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heather_boo's review against another edition
2.0
The third book in the wayward children series is less dark, less serious and much more campy than its predecessor. It’s predictable, but I followed it until the end anyway. The attempt at being ultra inclusive while commendable is clumsily done at best. In other words, it is an aside rather than a natural part of the storyline in case we might need repeated reminding of who is gay, straight, fat, thin, Asian, or Latino. The overall disjointed feeling of book 3 renders it unlikely that I will continue the series.
trude_am's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
tmmagclan15's review against another edition
adventurous
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
kaebirdie's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful successor to the first two books, and darkly whimsical. Loved it, and loved Cora. It was so nice to revisit some friends from the first book, and it followed on so well from those events.
jessicasmith72416's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
grace_b_3's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Transphobia
jackleopards's review against another edition
3.0
Every series has its highs and lows, right? And I think this was one of those potholes over the smooth asphalt, if you know what I mean. In the third installment of this series, the characters we’ve been familiar of set out for an adventure to another world when a girl name, Rini, fell down from the sky in search of her mother; her mother who’s most known in the boarding school after the murders in the first book, and an old friend of our dear characters.
I have no doubts that this is where Maguire’s writing really leaped off the pages for me. She put a lot of creativity in terms of the world-building and she wanted her readers to work their full-force of imagination towards the book’s setting: The Halls of the Dead, an underworld, and Confection, a candy-coated wonderland – which a world a child could ever dreamed of, but I’m mostly gravitated towards the former. It was great to see what happened to the protagonists where we left them in the first book especially Christopher and Kade like we’re catching up with our old friends. Moreover, Maguire was, as always, able to diversify the storyline with a great cast of characters, which was also the center that magnified the story even more for the previous books.
However, I could also say that this was somehow out of line in the series as we follow the characters we’ve been introduced in the first book to a quest to help a new character whose only connection in the series is her mother who didn’t even made halfway through the first book. There were also some minimal issues I’m bothered of about the fat representation that was relevant around this book: Cora, the new character, has been struggling with her body with judgements and fat-shaming remarks revolving around her, and although it was great for the author to address this in the limelight, the topic was basically mentioned “on-repeat” every time we follow her POV. There were also a potential that this book can go further especially when they dethroned the evil Queen of the Cakes but somehow they just jumped out to the easiest conclusion and I find it somehow childish?? But I think it’s Maguire’s purpose to make this as short as possible without complicating the plot and avoid it from getting long and winding.
Nonetheless, I couldn’t get enough of Maguire’s well-thought universe and I’m still looking forward for more adventures and doors to be opened together with the Wayward Children. This may not be what I was expecting, but I still had an excellent escapade!
I have no doubts that this is where Maguire’s writing really leaped off the pages for me. She put a lot of creativity in terms of the world-building and she wanted her readers to work their full-force of imagination towards the book’s setting: The Halls of the Dead, an underworld, and Confection, a candy-coated wonderland – which a world a child could ever dreamed of, but I’m mostly gravitated towards the former. It was great to see what happened to the protagonists where we left them in the first book especially Christopher and Kade like we’re catching up with our old friends. Moreover, Maguire was, as always, able to diversify the storyline with a great cast of characters, which was also the center that magnified the story even more for the previous books.
However, I could also say that this was somehow out of line in the series as we follow the characters we’ve been introduced in the first book to a quest to help a new character whose only connection in the series is her mother who didn’t even made halfway through the first book. There were also some minimal issues I’m bothered of about the fat representation that was relevant around this book: Cora, the new character, has been struggling with her body with judgements and fat-shaming remarks revolving around her, and although it was great for the author to address this in the limelight, the topic was basically mentioned “on-repeat” every time we follow her POV. There were also a potential that this book can go further especially when they dethroned the evil Queen of the Cakes but somehow they just jumped out to the easiest conclusion and I find it somehow childish?? But I think it’s Maguire’s purpose to make this as short as possible without complicating the plot and avoid it from getting long and winding.
Nonetheless, I couldn’t get enough of Maguire’s well-thought universe and I’m still looking forward for more adventures and doors to be opened together with the Wayward Children. This may not be what I was expecting, but I still had an excellent escapade!
emldavis001's review against another edition
2.0
I am really disappointed by this series so far. It seems as every book is worse than the last. I was so excited to read this series and now the only reason I'm reading it is so I can finish it and read something better. I want to hope that the next book will be better, but I highly doubt it will be. Don't waste your time on this series. It's not worth it.