lyscrider's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rabhya07's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5*
Book: All Our Hidden Gifts
Author: Caroline O' Donoghue
Pages: 400
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal & Young Adult Fiction
Maeve Chambers feels like an idiot between a family of geniuses. Her life isn't going the way she wanted. She betrayed her only friend Lily, who is not on talking terms anymore. She also has to clean the horrible Chokey in the school for hitting a teacher with a shoe. One fine day she finds a pack of old dusty tarot cards in the Chokey and starts giving accurate readings to the girls in the school. When Maeve draws a strange card while doing a reading of her ex-best friend Lily, after two days Lily is nowhere to be seen. Now Maeve, her new friend Fiona and Lily's brother Roe have to find Lily before she disappears forever...
This was an entertaining and addictive read for me. The magical aspect was the main part of the story, but the writing style made it surreal to read. The story goes into the past, but it connects well to the present where the characters are trying to bring back Lily. I found the side characters i.e. Fiona and Roe more likeable than the main character, Maeve. The other main aspect of the story was friendship. Maeve ditches her only best friend Lily and also finds a new friend Fiona who is ready to help her finding Lily. The author has well done with Queer representation and teenagers dealing with a hate crime. The only problem with this story was the pacing. For the most part, it is fast-paced but then in between, the story takes a slow pace. Other than that, this book is a perfect read if you are in a mood for magical, spookiness and adventure! The book ends on a cliffhanger, which will be covered in the next book i.e. The Gifts That Bind Us.
Book: All Our Hidden Gifts
Author: Caroline O' Donoghue
Pages: 400
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal & Young Adult Fiction
Maeve Chambers feels like an idiot between a family of geniuses. Her life isn't going the way she wanted. She betrayed her only friend Lily, who is not on talking terms anymore. She also has to clean the horrible Chokey in the school for hitting a teacher with a shoe. One fine day she finds a pack of old dusty tarot cards in the Chokey and starts giving accurate readings to the girls in the school. When Maeve draws a strange card while doing a reading of her ex-best friend Lily, after two days Lily is nowhere to be seen. Now Maeve, her new friend Fiona and Lily's brother Roe have to find Lily before she disappears forever...
This was an entertaining and addictive read for me. The magical aspect was the main part of the story, but the writing style made it surreal to read. The story goes into the past, but it connects well to the present where the characters are trying to bring back Lily. I found the side characters i.e. Fiona and Roe more likeable than the main character, Maeve. The other main aspect of the story was friendship. Maeve ditches her only best friend Lily and also finds a new friend Fiona who is ready to help her finding Lily. The author has well done with Queer representation and teenagers dealing with a hate crime. The only problem with this story was the pacing. For the most part, it is fast-paced but then in between, the story takes a slow pace. Other than that, this book is a perfect read if you are in a mood for magical, spookiness and adventure! The book ends on a cliffhanger, which will be covered in the next book i.e. The Gifts That Bind Us.
christy97's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Not for me - I pushed myself through the last 30% of the book as I was interested in the main storyline of Lily disappearing but the resolution for that was a little underwhelming. I will not be reading the rest of the series.
jow_ass's review
4.0
the river? THE RIVER?! you can choose everything to be BUT THE RIVER?! bro took being a water sign to serious
bernadettebloom's review
5.0
A young girl finds a pack of tarot cards while serving a detention that has her cleaning a room in the basement of her Catholic school. Unable to remember any of her lessons, Maeve is surprised at how well she memorizes what the deck means.
Set in mystical, superstitious Ireland, this is a wild tale of magic and mystery. Ends on a cliffhanger that has me excited for the next book.
Set in mystical, superstitious Ireland, this is a wild tale of magic and mystery. Ends on a cliffhanger that has me excited for the next book.
rather_b_reading's review
3.0
This book tried to do so much. I liked the messages, but the pacing was really off and had repetitive parts and an unlikable narrator
miss_readalot's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
The book was a fun read overall but used too many plot convenience devices and the ending was unsatisfying 🥲
tennisbeef's review
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
5.0
read this so fast! maeve is literally me unforch she’s serving girlfailure realness. all the characters were so interesting and complex and the internal struggle maeve faces is very real
sporadicsparrow's review
4.0
Maeve Chambers fascinates me. She is not particularly likeable, which I think is precisely what makes me enjoy her character so much. From the beginning, we are made to see her out as she is — a teenager desperately seeking belonging, and all the pettiness & treachery & lack of self-esteem that may come with that territory. She is angry, and makes bad decisions, and acts (often) in an immature manner. She makes a lot of mistakes. It is phenomenal. I particularly enjoy her tumultuous & loving & contradictory relationship with her sister Jo.
I did find the ending to be a bit too convenient & a little rushed, but otherwise the universe is very interesting. If Derry Girls were about ten shades darker, gayer, and chock full of witchery.
I did find the ending to be a bit too convenient & a little rushed, but otherwise the universe is very interesting. If Derry Girls were about ten shades darker, gayer, and chock full of witchery.
icarrion's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.5