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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As usual, this was adorable.
Very much a juvenile fiction, so don't expect the more complicated nuances in her adult and sometimes YA books.
That being said, it's still got a lot more nuance than many jv books. In any case, I found it a little slow for most of the beginning. So even though I usually adore T. Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon books, I honestly skimmed a lot of it. However, the ideas and wording were clever and lovely as usual, and the characters great. One of my favorite lines is:
And the ending completely tugged at my heart (and my leaky eyeballs.) The solution is a little... uncomfortable? Harsh? But I get it as an ending for kids. But the parts with the family dynamics are just *chef's kiss.*
Thank you Ursula Vernon!!!
That being said, it's still got a lot more nuance than many jv books. In any case, I found it a little slow for most of the beginning. So even though I usually adore T. Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon books, I honestly skimmed a lot of it. However, the ideas and wording were clever and lovely as usual, and the characters great. One of my favorite lines is:
Aunt Nadia often got a little weird when she was working on a painting, as if most of her brain was involved with art, and the bits that controlled talking were wandering around unsupervised.
And the ending completely tugged at my heart (and my leaky eyeballs.) The solution is a little... uncomfortable? Harsh? But I get it as an ending for kids. But the parts with the family dynamics are just *chef's kiss.*
Thank you Ursula Vernon!!!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very cute! I didn't realize that this was book geared towards kids until I got a bit into it. The length was much longer than I'd expect for a children's book.
I did immediately send it to my sister so my niece can read it.
I did immediately send it to my sister so my niece can read it.
adventurous
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I enjoyed this so much more than I expected to as it is for a younger demographic but it was so fun for dealing with impeding doom. The love for art was rampant and as it was the basis of the magic system it felt alive. The family was a bit rag-tag in nature but also fierce and protective of each other.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
The family and friend were the only redeeming quality of this story. LOVE the author but this main character was irritating to me. Ha!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a bangin’ book for a child. I read it as an adult, and fully enjoyed it. Creative magic system with a family dynamic that reads like “Encanto.”
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes