Scan barcode
cassidyreadss's review against another edition
3.0
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, so thank you to Scholastic Canada!
Given Goodreads lack of half star rating ability I had to rate this book 3 stars, but a more accurate rating would be 3.5 stars! Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it just lacked a couple elements that would have pushed my rating to a 4 or 5 star. I've seen a lot of people comparing this to The Last Airbender and Fight Club, and I think that's a pretty accurate comparison as this book definitely had elements of both those things.
This story takes place in a dark dystopia/fantasy world that has Chinese cultural influences. Dystopia because the world they live in feels that way, but there is a magic element added to that. I really loved that environment, it was super dark and gritty and everyone was kind of out for themselves. I thought the Chapman did a really good job with world building. I really liked how the aspects of Chinese culture were woven into this story, but I wish the author added even more of that influence!
The fact that magic in this society is forbidden really added a high stakes element that kept you flipping the page. Our main character has magic and enters into a casting competition while trying to figure out how her sister died. Throughout her time in the competition she learns more and more about the secret life her sister was leading and how those secrets may have played a part in her death. Aza was a really good main character and I liked how hard she fought for what she believes in and how she had such unconditional love for her sister. We get a few glimpses into what Aza's grieving process was after her sisters death and I thought that was interesting to read. I also appreciated that a romantic plot was not front and centre (it probably will be in the sequel, but I like when a YA doesn't rely on a romance to make the plot).
The reason I gave this book 3.5 stars is mainly because of the underdeveloped magic system. I found the magic system confusing at most times and could never get a full grasp on it even by the end of the book. I also sometimes felt that Aza was handed a lot of answers, instead of her finding those answers out for herself, so some of the mystery was lost there.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this book and I will be picking up the sequel!
Given Goodreads lack of half star rating ability I had to rate this book 3 stars, but a more accurate rating would be 3.5 stars! Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it just lacked a couple elements that would have pushed my rating to a 4 or 5 star. I've seen a lot of people comparing this to The Last Airbender and Fight Club, and I think that's a pretty accurate comparison as this book definitely had elements of both those things.
This story takes place in a dark dystopia/fantasy world that has Chinese cultural influences. Dystopia because the world they live in feels that way, but there is a magic element added to that. I really loved that environment, it was super dark and gritty and everyone was kind of out for themselves. I thought the Chapman did a really good job with world building. I really liked how the aspects of Chinese culture were woven into this story, but I wish the author added even more of that influence!
The fact that magic in this society is forbidden really added a high stakes element that kept you flipping the page. Our main character has magic and enters into a casting competition while trying to figure out how her sister died. Throughout her time in the competition she learns more and more about the secret life her sister was leading and how those secrets may have played a part in her death. Aza was a really good main character and I liked how hard she fought for what she believes in and how she had such unconditional love for her sister. We get a few glimpses into what Aza's grieving process was after her sisters death and I thought that was interesting to read. I also appreciated that a romantic plot was not front and centre (it probably will be in the sequel, but I like when a YA doesn't rely on a romance to make the plot).
The reason I gave this book 3.5 stars is mainly because of the underdeveloped magic system. I found the magic system confusing at most times and could never get a full grasp on it even by the end of the book. I also sometimes felt that Aza was handed a lot of answers, instead of her finding those answers out for herself, so some of the mystery was lost there.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this book and I will be picking up the sequel!
jedegra's review against another edition
4.0
Reminds me of The Beckoning Shadow by Katharyn Blair. Also liked that one a lot, but this was grittier.
mbartman21's review against another edition
3.0
This book has a very interesting concept. It takes place in an Asian nation in a world where everyone used to be able to do magic. Over time, however, the magic started slowly destroying the Earth. Every time a caster used magic there would be earthquakes, crazy weather, mass extinctions, etc. As time went on, people started to feel physical repercussions from using magic. They would get massive headaches, bruises, bloody noses, etc. The stronger the spell used, the more destruction it would cause on Earth and on the caster’s body. Eventually the numbers of those would could cast full magic dwindled until there were very few left. People who could still cast were hunted by police and would have their magic stripped from them if found out.
Anywho, “Caster” is the story of Aza Wu. She is a full caster, and she wants to solve the mystery of her sister’s death. In doing so, she winds up telling lie after lie that kind of spiral out of control. She eventually joins a caster tournament, “Fight Club” style, in order to make money and try to save her family’s name.
I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars. The concept was awesome, but the constant lies and deception made me so anxious. Aza is a very stressed and anxious character, and as a person with my own mental health issues, this book was kind of a trigger for me. I wanted to read more of this book at a time, but had to take breaks or I would have had a panic attack. If you don’t have massive anxiety and like the concept of this book, definitely check it out!
Anywho, “Caster” is the story of Aza Wu. She is a full caster, and she wants to solve the mystery of her sister’s death. In doing so, she winds up telling lie after lie that kind of spiral out of control. She eventually joins a caster tournament, “Fight Club” style, in order to make money and try to save her family’s name.
I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars. The concept was awesome, but the constant lies and deception made me so anxious. Aza is a very stressed and anxious character, and as a person with my own mental health issues, this book was kind of a trigger for me. I wanted to read more of this book at a time, but had to take breaks or I would have had a panic attack. If you don’t have massive anxiety and like the concept of this book, definitely check it out!
fallenprincess's review against another edition
4.0
In a world where casting true magic takes a toll on the caster and the planet, magic is essentially illegal. But people still want to try to find casters to get some things done.
Aza is one of those casters. Her sister died as a result of using too much magic so she is aware of the cost. That being said, she is unable to stop casting because it's the only thing that keeps her family afloat financially.
She finds up that her sister was involved with some type of Fight Club for casters and that is linked with her death so Ava goes to investigate.
This book is underrated and it was engrossing. I had a lot of fun with it
Aza is one of those casters. Her sister died as a result of using too much magic so she is aware of the cost. That being said, she is unable to stop casting because it's the only thing that keeps her family afloat financially.
She finds up that her sister was involved with some type of Fight Club for casters and that is linked with her death so Ava goes to investigate.
This book is underrated and it was engrossing. I had a lot of fun with it
dreams_of_attolia's review against another edition
Caster is an entertaining, easy, fast read about a world in which using magic physically hurts both the caster and the earth around the caster. The world is an environmental dystopia due to past excessive magic casting, and casting full magic is illegal. As I was reading, my back-brain kept poking at the plausibility of some of the plot surrounding the magic tournament (along the lines of "if she could do that, why didn't she pull that move before?), but I was enjoying the book enough to ignore it and keep going (and honestly that's true of most fictional fight scenes). And I question the logic of some of the MC's decisions, but that's a common reading-experience for risk-averse me.
A sequel isn't guaranteed, but the ending definitely sets one up. I had enough fun to pick up the sequel if it gets published.
A sequel isn't guaranteed, but the ending definitely sets one up. I had enough fun to pick up the sequel if it gets published.
telegramsam's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and its world. I will definitely be reading any books that follow and can see myself reading it again.
I hope to write a deeper review in the future.
I hope to write a deeper review in the future.
faerin82's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the world building a lot.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
I felt full magic and winning came much too easily to the main character, who should have been limited in the tournament by her punishment as well as her inexperience. I’m nervous that any sequel will be less enjoyable now that the world has been built and all we have to rely on is the author’s sketchy plot choices.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
I felt full magic and winning came much too easily to the main character, who should have been limited in the tournament by her punishment as well as her inexperience. I’m nervous that any sequel will be less enjoyable now that the world has been built and all we have to rely on is the author’s sketchy plot choices.
jessicabeckett's review against another edition
5.0
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review can be found here at Booked J.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Did I know I would enjoy Caster before reading it? UM. Yes. Did I know how much? NOPE. To be perfectly honest,I was blindsided by my love of Elsie Chapman's Caster and have spent the better part of a few weeks babbling about it to anyone who will listen. Caster is yet another novel of 2019 that was pure brilliance and completely engrossing; I was unable to put it down and have yet to fully shake it from my mind yet.
I can honestly say this is in the top ten of the best of this years Own Voices books.
But, we'll get to that in a future post.
Caster reminded me what it felt like when I first began diving into YA novels as a teenager. It felt as though the experience of reading Caster was reminiscent of several old favourites, not necessarily in story parallels (although there are a few that can be drawn from it) but in the way it makes the reader feel. If you love a good fantasy novel, that has a knife sharp edge of hope and despair and forbidden magic, you'll definitely eat this one up.
Elsie Chapman creates a story that readers may find difficult to put down and will certain ignite a steady fanbase as well as the desire to pull an all-nighter and devour it. (Which is absolutely what I did, much to the dismay of my friend who wanted to go out that night.)
Her world-building is on point (I'm OBSESSED and don't want to give away too, too much to any readers), the characters of Caster all feel complex and real, each and every page exudes a darkly atmospheric tone with that sharp jab of intrigue and heart-racing moments. You can feel this sort of magic bubbling over in the story and it's indescribable compelling. The action and the stakes of living in this world, too, leaves you feeling tense and mystified in a way that not many authors can accomplish in small doses.
Thinking up how to describe Caster in a few words was more than a little difficult, because it leaves so much lingering in our minds as we close the pages. My mind was spent by the time I finished it, because I couldn't help but to be completely tied into every little thing that happens in the novel. Questions and questions, thrills and intrigue--Caster, at its core, is one of the best YA fantasy releases of the year.
While all of the above mentioned traits of Caster are amongst the biggest and brightest highlights, I think that the very best feature within the story is the complexities Aza, our main character, grapples with throughout Caster. It's been a long time since I found myself lost to a character in the best way possible, but I cannot stress how much of a good thing that was.
Overall, Chapman crafts this world with care, and has the tendency to startle us as readers. Words have this power to possess us and grip us, and Chapman uses this skill wisely. If you haven't picked up Caster yet but find the synopsis to be intriguing and are looking for a solid, underrated gem of a fantasy read--this is IT. Unforgettable, fast paced and truly out-of-this-world.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Did I know I would enjoy Caster before reading it? UM. Yes. Did I know how much? NOPE. To be perfectly honest,I was blindsided by my love of Elsie Chapman's Caster and have spent the better part of a few weeks babbling about it to anyone who will listen. Caster is yet another novel of 2019 that was pure brilliance and completely engrossing; I was unable to put it down and have yet to fully shake it from my mind yet.
I can honestly say this is in the top ten of the best of this years Own Voices books.
But, we'll get to that in a future post.
Caster reminded me what it felt like when I first began diving into YA novels as a teenager. It felt as though the experience of reading Caster was reminiscent of several old favourites, not necessarily in story parallels (although there are a few that can be drawn from it) but in the way it makes the reader feel. If you love a good fantasy novel, that has a knife sharp edge of hope and despair and forbidden magic, you'll definitely eat this one up.
Elsie Chapman creates a story that readers may find difficult to put down and will certain ignite a steady fanbase as well as the desire to pull an all-nighter and devour it. (Which is absolutely what I did, much to the dismay of my friend who wanted to go out that night.)
Her world-building is on point (I'm OBSESSED and don't want to give away too, too much to any readers), the characters of Caster all feel complex and real, each and every page exudes a darkly atmospheric tone with that sharp jab of intrigue and heart-racing moments. You can feel this sort of magic bubbling over in the story and it's indescribable compelling. The action and the stakes of living in this world, too, leaves you feeling tense and mystified in a way that not many authors can accomplish in small doses.
Thinking up how to describe Caster in a few words was more than a little difficult, because it leaves so much lingering in our minds as we close the pages. My mind was spent by the time I finished it, because I couldn't help but to be completely tied into every little thing that happens in the novel. Questions and questions, thrills and intrigue--Caster, at its core, is one of the best YA fantasy releases of the year.
While all of the above mentioned traits of Caster are amongst the biggest and brightest highlights, I think that the very best feature within the story is the complexities Aza, our main character, grapples with throughout Caster. It's been a long time since I found myself lost to a character in the best way possible, but I cannot stress how much of a good thing that was.
Overall, Chapman crafts this world with care, and has the tendency to startle us as readers. Words have this power to possess us and grip us, and Chapman uses this skill wisely. If you haven't picked up Caster yet but find the synopsis to be intriguing and are looking for a solid, underrated gem of a fantasy read--this is IT. Unforgettable, fast paced and truly out-of-this-world.
cheybrary's review
mysterious
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Death
Minor: Car accident
thebookcrate's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5