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jessieb's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, and Chronic illness
Minor: Death of parent
klbreyfogle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Homophobia and Violence
Minor: Slavery, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
rafacolog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, Homophobia, Racism, and Alcoholism
oatmeal_oatmeal's review against another edition
3.0
However, partway through, the story pivots into a completely different genre of adventure romp, and this continues until the end. To put it bluntly without spoiling too much, magic is real. The central macguffin of the narrative is an impossible magical cure, and it’s REAL. But the ambiguity of whether this is a historical fiction in our world versus a magical one really takes all the tension out of characters’ arguments and motivations for much of the story. If the alchemical cure is actually just pseudoscience, why does the chase for it matter to me as the reader? I may just not be the target audience, but the mismatch threw me off enough for my engagement to slip away quickly.
I enjoyed the dynamic of the main trio, and the romance between Monty and Percy was sweet. I particularly liked that Monty struggled with believable negative character traits. He is impulsive, noncommittal, and sometimes ‘annoying,’ but I like that he’s allowed to be. However I do have to note that while his privilege in his world is discussed on occasion, I don’t know if it’s explored as well as it could have been. His traveling partners Percy (an epileptic person of color) and Felicity (a young woman interested in medicine) both have their own unique obstacles that Monty never has to grapple with. Additionally Percy and his health/future are major sources of tension, but he barely has any autonomy in this story. He’s mostly along for the ride, despite his perspective being the most complex and thought-provoking in the book.
Idk I’m just putting thoughts out there, I was just a little underwhelmed :/
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Racism
Minor: Forced institutionalization
lunamoon62's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Cursing, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Child abuse
Minor: Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Addiction, Confinement, Violence, Sexism, Blood, Classism, Drug use, Vomit, and Self harm
rrosebrad's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Child abuse
friedowls's review against another edition
- 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
Content Warnings: this book deals with child abuse and alcoholism (both of which is something the main character deals with). Those are the reasons I can't reread this book, because even though I've never experienced either of them, the moments where those would pop up made me almost physically sick. Also, the book is a historical adventure that deals with racism, ableism, and sexism. Some of this is perpetrated by the main character, but the people around him don't tolerate it, and he learns that he's being a terrible person and betters himself.
Continuing with the content warnings, [possible spoilers?] to add possibly necessary context, the main character's love interest (Percy) is disabled, and the main character (Monty) spends a lot of the time trying to find a magical-ish cure for Percy's disability, epilepsy, even though Percy doesn't want the cure. But Monty learns that he's being shitty.
If the content warnings would make you majorly uncomfortable or worse, I would suggest you don't read it for your own health. Otherwise, buy this book immediately what are you doing with your life.
Graphic: Child abuse and Ableism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, and Racism
deetabz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexism, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Blood, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, and Death
Minor: Medical content, Biphobia, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, and Body horror
stayontrackbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse and Homophobia
Moderate: Violence and Biphobia
musicmagician823's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Child abuse
Moderate: Violence, Medical content, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood