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timinbc's review against another edition
5.0
They can call it YA if they like but I'm 74 and enjoyed it.
Read the reviews by Nataliya and Betsy; they say most of what I felt.
Someone who writes as well as Hardinge does won't often also have the ability to choose an important theme (or maybe a cluster of themes) AND create a coherent magical system AND have a multi-threaded plot in which almost everything that is mentioned in the plot turns out to be important. In fact, Hardinge may be unique in this.
Not just for YA, I said, but important for YA because it shows that characters may not be what they seem, their motivations may not be what you think, and that a lot of people don't like who/where they are but don't know how to change the situation. I think any halfway-smart YA who reads this will do a LOT of thinking for a couple of weeks after, maybe some forgiving and apologizing.
This book should win all the awards.
Read the reviews by Nataliya and Betsy; they say most of what I felt.
Someone who writes as well as Hardinge does won't often also have the ability to choose an important theme (or maybe a cluster of themes) AND create a coherent magical system AND have a multi-threaded plot in which almost everything that is mentioned in the plot turns out to be important. In fact, Hardinge may be unique in this.
Not just for YA, I said, but important for YA because it shows that characters may not be what they seem, their motivations may not be what you think, and that a lot of people don't like who/where they are but don't know how to change the situation. I think any halfway-smart YA who reads this will do a LOT of thinking for a couple of weeks after, maybe some forgiving and apologizing.
This book should win all the awards.
amyvbxx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
wolves_and_circuses's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.25
pchittenden's review against another edition
slow-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
iamalive's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alda_antonia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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
lostyesterday's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.75
susanatherly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Bullying, Body horror, Child death, Grief, Violence, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abandonment