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autumnxrose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
hazel_oat's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Confinement, Abandonment, Classism, and Death
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Gore, Deadnaming, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: War, Hate crime, and Genocide
magikspells's review
4.0
I forgot to update when I finished this!
So the gist of this story is that witches are the offspring of the fae, so they can do a different sort of magic from their families. This creates an interested dynamic because the fae don't believe witches to be their equals (even though many of them are related). Its very much a social commentary.
I really enjoyed this book. There was a wide swatch of queer characters and identities, which is a nice change of pace from a lot of other stories where there's one background character.
Admittedly Wyatt was not my favorite character, but I think it's normal to dislike a main character when it's written from their perspective, because you know all of their thoughts and plans and faults. I'm sure it would have been the same way if it had been written from Amir or Briar's POV. Also, I really liked Briar as a character, I just struggled with how she always felt like she was conveniently inserted into various situations. It makes more sense at the end, its just a little clunky.
So the gist of this story is that witches are the offspring of the fae, so they can do a different sort of magic from their families. This creates an interested dynamic because the fae don't believe witches to be their equals (even though many of them are related). Its very much a social commentary.
I really enjoyed this book. There was a wide swatch of queer characters and identities, which is a nice change of pace from a lot of other stories where there's one background character.
Admittedly Wyatt was not my favorite character, but I think it's normal to dislike a main character when it's written from their perspective, because you know all of their thoughts and plans and faults. I'm sure it would have been the same way if it had been written from Amir or Briar's POV. Also, I really liked Briar as a character, I just struggled with how she always felt like she was conveniently inserted into various situations. It makes more sense at the end, its just a little clunky.
swampbooks's review
DNF-ing at chapter 4 (14%) on account of me not yet enjoying anything.
Wow, I only read 3 chapters and already have so much to say. I won’t leave an official rating for it because I’ve decided to stop doing that to books I didn’t finish, but if I did it would be one single, lonely star.
Where to begin… The writing style felt very “How Do You Do, Fellow Kids?” They tried to have an air of comedy but it just ended up feeling like Tumblr in 2014, and a lot of it was un-healthily self-deprecating. Making a joke like “at least I’m gay so no one expect me to be good at math” might be funny on Twitter where your followers KNOW you’re just being goofy, but it’s less funny in a printed book where impressionable teens are going to take it at face-value. We don’t want to be telling the LGBTQA+ youth that they’re limited or have stunted knowledge because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, we want to remind them they can accomplish anything.
With comments like “I don’t have anything good to say about myself, either” and “I’m even more useless than usual” it’s hard to root for Wyatt when you know nothing about him other than he’s emo, he would rather run away (literally) from his problems rather than try and fix them, and he likes to make self-deprecating jokes that try and force you to feel bad for him. He’s just a pity party, and an angry one at that.
I didn’t get in too deep into his relationship with Emyr, but it looked pretty unhealthy from what I saw. Not because Emyr was a jerk, mind you. Emyr is a sweetheart trying to do his best - a fact that Wyatt himself acknowledges. Wyatt is the bad factor in the relationship. I did read the first page of chapter 4 before DNF-ing, and all I saw was Wyatt admitting to lashing out to his loved ones for no apparent reason. Get some therapy, bro.
My last point, which is something I’m SO glad to not be reading more about, is why do the Fae have Facebook? Where’s the magic? The intrigue? WHY DO THEY HAVE AN APP WHERE YOU CAN SEND AND DOWNLOAD MAGIC SPELLS?
I read fantasy to get away from the real world, not to read about a fictional, magical character’s newest social media profile.
All that being said, I can understand why people would be drawn to this book. It’s inclusive, has a trans person as the main character, and tackles real-world issues (if poorly) while including all the other fun bits that make up YA fae-focused fantasy. Like I mentioned, I read to escape. This story appear to do the opposite and wraps up all the problems our society is dealing with into one book. It’s probably better for younger readers who either aren’t as knowledgeable about real world issues or who aren’t emotionally drained by hearing about it in the news every day. That’s just not me!
Wow, I only read 3 chapters and already have so much to say. I won’t leave an official rating for it because I’ve decided to stop doing that to books I didn’t finish, but if I did it would be one single, lonely star.
Where to begin… The writing style felt very “How Do You Do, Fellow Kids?” They tried to have an air of comedy but it just ended up feeling like Tumblr in 2014, and a lot of it was un-healthily self-deprecating. Making a joke like “at least I’m gay so no one expect me to be good at math” might be funny on Twitter where your followers KNOW you’re just being goofy, but it’s less funny in a printed book where impressionable teens are going to take it at face-value. We don’t want to be telling the LGBTQA+ youth that they’re limited or have stunted knowledge because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, we want to remind them they can accomplish anything.
With comments like “I don’t have anything good to say about myself, either” and “I’m even more useless than usual” it’s hard to root for Wyatt when you know nothing about him other than he’s emo, he would rather run away (literally) from his problems rather than try and fix them, and he likes to make self-deprecating jokes that try and force you to feel bad for him. He’s just a pity party, and an angry one at that.
I didn’t get in too deep into his relationship with Emyr, but it looked pretty unhealthy from what I saw. Not because Emyr was a jerk, mind you. Emyr is a sweetheart trying to do his best - a fact that Wyatt himself acknowledges. Wyatt is the bad factor in the relationship. I did read the first page of chapter 4 before DNF-ing, and all I saw was Wyatt admitting to lashing out to his loved ones for no apparent reason. Get some therapy, bro.
My last point, which is something I’m SO glad to not be reading more about, is why do the Fae have Facebook? Where’s the magic? The intrigue? WHY DO THEY HAVE AN APP WHERE YOU CAN SEND AND DOWNLOAD MAGIC SPELLS?
I read fantasy to get away from the real world, not to read about a fictional, magical character’s newest social media profile.
All that being said, I can understand why people would be drawn to this book. It’s inclusive, has a trans person as the main character, and tackles real-world issues (if poorly) while including all the other fun bits that make up YA fae-focused fantasy. Like I mentioned, I read to escape. This story appear to do the opposite and wraps up all the problems our society is dealing with into one book. It’s probably better for younger readers who either aren’t as knowledgeable about real world issues or who aren’t emotionally drained by hearing about it in the news every day. That’s just not me!
pixelatedlenses's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
fictionalcass's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have complicated feelings about this one. Unfortunately the main character’s personality was just so grating that I kept checking out of the story, despite being really interested in the dynamics of the world. I think all the characters just verged way too far into hot mess territory, which really took away from the best elements of the book. There are some really powerful friendships and connections, but when everyone is making the stupidest choices while all being scholars in miscommunication…it became too much. 3⭐️
greywarlock's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Edgmon writes protagonists with inner monologues that will feel deeply relatable to anyone born after 1980
millibee's review
4.0
The premise of this book has me so excited since before it’s release date. I finally got my hands on a copy!
I really enjoyed the relationship between Wyatt and Emir and the way they were fated mates with a lot of shit to sort out. Reading The Witch King gave me some nostalgia for when I read faerie books like Wicked Lovely as a teenager.
I would have really loved some more world building though and some more dimension to our side characters. I can’t wait to see what’s in stall in the next book!
I really enjoyed the relationship between Wyatt and Emir and the way they were fated mates with a lot of shit to sort out. Reading The Witch King gave me some nostalgia for when I read faerie books like Wicked Lovely as a teenager.
I would have really loved some more world building though and some more dimension to our side characters. I can’t wait to see what’s in stall in the next book!
theunfriendlyghost's review
4.0
I was super in love with this concept from the start, and that’s really what kept me reading as fast as I did. The booming Fae-featured fantasy industry is in desperate need of lgbtqa+ and antiracist representation and this book delivered!
I’m not the target audience, as our main character Wyatt is only seventeen, so I didn’t love how young the dialogue felt, but I think a few years ago I would have found it extremely charming.
The narrative style too wasn’t my personal favourite but I loved the vibrant characters and fun plot enough to accept that.
This was a fast paced, entertaining, and extremely creative story. I loved the colourful descriptions of vastly diverse characters and their appearances. This wasn’t just diversity out of obligation; the author clearly put time and effort and passion into each described character.
I can’t wait to see what they write next!
I’m not the target audience, as our main character Wyatt is only seventeen, so I didn’t love how young the dialogue felt, but I think a few years ago I would have found it extremely charming.
The narrative style too wasn’t my personal favourite but I loved the vibrant characters and fun plot enough to accept that.
This was a fast paced, entertaining, and extremely creative story. I loved the colourful descriptions of vastly diverse characters and their appearances. This wasn’t just diversity out of obligation; the author clearly put time and effort and passion into each described character.
I can’t wait to see what they write next!
elsu's review against another edition
1.0
I desperately wanted to like this book bcs the premise sounded awesome. Well. It wasn't for me.