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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This story was unique and I like what the author did with the world building and it being centered around witches. The magic was fairly easy to follow and the themes of gender were a big focus and the narrators age could easily be relatable to a preteen reader, or even an adult looking back on their own preteen experiences. I enjoyed reading from this perspective since not many narrators are transgender and it allowed readers to take a walk in someone else’s shoes.
Some things I didn’t love- I feel like there were so many characters that weren’t really focused on so I didn’t know who anyone was outside 3 of the whelps (aka new witch recruits). The pacing of the story felt very erratic as well. It was also very young adult so it was a bit dull for me at times and some of the dialogue certainly had me believing the characters were young, but also a bit silly.
Also, I loved the book cover- the art on the front is beautiful!
Some things I didn’t love- I feel like there were so many characters that weren’t really focused on so I didn’t know who anyone was outside 3 of the whelps (aka new witch recruits). The pacing of the story felt very erratic as well. It was also very young adult so it was a bit dull for me at times and some of the dialogue certainly had me believing the characters were young, but also a bit silly.
Also, I loved the book cover- the art on the front is beautiful!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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:
No
I grew up adoring Furlong’s “Juniper” & “Wise Child” and Pierce’s Song the Lioness series. This book was like sitting comfortably with an old friend, hearing all their new (more grown-up and nuanced) adventures.
I loved the world building (would I join the Order or the Ilthurians?? 🤔), the magic system, the characters (I love me a good pissed-off-at-the-world bitch and this book had more than one!), the pacing, and the stakes. Just a finely wrought lil queer fantasy adventure. Looking forward to more!
I loved the world building (would I join the Order or the Ilthurians?? 🤔), the magic system, the characters (I love me a good pissed-off-at-the-world bitch and this book had more than one!), the pacing, and the stakes. Just a finely wrought lil queer fantasy adventure. Looking forward to more!
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Complicated
Really interesting setting, loved the anarchist witch and knight collectives.
adventurous
dark
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:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is excellent . There's no other way to put this.
Featuring a voicing style that is both interesting yet pleasant to read, a strong cast of characters, a tightly-crafted plot, and an intriguing sense of both wonder and mystery, this book has practically everything I want in a fantasy novel.
If I were to make a couple of critiques, I think it'd have to be that I'm not sold on the political side of things where collectivism was allowed to happen, and yet barons still exist. That feels far too diametrically-opposed in concept in my (admittedly anarchistic) point of view, and I do hope that future installments in the series specifically look at this tension in greater detail.
That being said, even with my own hangups about whether the background politics being believable or not, this is an excellent book, and I think anyone who likes fantasy should read this. It really captures that speculative vibe that is so often missing in current fantasy and science fiction. I am befuddled at what a possible sequel could hold, but I will be eagerly awaiting it nonetheless!
Featuring a voicing style that is both interesting yet pleasant to read, a strong cast of characters, a tightly-crafted plot, and an intriguing sense of both wonder and mystery, this book has practically everything I want in a fantasy novel.
If I were to make a couple of critiques, I think it'd have to be that I'm not sold on the political side of things where collectivism was allowed to happen, and yet barons still exist. That feels far too diametrically-opposed in concept in my (admittedly anarchistic) point of view, and I do hope that future installments in the series specifically look at this tension in greater detail.
That being said, even with my own hangups about whether the background politics being believable or not, this is an excellent book, and I think anyone who likes fantasy should read this. It really captures that speculative vibe that is so often missing in current fantasy and science fiction. I am befuddled at what a possible sequel could hold, but I will be eagerly awaiting it nonetheless!
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Pacing was a little uneven at times, but a cracking, compelling story.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love a trans witch as much as the next queer but the writing was incredibly basic and the characters very one-dimensional.