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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
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
Characters: 7.5/10
Rosa is a delight… until she’s not. She starts off endearingly bored, a little gremlin craving chaos and fanged radishes, and I was rooting for her. But halfway through, she plateaus. Her main trait becomes “ten-year-old with good intentions,” and that wears thin when the stakes rise and she’s still bumbling around with monsters in jars and no real plan. Uncle Alfonso carries most of the emotional weight, and Payne the Crow gets bonus points for sheer sass and spoon-hoarding charm, but even he starts repeating himself. The rest of the Mandolinis are quirk machines—lovable, yes, but after the eighth variation of “eccentric artist with a specific vibe,” I started losing track of who was who. Serena gets some growth, but it’s like watching a cat learn not to knock things off a table—technically progress, but not exactly a character arc.
Rosa is a delight… until she’s not. She starts off endearingly bored, a little gremlin craving chaos and fanged radishes, and I was rooting for her. But halfway through, she plateaus. Her main trait becomes “ten-year-old with good intentions,” and that wears thin when the stakes rise and she’s still bumbling around with monsters in jars and no real plan. Uncle Alfonso carries most of the emotional weight, and Payne the Crow gets bonus points for sheer sass and spoon-hoarding charm, but even he starts repeating himself. The rest of the Mandolinis are quirk machines—lovable, yes, but after the eighth variation of “eccentric artist with a specific vibe,” I started losing track of who was who. Serena gets some growth, but it’s like watching a cat learn not to knock things off a table—technically progress, but not exactly a character arc.
Atmosphere/Setting: 7/10
Look, I get it: whimsical studio, magical city, eccentric family. And it works… to a point. The Studio Mandolini is charming until it feels like a set dressing that never evolves. The city outside? Vaguely sketched canals and vibes. The book talks about class differences, urban decay, and magical infrastructure (that sewer illumination scene was chef’s kiss), but doesn’t do much with it. We could’ve had a lush, tangled world full of competing art studios, guild politics, and magical rivalries. Instead, we get occasional “we’re poor” vibes and endless descriptions of pie. I wanted more grime in my whimsy, more texture in my magic. I wanted Van Gogh by way of Ghibli. Instead, I got Etsy-core wallpaper with magical beetles.
Look, I get it: whimsical studio, magical city, eccentric family. And it works… to a point. The Studio Mandolini is charming until it feels like a set dressing that never evolves. The city outside? Vaguely sketched canals and vibes. The book talks about class differences, urban decay, and magical infrastructure (that sewer illumination scene was chef’s kiss), but doesn’t do much with it. We could’ve had a lush, tangled world full of competing art studios, guild politics, and magical rivalries. Instead, we get occasional “we’re poor” vibes and endless descriptions of pie. I wanted more grime in my whimsy, more texture in my magic. I wanted Van Gogh by way of Ghibli. Instead, I got Etsy-core wallpaper with magical beetles.
Writing Style: 8/10
Kingfisher’s voice is breezy, clever, and painfully readable—until it starts looping. Rosa’s thoughts are endearing until they start circling like a beetle around a lamp. The “quirky but emotionally poignant” tone works great in short bursts, but by the time Rosa’s dealing with actual magical danger, I was begging for the narration to stop describing radishes and do something. Dialogue-wise, it’s snappy, especially from Payne and Uncle Alfonso, but too many conversations read like variations of “Oh, that’s strange—ah well, on with the chaos.” Still, some sentences are pure art. Like: “Every illumination takes a piece of the painter’s heart, and that is why the magic works.” That line alone is a solid 10/10. I just wish there weren’t five other lines explaining it again in slightly different ways.
Kingfisher’s voice is breezy, clever, and painfully readable—until it starts looping. Rosa’s thoughts are endearing until they start circling like a beetle around a lamp. The “quirky but emotionally poignant” tone works great in short bursts, but by the time Rosa’s dealing with actual magical danger, I was begging for the narration to stop describing radishes and do something. Dialogue-wise, it’s snappy, especially from Payne and Uncle Alfonso, but too many conversations read like variations of “Oh, that’s strange—ah well, on with the chaos.” Still, some sentences are pure art. Like: “Every illumination takes a piece of the painter’s heart, and that is why the magic works.” That line alone is a solid 10/10. I just wish there weren’t five other lines explaining it again in slightly different ways.
Plot: 6.5/10
We spend 70% of this book watching Rosa talk about how she might help, then 25% watching her try and fail to do anything useful, and 5% actually confronting the magical threat. It’s a slow burn—but not the sexy, tension-filled kind. It’s the kind where someone keeps promising cake but you just keep getting stale biscotti. The central conflict (magical mandrake root monster is loose, oops!) is a solid hook, but the actual narrative progression is… aimless. Rosa doesn't grow so much as slightly shift. And the climax? Let's just say it fizzles like a damp match. For a story about magical art and existential danger, it never fully commits to either. There’s a killer story almost happening under all the dithering—if only someone had slapped a deadline on it.
We spend 70% of this book watching Rosa talk about how she might help, then 25% watching her try and fail to do anything useful, and 5% actually confronting the magical threat. It’s a slow burn—but not the sexy, tension-filled kind. It’s the kind where someone keeps promising cake but you just keep getting stale biscotti. The central conflict (magical mandrake root monster is loose, oops!) is a solid hook, but the actual narrative progression is… aimless. Rosa doesn't grow so much as slightly shift. And the climax? Let's just say it fizzles like a damp match. For a story about magical art and existential danger, it never fully commits to either. There’s a killer story almost happening under all the dithering—if only someone had slapped a deadline on it.
Intrigue: 7/10
I was hooked early. Talking paintings, eccentric artists, weird magical rules—sign me up. But then it drags. The Scarling is creepy... until it’s just a repetitive plot device. Rosa keeps almost getting caught, almost catching it, almost telling someone, and after a while, I didn’t care whether she spilled the beans—I just wanted something to happen. The stakes are weirdly low for “city-destroying magical parasite,” and the mystery never deepens—it just flattens into “we have to catch it,” and then we wait. And wait. And eat some muffins.
I was hooked early. Talking paintings, eccentric artists, weird magical rules—sign me up. But then it drags. The Scarling is creepy... until it’s just a repetitive plot device. Rosa keeps almost getting caught, almost catching it, almost telling someone, and after a while, I didn’t care whether she spilled the beans—I just wanted something to happen. The stakes are weirdly low for “city-destroying magical parasite,” and the mystery never deepens—it just flattens into “we have to catch it,” and then we wait. And wait. And eat some muffins.
Logic/Relationships: 6/10
This world runs on art logic, and I love that, but even magical systems need some scaffolding. The rules around illuminations are charmingly specific (yes to blue-eyed cats, no to purple-eyed ones), but also hand-waved whenever it’s inconvenient. Why does no one notice the literal monster? Why is Payne the only person with any historical knowledge? Why is there a magical Codex if everyone just ignores it? Also, Rosa’s family loves her—but they throw her under the bus fast when stuff starts going wrong. That drama could’ve been juicy, but it gets resolved with a single “oops, my bad.” And her relationship with Serena swings wildly between “we are besties again” and “you’re mean and shallow,” like a mood ring in a thunderstorm.
This world runs on art logic, and I love that, but even magical systems need some scaffolding. The rules around illuminations are charmingly specific (yes to blue-eyed cats, no to purple-eyed ones), but also hand-waved whenever it’s inconvenient. Why does no one notice the literal monster? Why is Payne the only person with any historical knowledge? Why is there a magical Codex if everyone just ignores it? Also, Rosa’s family loves her—but they throw her under the bus fast when stuff starts going wrong. That drama could’ve been juicy, but it gets resolved with a single “oops, my bad.” And her relationship with Serena swings wildly between “we are besties again” and “you’re mean and shallow,” like a mood ring in a thunderstorm.
Enjoyment: 7/10
I liked this book. I even loved parts of it. But I was also frustrated by it—by how much potential it had, and how little it did with it. Illuminations has heart, charm, and an absolutely killer premise. It just refuses to take off its training wheels. Rosa is a protagonist who could be iconic. The magic system could be spectacular. The Mandolini family could be a chaotic masterpiece. But instead, everything gets stuck in this middle-grade loop of “this is nice, let’s not go too far.” And that’s fine. But I wanted more. I wanted it to go weird, go big, go feral with magic. Instead, it went safe. And I was a little bored by the end.
I liked this book. I even loved parts of it. But I was also frustrated by it—by how much potential it had, and how little it did with it. Illuminations has heart, charm, and an absolutely killer premise. It just refuses to take off its training wheels. Rosa is a protagonist who could be iconic. The magic system could be spectacular. The Mandolini family could be a chaotic masterpiece. But instead, everything gets stuck in this middle-grade loop of “this is nice, let’s not go too far.” And that’s fine. But I wanted more. I wanted it to go weird, go big, go feral with magic. Instead, it went safe. And I was a little bored by the end.
FINAL VERDICT: 7.2/10
A sweet, funny, and occasionally brilliant tale of magical art, family chaos, and talking birds—but it plays it too safe, too often. If Howl’s Moving Castle had a low-stakes sibling who never left the house, it’d be this book. Good vibes, great concept, but not enough payoff. If you’re in the mood for cozy fantasy with a hint of teeth, it’s worth a read. Just don’t expect it to bite.
A sweet, funny, and occasionally brilliant tale of magical art, family chaos, and talking birds—but it plays it too safe, too often. If Howl’s Moving Castle had a low-stakes sibling who never left the house, it’d be this book. Good vibes, great concept, but not enough payoff. If you’re in the mood for cozy fantasy with a hint of teeth, it’s worth a read. Just don’t expect it to bite.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I picked this up after reading Nettle and Bone, and A Wizard's Guide.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other two, but it was still a good read.
I found the tension much greater in this story than the other two, which may be why I didn't enjoy it as much.
I also found some of the characters a little bizarre, I'm not sure whether they were supposed to be neuro-diverse or just excessively quirky, it grated a little though.
The Scarling's magic reminded me a lot of chalklings from The Rithmatist, although it's been a long time since I read that, so I may be misremembering.
I did like the magic system, I'm a fan of magic that's based around arts or manual skills, where the magic comes from the care or intention of the artist, it's a bit more interesting than spells, wands and staves.
It's a bit heavy-handed at times, and there are some cliches that make it difficult to tell whether it's a children's book or sobering for adults.
Overall it's a fun read for a rainy Saturday.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other two, but it was still a good read.
I found the tension much greater in this story than the other two, which may be why I didn't enjoy it as much.
I also found some of the characters a little bizarre, I'm not sure whether they were supposed to be neuro-diverse or just excessively quirky, it grated a little though.
The Scarling's magic reminded me a lot of chalklings from The Rithmatist, although it's been a long time since I read that, so I may be misremembering.
I did like the magic system, I'm a fan of magic that's based around arts or manual skills, where the magic comes from the care or intention of the artist, it's a bit more interesting than spells, wands and staves.
It's a bit heavy-handed at times, and there are some cliches that make it difficult to tell whether it's a children's book or sobering for adults.
Overall it's a fun read for a rainy Saturday.
adventurous
lighthearted
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Another cute, fun story that was similar in essence to A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking. I was super charmed by the family dynamic and was so there for our sweet little protagonist Rosa. Foy anyone fans of T Kingfisher interested in reading this, please keep in mind this is one of her fun, middle-grade books (rather than her fun, spooky books). That being said, I highly recommend this absolute delight!
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes