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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
3.5 rounded down. This series was honestly really fun, definitely would recommend. It's a totally different take on magical school, and it has a well-considered plot that carefully stretches the entire series.
One of my biggest issues with the series was how willing they were to close down the school. It's a literal magic school that hard core trains the students with magically given classes, training, fighting, everything. And they act like loosing this valuable resource is no big deal.
If you can look past that, the series was great fun. It was enjoyable to watch her powers grow and watch the epic reversal from outcast to grand sorceress. The underlying idea of the mawmouths and the fundamental evil of the enclaves and the way it both gave safety and terror was wonderful. I think it was clear that the author spent some genuine time thinking about the magic system and its repercussions. Especially the idea that believing in magic was such a huge part, so wizards lost their power when surrounded by too many normies. Which neatly explains why wizards aren't constantly exploiting the normal world, why witches could legitimately be burned, why magic would have been more common in the more ignorant ages, etc.
I know I gave the first book 4 and the next two 3.5s, but there wasn't really a quality difference. I just feel a little uncomfortable throwing around 4 stars like it's nothing, when I don't think that this totally stacks up to some other, incredible 4 stars on my list.
Anyway, definitely recommend this as a quick and fun read, especially if you are into magical schools or turnaround stories, and I'll gladly read some more from this author.
One of my biggest issues with the series was how willing they were to close down the school. It's a literal magic school that hard core trains the students with magically given classes, training, fighting, everything. And they act like loosing this valuable resource is no big deal.
If you can look past that, the series was great fun. It was enjoyable to watch her powers grow and watch the epic reversal from outcast to grand sorceress. The underlying idea of the mawmouths and the fundamental evil of the enclaves and the way it both gave safety and terror was wonderful. I think it was clear that the author spent some genuine time thinking about the magic system and its repercussions. Especially the idea that believing in magic was such a huge part, so wizards lost their power when surrounded by too many normies. Which neatly explains why wizards aren't constantly exploiting the normal world, why witches could legitimately be burned, why magic would have been more common in the more ignorant ages, etc.
I know I gave the first book 4 and the next two 3.5s, but there wasn't really a quality difference. I just feel a little uncomfortable throwing around 4 stars like it's nothing, when I don't think that this totally stacks up to some other, incredible 4 stars on my list.
Anyway, definitely recommend this as a quick and fun read, especially if you are into magical schools or turnaround stories, and I'll gladly read some more from this author.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
Super happy with where the story went
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-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
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
hopeful
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
I really loved this series. So many lovable characters, a satisfying ending, and the narrator was fantastic.
adventurous
dark
funny
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
I was reading a review and unintentionally read a spoiler and i just cant make myself finish this now. Like that spoiler broke my heart and so now im dnfing this book so that i can have el and orion happy as a couple together in my head.
adventurous
emotional
Sometimes I did find it a bit confusingly written, or I was just being thick. Glad there was a resolution.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Great plot, but it feels more like an unfinished script especially in the middle part.