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mo345's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
this book is like being wrapped in a warm hug, or like drinking the perfect cup of coffee first thing in the morning. the ultimate comfort book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Car accident, and Cannibalism
writtenbydnicole's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
sjanke2's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
saoreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-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
The apparent cutoffs were mind boggling for some reason. The book was much telling it is of a calling towards a purpose and sentiments which a lot of people might ignore on a daily, likely kept with their stereotypes adjourned. I had to get used with the third person point of view since lately I was reading YA ones. The details to be exact were otherwise roundabout imaginative which seemed realistic to a fault, except its on an otherworldly setting. As a matter of fact I loved it. It wasn't the type to be all-consuming for a day, well for me, it had to take its time. The book made a lot of wonderful insights and profound lessons which can touch a person's heart. Lucy, Talia, Theodore, Phee, Chauncey, and Sal. These six kids were unlike any other kids. Aside from them being supernatural, they were especially lucky to be a part of a family in the Marsyas Orphanage - it was home. "But I wasn’t living, then. The life I had before wasn’t living. It was getting by." Zoe, the island sprite's words, struck me. It left a pang on my chest as it made me think of my own. Many things in this world do come temporary, though I believe nothing can ever be permanent at some point but when your safe space, that comforting little bubble gets popped, all of a sudden things around you become more vivid and different. You can no longer appease that mundane life. Change as I see is such a beautiful thing, and its one thing that this book has taught me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Confinement, and Cursing
shaunaxx's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I wasn’t in the right mood or mindset to read it. So I’ll pick it up later
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Body shaming, and Fire/Fire injury
lorie336's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
This book was definitely the hug we needed. I cannot say enough about how much I loved these characters and how they won over my heart. Although, the basics of this book is about Linus who is a caseworker investigating the orphanage on the island and the man, Arthur, who runs it, it runs much deeper than that. This book is about love, acceptance, being yourself, bravery, and friendship. I cried at some parts because haven't we all been through a time when no one liked us because we were misunderstood? This was something I could identify with. I love all the children in the book, but I do love Theodore a little more because he is a wyvern. I would adore him and I could think of all the mischief he would create, such fun. Might have to keep him away from the pool though, not sure if he can swim. I highly suggest to those who haven't read this book to please read it, yo will not be disappointed. I would love to have any of these children in my home and I think my boys would love it too.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
moonbeam_erin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, and Physical abuse
readerette's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Aside from an identity mystery that is pretty easy to figure out if you've read or watched other mysteries, this story is stellar. Touching and funny, and while it's about magical beings in a world that doesn't understand them, the correlation to other kinds of diversity is obvious. The characters are a delight--deeply drawn, imaginatively created, and relatable. It's been a while since I read something so realistic and still so hopeful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Racism
Minor: Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Violence
axelstudies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Cursing, and Child abuse
keen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-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
5.0
I came into this book immensely hesitant. I'm not a fan of romance. I find most stories to be either be too quick with the development, or so slow I forget it was even a part of the book. And overall, it's just not my thing. Additionally, I'm a fan of horror and thriller stories. So, aside from the urban fantasy and found family aspects, I thought I wouldn't get much from a "lighthearted" and "romance" book. This was not helped by me finding the main character, Linus, to be a very different protagonist than I expected: A 40-something year old child service worker with a stuffy, distant attitude.
I teared up three times, and by the epilogue, my eyes were so wet I had to wipe them with a paper towel to be able to see the words on the screen.
I very rarely cry from any story. When I do, I know it has ensnared me. I also very rarely think about books in terms of "Boy, I really wish people would write fanfiction about this." So imagine my surprise when I read nearly seven chapters straight.
The romance isn't the main aspect of this story. The main love story is Linus taking on a fatherly role towards the children in the 'orphanage' and how those kids grow to love him. The way each character developed was so subtle I barely noticed how much had changed until the end.
One complaint I had while reading this story was, "How is this described as lighthearted and middle-school reading?" The story almost feels dystopian at first. A society blatantly prejudiced against the supernatural, going as far as to harm children in its hatred. I'm a black, trans-masc person, so some parts of this story took me by such surprise that I was actually uncomfortable.
But that's not an actually a complaint. By the end of the story, I understood. It's a story about overcoming your own bigotry, learning from people you never expected to interact with (much less care for), and taking the first steps in changing society. Parts of this story gets dark, but I would happily hand this book to a pre-teen.
This story literally made me feel brighter. It made me more confident about choosing the best path in my life, no matter what society says it should be.
I teared up three times, and by the epilogue, my eyes were so wet I had to wipe them with a paper towel to be able to see the words on the screen.
I very rarely cry from any story. When I do, I know it has ensnared me. I also very rarely think about books in terms of "Boy, I really wish people would write fanfiction about this." So imagine my surprise when I read nearly seven chapters straight.
The romance isn't the main aspect of this story. The main love story is Linus taking on a fatherly role towards the children in the 'orphanage' and how those kids grow to love him. The way each character developed was so subtle I barely noticed how much had changed until the end.
One complaint I had while reading this story was, "How is this described as lighthearted and middle-school reading?" The story almost feels dystopian at first. A society blatantly prejudiced against the supernatural, going as far as to harm children in its hatred. I'm a black, trans-masc person, so some parts of this story took me by such surprise that I was actually uncomfortable.
But that's not an actually a complaint. By the end of the story, I understood. It's a story about overcoming your own bigotry, learning from people you never expected to interact with (much less care for), and taking the first steps in changing society. Parts of this story gets dark, but I would happily hand this book to a pre-teen.
This story literally made me feel brighter. It made me more confident about choosing the best path in my life, no matter what society says it should be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cursing and Murder