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kmoz's review against another edition
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying
coethedragon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, and Gaslighting
Minor: War
lettuce_read's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, and Transphobia
alsahm's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This suffers from Anvilicious Middle Grade Disease, where something bad - such as misgendering - is happening and Just So You Know, That's Bad And Only Bad People Do It. There is no complexity. I don't understand how magic is even meant to work in this world, since there are characters of all gender identities and body type that seem to have it, but it is stigmatized as something feminine.
The cover hints at a much more whimsical adventure. If the audiobook narrator were not so good, I would have DNF'd.
The cover hints at a much more whimsical adventure. If the audiobook narrator were not so good, I would have DNF'd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Misogyny, and Transphobia
joanna_banana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I listened to this with my 11 year old daughter. I enjoyed the story and the statements on gender identity and being who you truly are, fully. The writing wasn’t the best we’ve read and the story lacked some creativity in parts. Felt like they had a statement to make (an important one) and constructed a narrative around it instead of having a compelling story they wove commentary into. So I guess it felt stilted at times. 5th or 6th grade readers would enjoy it and hopefully continue a conversation about standing up for yourself, who you are, and what you believe in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
4.0
This is really cute and affirming!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia
Moderate: Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood
lilysweetdreams's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I'll be honest, I'm still on the fence about this one. It has the components of a fantastic story, I love the characters and the setting and the plot, but the prose isn't doing it for me. And whilst I'm VERY in favour of diverse fiction and good role models, it felt a little too polished to be real. Like, every single one of the 'good' guys has got that post-therapy attitude. Callie, in particular, is very self aware of when they say the wrong thing, and very vocal about the way things should be. Being a junior fiction book, that's okay to do! Kids sometimes need that clear cut right and wrong, especially on topics like the ones covered in this book, where in real life they're probably hearing much the same things and need that guidance of Callie knowing what's right.
However, I prefer there to be more depth. I feel as though the author could benefit in letting their characters be more flawed. I'd like to see Callie be wrong; pick an unnecessary fight, assume the worst of someone, be corrected about something. I'd like there to be nuance; girls who don't WANT to fight, a bad character learning to be better but not doing a complete 180 and jumping straight into sincere apologies, people who don't understand Callie or Willow but are not outright abusive toward them.
I also would've loved Callie's fight with Peran to be a little longer and more developed. I want to hear about them using their size and speed to hold their ground, even if they're beaten in the end.
All in all, there's promise here and I'm hoping to love the series by the end.
However, I prefer there to be more depth. I feel as though the author could benefit in letting their characters be more flawed. I'd like to see Callie be wrong; pick an unnecessary fight, assume the worst of someone, be corrected about something. I'd like there to be nuance; girls who don't WANT to fight, a bad character learning to be better but not doing a complete 180 and jumping straight into sincere apologies, people who don't understand Callie or Willow but are not outright abusive toward them.
I also would've loved Callie's fight with Peran to be a little longer and more developed. I want to hear about them using their size and speed to hold their ground, even if they're beaten in the end.
All in all, there's promise here and I'm hoping to love the series by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
This series opener is an action-packed hero adventure set in a magical medieval world. A nonbinary teen finds themselves amid a centuries-old war where they are forced to fight both bigotry and monsters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Misogyny, and Transphobia
star_charter152's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Transphobia
beforemyway's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The story moved too quickly through the character building. I had to use my experience with other stories to fill in the gaps. It often felt like an abridged book, where they removed the parts that draw you in, help make the characters come alive, make the relationships believable. Despite that, the story did make me cry, and laugh. I enjoyed it, and do plan to read book 2.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Transphobia
Minor: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, and War
The book opens with a warning from the author. As an adult, this book themes and descriptions did not seam graphic or over the top. But the authors gentle warning to young readers should be taken seriously.