when the monster from the Primal Plane begins turning them into zombie like creatures, forcing Saida and Alesio on a race through many dimensions.They journey through all the Five Senses to pick up magics and along the way, encounter other strange monsters and binds that they must escape, saving the world while saving themselves.
I really enjoyed the amount of imagination that went into this as well as the journey Saida and Alesio take within themselves as well as together. There were moments when the description of the worlds as a bit lacking, but overall I love how well Alesio and Saida's emotional trauma and tumult are depicted and how they eventually come together.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
lindsmariehick's review
4.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A Caged and Restless Magic is a beautiful world filled with fantastic creatures unlike anything I have ever read!
If you’re looking to disappear for a while into a fantasy adventure, this is your book. The characters are so likable, and you will find yourself routing for them every step of the way.
The author’s writing is pure magic! I will be looking for her works in the future.
4/5 stars
A Caged and Restless Magic is a beautiful world filled with fantastic creatures unlike anything I have ever read!
If you’re looking to disappear for a while into a fantasy adventure, this is your book. The characters are so likable, and you will find yourself routing for them every step of the way.
The author’s writing is pure magic! I will be looking for her works in the future.
4/5 stars
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