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shereadstales's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
rubyoung22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
bookbug_97's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The pacing was off and it felt like the characterization in the last chapters were as well. There were a lot of things I didn't see coming and that was kinda bad.
caitlinxx05's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
ellesreadingnook's review
After reading many, many reviews, I was hesitant to pick this up despite being genuinely excited to read it. I was going to give it a chance, and while the first few pages were fine, I just know I will be reading it with the criticism I've already heard in my mind.
natsavage19's review
adventurous
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
An inclusive, emotional story of four queer humanoids coming of age in a magical world.
quierdo's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
tatyanavogt's review
5.0
Okay, so I was scared to read this book after hearing it was racist, but I got it in a book box and decided to read it anyway and I am so glad that I did. Because a book has racism in it, does not make the book racist. (I'm black by the way)
I Loved this book, I loved the writing, I loved the diverse characters, I loved the queer rep (although some things felt a little weird). I appreciate that in a book about being discriminated against for being different the author didn't shy away from racial discrimination while making it clear (in my opinion) that most of the characters along with the author don't condone it. I also appreciated that since the author is white that they did NOT make the book about race and racism even though they included that element. Thats not what the book is about. Their are so many other things that the book is about, race is just one element that one of the characters faces (and part of it is also because he is a giant, not just because he is black)
Now I will admit that a LOT is going on in the book, and some things are a little convoluted and not clear. I didn't have an issue with it. I will say that my current 5 star rating might be a little contingent on how the second book turns out.
Spoiler thoughts:
- The first time David experiences racism the second cop is uncomfortable because he thinks its weird that his partner is singling out this big black dude for no reason.
- The elevator scene pushes things a little bit with the monstrous behavior, although they are in a literal city of monsters, it didn't feel like any of the other monsters were described in the same loosing control primal sort of way. (this is partially forgiven for me since David is clearly an important character in the story)
- The big controversial moment where a white character frames a black dude.. one of the reasons she did it was because she knew he was from the university and she assumed that he would be able to get out of it quickly... She didn't think about the fact that he is black he doesn't have the same privilege as his white friend. (I actually thought that was really good commentary weather intentional from the author or not)
- I loved that in this book the black characters are IMPORTANT, they aren't just useless side characters that are only there to check off a diversity quota and get almost zero page time. (I'm also glad this isn't a white author trying to do an 'own voices' type novel that is solely on the experience of POCs) -> This book is JUST THE RIGHT amount of diversity and representation from a white author.
I Loved this book, I loved the writing, I loved the diverse characters, I loved the queer rep (although some things felt a little weird). I appreciate that in a book about being discriminated against for being different the author didn't shy away from racial discrimination while making it clear (in my opinion) that most of the characters along with the author don't condone it. I also appreciated that since the author is white that they did NOT make the book about race and racism even though they included that element. Thats not what the book is about. Their are so many other things that the book is about, race is just one element that one of the characters faces (and part of it is also because he is a giant, not just because he is black)
Now I will admit that a LOT is going on in the book, and some things are a little convoluted and not clear. I didn't have an issue with it. I will say that my current 5 star rating might be a little contingent on how the second book turns out.
Spoiler thoughts:
Spoiler
- The first time David experiences racism the second cop is uncomfortable because he thinks its weird that his partner is singling out this big black dude for no reason.
- The elevator scene pushes things a little bit with the monstrous behavior, although they are in a literal city of monsters, it didn't feel like any of the other monsters were described in the same loosing control primal sort of way. (this is partially forgiven for me since David is clearly an important character in the story)
- The big controversial moment where a white character frames a black dude.. one of the reasons she did it was because she knew he was from the university and she assumed that he would be able to get out of it quickly... She didn't think about the fact that he is black he doesn't have the same privilege as his white friend. (I actually thought that was really good commentary weather intentional from the author or not)
- I loved that in this book the black characters are IMPORTANT, they aren't just useless side characters that are only there to check off a diversity quota and get almost zero page time. (I'm also glad this isn't a white author trying to do an 'own voices' type novel that is solely on the experience of POCs) -> This book is JUST THE RIGHT amount of diversity and representation from a white author.
kariniwonderland's review
2.0
I got this gorgeous Illummicrate edition of this book and was looking forward to reading it. But unfortunately this one wasn't for me. It had promise, but it was a confusing read that made it difficult to keep up with the story.