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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
A magical realism story set in Edinburgh featuring a neuro-divergent main character. Ramya has dyspraxia and she can see past the 'glamour' that magical beings use to look like humans. We follow her adventures as she learns about the magical hidden folk and the sirens that are trying to hurt everyone. This book is an amazing example of why any age can read middle grade books. I loved how new this story felt, how the characters interacted with each other and the inclusion of different magical folk felt real. This was a joy to read and it was emotional. I think its important to highlight main characters that represent people who either don't get spoken about or cast off as side characters. Elle McNicoll does a tremendous job of including neuro-divergent characters without it being their whole personality. Ramya is confident, independent, and sassy she just also happens to be dyspraxic. Her dyspraxia is part of her but she is soo much else too and you get to enjoy that all alongside a fantastic magical version of Edinburgh. I look forward to reading many more books by McNicoll and recommend this book to all.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Edinburgh there’s no place more magical.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
5 Stars
CAWPILE = 9.21
CAWPILE = 9.21
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Gaslighting
Moderate: Death
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
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
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this book in a single sitting, it’s a really easy to read middle grade book.
It’s my first time reading a book where the main character is neurodiverse (dyspraxia) and this features in other characters too in a way that doesn’t feel like a random add in.
I enjoyed the story, though characters did seem a bit simplistic (especially villains), yet this is probably to be expected from the age it’s marketed at.
It’s my first time reading a book where the main character is neurodiverse (dyspraxia) and this features in other characters too in a way that doesn’t feel like a random add in.
I enjoyed the story, though characters did seem a bit simplistic (especially villains), yet this is probably to be expected from the age it’s marketed at.
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
This story is exactly why I read middle grade books. It's something new, something special that doesn't feel like any story I've read before. A magical realism story set in Edinburgh, this has enough of the world we know to feel familiar, while also introducing us and Ramya to the world of the Hidden Folk.
I was quite reminded of The Spiderwick Chronicles that I read when I was much younger, as the story introduced us to trolls, fae, kelpies and the feared Sirens. I loved the modern take on Sirens, that growing bored of the ocean environment, they evolved, travelled to land and thrived.
As Elle's previous two books have been standalones, I was worried that this one would be too, as I wasn't ready to leave by the end of the story. Happily though, a sequel is planned for next year that I'll be pre-ordering as soon as it becomes available.
I was quite reminded of The Spiderwick Chronicles that I read when I was much younger, as the story introduced us to trolls, fae, kelpies and the feared Sirens. I loved the modern take on Sirens, that growing bored of the ocean environment, they evolved, travelled to land and thrived.
As Elle's previous two books have been standalones, I was worried that this one would be too, as I wasn't ready to leave by the end of the story. Happily though, a sequel is planned for next year that I'll be pre-ordering as soon as it becomes available.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated