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athenathestorier's review
- 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
4.25
In it, we see our main character Alex struggle with the expectations of her family - magical expectations that scare her to the core. And we notice that all the events that follow her attempt at escape are just as much the fault of her family's toxic positivity as her "selfish" fears. We find out that even though several of her family members have had experiences and feelings similar to our MC, none of them acknowledged it. They didn't address or acknowledge her fears, worries, and trauma. Instead, they dismissed them. "It's a gift," they say, tsking and shaking their heads as they go about their business. And I suppose that it is very fitting that it was the dead that acknowledged that failing, rather than the living who, at least according to the preview for book 2, still have a lot to learn about consequences being for more than just magic. After all, it was our MC's adventure and growth, not her family's.
I loved the worldbuilding and imagery perhaps most of all. I felt like I could see myself there with the characters, and that remained the case from start to finish. I also felt like I had a firm grasp on who all the characters were and what motivated their actions. Character and relationship dynamic writing are two things that tend to take a front seat when I consume stories, and so the fact that I can imaginatively throw our MC into a whole new scenario and feel like I have a firm grasp on what she would do and think is a great indicator of how well she was written to us readers.
And while the sapphic element was a truly extremely welcome surprise (I went in pretty blind) and I found it so very sweet, I felt it was poorly led up to
Another unfortunate is the fact that the high-tension plot points all fell rather flat. I didn't come out of them like anything was actually done. Of course, perhaps that might have been purposeful - as the climax tension seemed more tied to family acceptance than the defeat of the villain, which I guess would align with the overall message of the book being about the value of family.
Quotes:
"They say El Corazon has two hearts: the black thing in his chest and the one he wears on his sleeve."
"I'm not the encantrix everyone thought I would be. Right now, I'm just a girl, and there is also magic in that."
Moderate: Animal death, Abandonment, Gore, Bullying, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Self harm, and Panic attacks/disorders
themoodreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Minor: Bullying, Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and Death
aceofsphades_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, and Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Murder, and Bullying
oddduck's review
4.0
Conclusion:
I enjoyed the plot and the themes of this book, and there was enough that I liked to get me through the parts I didn't, and with a cliffhanger like that, how can I not finish the series? Overall good and I hope the things I don't like about the characters get left behind as they keep growing.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, and Bullying
Minor: Grief and Murder
karcitis's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Violence, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Slavery
Moderate: Vomit, Genocide, Self harm, Confinement, Grief, War, Kidnapping, and Car accident
Minor: Colonisation, Classism, Bullying, Racism, Medical content, Drug use, Drug abuse, Torture, and Murder
marissasbooks's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Every scene felt so purposeful, like it contained precisely what it ought so I felt settled about what happened while also craving the next chapter. I like the dynamic between Alex, Nova, and Rishi, it's a well-executed relationship triangle where every connection feels complex and complete. Nova is just the right amount of mysterious and brooding, and Rishi feels like a good fit for Alex. That isn't settled, obviously, since it's just the start, but I like how there's no reservation about Alex having feelings for both of them. I especially like how they are framed as being different kinds of feelings, but I'll watch to see how or if that changes as the series continues.
I love Agosto and Madra, they're such different but powerful leaders in a very taxing situation. I love stories about the Fae, and this take on the Underhill concept was nice. Their plights felt like natural tests of Alex's confidence and power, so that the conclusion made sense and the display of power felt appropriate. Rishi's fake wings were a cute touch, something that made her sudden entrance really feel unplanned and heartfelt.
Moderate: Bullying and Death
CW for bullying, missing parent, death.