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stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
2.0
Here’s something you should know about me; I pick up different genres for different reasons. I read contemporary for the characters, and I read fantasy for the plot.
Think about it, usually a book focuses on either of those elements. You honestly don’t need both to satisfy me. When you pick up a contemporary and read about amazing people you can connect with it, just reading about their everyday lives is enough because wouldn’t a story be ruined if these characters were pushed into the background for the sake of a plot?
When you read a fantasy book, you’re imagining a completely different world. Not much time for complex characters, right? But that’s okay, because I first and foremost read fantasy for the thrilling plot and world-building.
My problem with Magonia is that when you create these lovable characters for the first third of a book, and then suddenly throw the reader into a huge fantasy world, there’s no balance. It’s like abandoning all that you’ve built.
It’s not even a blend in a charming way, it’s a mess. I can do weird, I embrace it most of the time. But here it feels so random and out of place.
The characters and story had so much potential but I lost interest after the first third. Not even the nice writing, with its stream-of-consciousness structure could keep my attention.
I would’ve adored this if it were a contemporary, and perhaps enjoyed it if it were a full-on fantasy. But there’s a limit to what I can take in weirdness and this crossed that line.
This book started out amazing, with unique and honest characters whom I looked forward to reading about, but when the book suddenly changed setting and focus, I wasn't prepared for a whole fantasy world to get thrown at me. I can see why so many of my friends have loved this, but I think this book tried to be too many things at once and ended up more messy than magical.
If you want a unique book… Go ahead. If you would rather read an all-around fantasy or contemporary book instead of a disappointing mix of both of them, I suggest you look elsewhere.
artzea's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? No
3.75
hannykin's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
liz_newbern's review against another edition
4.0
A very fun read. Filled with just the right amount of witty repartee, philosophical introspection, teen angst, and fantasy.
snaillydia's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, hear me out.
There's a lot about this book that isn't perfect. Especially when it comes to the fantasy aspect of this novel. Descriptions of the different races/species that occupy this world are strange, and the world itself doesn't seem to be very much fleshed out. In the end I still have questions. I still don't know how everything works. We get tons of cliches. And there might be plot holes there that I can't see.
However.
Is that really the point?
Did Maria Dahvana Headley set out to write a complicated Sanderson-esque fantasy? I don't think so.
I think this book is supposed to be whimsical, more magical-realism than anything else, full of symbolism and emotion. And it was perfect at that.
All you need to know going in is that it's about a girl with a mysterious lung illness who one day sees a ship sailing among the clouds. That's all you should know going in. Trust me.
The two POV characters of this book are characters that I fell for. One of them has much more to do than the other, but I found that both of their sides of the story were equally interesting to read. It helped that I found the writing style of this book to be amazing. A little pretentious for some, but for me it was the icing on the cake that is this novel.
This book makes me cry. Like a baby. I even cried during the first 80 pages, where I wasn't yet that attached to the characters. I'm telling you, the writing really did it for me.
I recommend picking this up, just have in mind that you might not like it. It's not for everyone.
There's a lot about this book that isn't perfect. Especially when it comes to the fantasy aspect of this novel. Descriptions of the different races/species that occupy this world are strange, and the world itself doesn't seem to be very much fleshed out. In the end I still have questions. I still don't know how everything works. We get tons of cliches. And there might be plot holes there that I can't see.
However.
Is that really the point?
Did Maria Dahvana Headley set out to write a complicated Sanderson-esque fantasy? I don't think so.
I think this book is supposed to be whimsical, more magical-realism than anything else, full of symbolism and emotion. And it was perfect at that.
All you need to know going in is that it's about a girl with a mysterious lung illness who one day sees a ship sailing among the clouds. That's all you should know going in. Trust me.
The two POV characters of this book are characters that I fell for. One of them has much more to do than the other, but I found that both of their sides of the story were equally interesting to read. It helped that I found the writing style of this book to be amazing. A little pretentious for some, but for me it was the icing on the cake that is this novel.
This book makes me cry. Like a baby. I even cried during the first 80 pages, where I wasn't yet that attached to the characters. I'm telling you, the writing really did it for me.
I recommend picking this up, just have in mind that you might not like it. It's not for everyone.
hen3at's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.25
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
2/5
the first hundred pages were really slow then when the story started to pick up I found it hard to follow and I became somewhat interested in the characters, but I felt like things were missing from the world in the sky and the love interest
the first hundred pages were really slow then when the story started to pick up I found it hard to follow and I became somewhat interested in the characters, but I felt like things were missing from the world in the sky and the love interest
intorilex's review against another edition
5.0
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I found these awesome Hybride illustrations by Antoine Helbert his portfolio can be found on his website. These are the kind of people I imagine populate Magonia. I enjoyed this book immensely . It not only engrossed me into a very imaginative place in the sky, it made me care about the characters involved. Aza and Jason are best friends, bound by their bond and love for one another, they play well off of each-other. Although their nerdy adorableness could get cheesy, it never does and is actually sweet. (3.14159265359....)
A few chapters in and I was sobbing on my commute to work, caught up in emotion about characters by page 61. In Magonia I was taken in by the rich imagery, people that were half Owls, birds that bonded with you through a door in your body and squalwhales that create storms in the sky. Aza has to deal with an entire world that she is completely new to, while accepting that she has a role to play in it. She never seems overly whiny, but definitely unsure of herself and who to trust in Magonia. Birds come to life, and try to help Aza discover what she is, and what role she should play on her ship in the sky. There is a mention of a bird of paradise human looking character, but every time I think of that bird, I can't help but think of it's mating dance gif.
The action described was awesome, and the plot moved along at a great pace. The world in the book did stem from actual research and some sources in the book are real. That makes me think that beyond this fictional tale, the author is getting the word out about people in history who may have see how awe inspiring the world could be. The originality was awesome, but the humor, the emotional moments and unforced romance makes this a rare gem, that everyone can enjoy. I didn't know this was going to be a series, but I'm happy it is. The book gives you a great conclusion but doesn't answer the many questions involved in Aza and Jason's future. Worth the read, this is a refreshing tale that will pleasantly surprise you.
I found these awesome Hybride illustrations by Antoine Helbert his portfolio can be found on his website. These are the kind of people I imagine populate Magonia. I enjoyed this book immensely . It not only engrossed me into a very imaginative place in the sky, it made me care about the characters involved. Aza and Jason are best friends, bound by their bond and love for one another, they play well off of each-other. Although their nerdy adorableness could get cheesy, it never does and is actually sweet. (3.14159265359....)
"I'm an edited version of a real live girl, or at least that's what I say when I want to tell you something and I'd rather not talk about it but have to get it out of the way so we can move on to better topics."
A few chapters in and I was sobbing on my commute to work, caught up in emotion about characters by page 61. In Magonia I was taken in by the rich imagery, people that were half Owls, birds that bonded with you through a door in your body and squalwhales that create storms in the sky. Aza has to deal with an entire world that she is completely new to, while accepting that she has a role to play in it. She never seems overly whiny, but definitely unsure of herself and who to trust in Magonia. Birds come to life, and try to help Aza discover what she is, and what role she should play on her ship in the sky. There is a mention of a bird of paradise human looking character, but every time I think of that bird, I can't help but think of it's mating dance gif.
“Life and death aren’t as different from each other as I thought they were. This isn’t like walking into a new country. This is like walking into a new room in the same house. This is like sharing a hallway and the same row of framed family pictures, but there’s a glass wall between.”
The action described was awesome, and the plot moved along at a great pace. The world in the book did stem from actual research and some sources in the book are real. That makes me think that beyond this fictional tale, the author is getting the word out about people in history who may have see how awe inspiring the world could be. The originality was awesome, but the humor, the emotional moments and unforced romance makes this a rare gem, that everyone can enjoy. I didn't know this was going to be a series, but I'm happy it is. The book gives you a great conclusion but doesn't answer the many questions involved in Aza and Jason's future. Worth the read, this is a refreshing tale that will pleasantly surprise you.