Reviews with content warning for Cursing - Beneath the Sugar Sky

So far, none of the Wayward Children books have been set up to disappoint. They’re beautifully written worlds within worlds within worlds imparting meaning and messages without being pretentious or telling people they need to be anything aside from what they are.

I loved Rini’s quest to save her mother, and the way McGuire builds her world in every book. I think what I love most, though, is that McGuire’s world doesn’t need the same rules and doesn’t have the same expectations. It’s one full of hope; kindness; and the ability to be lost, found, and understood.

Content Warnings

kerrygetsliterary's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

maeverose's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.75

I’m really reading slumpy at the moment so it’s hard to rally my thoughts and feelings about this book. I didn’t really care for Confection as a world or Rini (or Sumi) as characters, so being as that was kinda the main focus it automatically meant I wasn’t gonna enjoy this one as much, but weirdly enough I think I liked it more than the second book (which was the world I was most interested in). This had much more of a plot than the second book, and more world building (even if that world building felt a little info dumpy and forced at times, I don’t tend to mind that too much and it was cool to learn more about how the doors and worlds work). I like Kade, Cora and Christopher and am excited to get to see their worlds at some point (hopefully).

I am a bit unsure about some of the various rep in this book though (fat, disability, and hijabi in particular). A lot of it felt performative. I’m not fat or Muslim so I can’t really speak on those, and I’m not disabled in the way this character is, but the fact that she’s somewhat magically ‘fixed’ in her world bothers me a bit). The trans rep with Kade is the only thing I can really say feels pretty well done.

Content Warnings

whailey's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

anni_swanilda's review

Go to review page

adventurous relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

atlas_shruggs's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

This book made me so hungry, jesus christ. The descriptions of Confection, the way literally everything except alive things was made out of food? It sounds delicious.
This book definitely had some gorgeous descriptions that really brought the entire story to life: Nancy's Underworld, Confection, the Junkyard, all of it was so vividly described it felt like I was there, I could practically smell sugar and pomegranates in the air.
The characters were amazing, I loved each and every one of them and cannot wait to see even more of them in future books. I suppose the only flaw I see in this book is the fact that Cora's personality seems to mainly consist of being fat. Like I get it, she's fat and has been struggling with body issues her entire life, but as a chubby girl myself, I don't spend every minute of every day thinking about how fat I am and how everyone must think I'm so fat, and yet Cora does. Maybe I just didn't relate to her struggles as much as I was never outwardly bullied for being fat, at least not verbally, but I just felt like it was a bit much, having her mention that she was fat every other page.
Still, overall a great book, it made me wish even more that Nancy and Kade could be together, and I'm really excited to be reading Where the Drowned Girls Go next, and see more of Cora.

Content Warnings

More...