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infinitefandomstrash's review
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
4.75
jplayjames's review
3.0
Predictable but cute, and I guess the target audience is young enough that a nice wholesome story is enough that it doesn't really matter that everything feels painfully inevitable by the end of about chapter 2.
cj_parsley's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
janinnus96's review
adventurous
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
4.0
gerardo's review
adventurous
lighthearted
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
3.0
This was overall a cute book with a cute love story embedded in it. The magic system was fairly well explained and the lore of the country was interesting.
I just felt like the plot was a bit boring and slow. I was not super excited to pick this book up and continue it. However, there were no major flaws. This was probably mostly due to slow pacing.
I just felt like the plot was a bit boring and slow. I was not super excited to pick this book up and continue it. However, there were no major flaws. This was probably mostly due to slow pacing.
ariph's review
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
5.0
cilantro's review
4.0
This took me a while to think of a rating, but I'm settling on 3.5 stars.
It's such a heartwarming and endearing book. I really felt for Sofi and felt VERY represented there emotions-wise. It's a really fun and interesting book and that plot twist??? damnn. I also really loved the descriptions for the music and how I could really feel Sofi's desperation and love for her craft. And as someone who hated playing the piano growing up? This book still made me understand Sofi's relationship with music. Reading about the use of papers and magic made me think of the A.I discourse surrounding art and I really liked that perspective,
However, I feel like the points of the book are very explicit, as in the author really tells you the message of the book though I thought that that was unnecessary? Sometimes it felt really jarring and really in your face, more like someone from a modern world fell into the story with their modern morals rather than someone who grew up in that world's society.
Some the things are really more telling than showing, and unfortunately the romance sometimes falls into that. I don't really remember a time when Sofi liked Lara for being kind? Like with the poet, Sofi was looking down on him while Lara pitied him and Sofi had no other reaction other than, "oh you'll regret it, the poet sucks".
And I was a little sad we didn't get to know explore more about Lara's background (I know it's been told in the story but I don't quite feel it unless it's people think she's just a pretty face and that she doesn't want to get married). Still, I really felt for her there. I also didn't particularly feel that
Overall, the book is a really nice reading experience.
It's such a heartwarming and endearing book. I really felt for Sofi and felt VERY represented there emotions-wise. It's a really fun and interesting book and that plot twist??? damnn. I also really loved the descriptions for the music and how I could really feel Sofi's desperation and love for her craft. And as someone who hated playing the piano growing up? This book still made me understand Sofi's relationship with music. Reading about the use of papers and magic made me think of the A.I discourse surrounding art and I really liked that perspective,
Spoiler
though I feel like that kind of messaging is sort of undercut by the fact that Sofi is a witchHowever, I feel like the points of the book are very explicit, as in the author really tells you the message of the book though I thought that that was unnecessary? Sometimes it felt really jarring and really in your face, more like someone from a modern world fell into the story with their modern morals rather than someone who grew up in that world's society.
Some the things are really more telling than showing, and unfortunately the romance sometimes falls into that. I don't really remember a time when Sofi liked Lara for being kind? Like with the poet, Sofi was looking down on him while Lara pitied him and Sofi had no other reaction other than, "oh you'll regret it, the poet sucks".
Spoiler
I'm rereading the last few chapters and I realize I also didn't like how Lara said "And not everyone’s suffering is of their own volition," cause Lara was the one who had to tell her that what Sofi's father was doing is abusive. Like, let's not play trauma olympics T^T. I also thought Lara should've apologized to Sofi for what she said during their argument but oh well. Last thing on here, I didn't really feel a lot of change in Sofi in regards to her thought on magic. Like, she was born to be against it, and hated the very idea of it for the first fifteen chapters. Suddenly, she finds out she's magic and her father lied and she immediately takes in this idea? With no repercussions to how this would affect her worldview?And I was a little sad we didn't get to know explore more about Lara's background (I know it's been told in the story but I don't quite feel it unless it's people think she's just a pretty face and that she doesn't want to get married). Still, I really felt for her there. I also didn't particularly feel that
Spoiler
the point of Sofi feeling like she's only good because of her magic and not her training is shown a lot? or maybe i'm just missing somethingOverall, the book is a really nice reading experience.