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bookiecharm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Xenophobia
savgulick's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A MUST READ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Sexism
Moderate: Xenophobia
ehmannky's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This! Book! Is! So! Good! I was engrossed from page one, and Garber created such a wonderfully unique and magical world that interweaves real life horrors of ICE and America's horrendous immigration system with supernatural terrors and wonders. Manu is a fabulous character and loved how she wrestles with the idea of wanting to make a name for herself and come into her own v. the desire for safety in anonymity, with wanting to prove that she is as good and belongs to the world v. not wanting to play the game of a broken system and close the doors to those who may follow, with being an individual with her own desires and thoughts v. belonging to a community and acting for that community to the detriment of oneself. It's such a complex and beautiful book and I am obsessed.
The magical school is a good riff on the genre. If you're feeling the lack of magical schools in your life after Harry Potter, I would definitely give this series a read.
The magical school is a good riff on the genre. If you're feeling the lack of magical schools in your life after Harry Potter, I would definitely give this series a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Sexual harassment, Blood, Police brutality, and Violence
caidyn's review against another edition
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
3.75
I received an ARC both through Edelweiss and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
CW: racism, sexism, rigid gender boundaries, ICE raids and detainment, and unwanted sexual advances
Wow, what a book. I really enjoyed this one and the world that it's set in! Manu is an undocumented immigrant from Argentina who's father is a leader of a crime family. She and her mother are on the run. But, things aren't quite what they seem and Manu discovers that there's a whole lot more to her life that she doesn't know.
I found this to be an enjoyable read! I loved how the worlds -- reality and the more fantasy-based one -- mirrored our own. There were chances to combat it and the book did, taking with it sexism and those very rigid gender boundaries and applying them to multiple worlds and showed how they were wrong. It was a good read!
I think my main con for the book was the pacing. It felt off in some respects, mainly because there were so many things that had to be built up for the reader. I'm not in the immigrant community and so I was really appreciative that Garber set the stage so I, as a not own-voices reader, could really get into the mindset of being undocumented and the fear there. But, it did take a lot of time up and I would have liked the fantasy world to be fleshed out just a little more. And by the time it was starting to be built up, the book was coming to a close and then it had to be wrapped up quickly. The reveal at the end felt a little lackluster for that reason.
Still, it was an enjoyable read! I'm excited to read the second book and see how things build from there. It's definitely a series to watch out for!
CW: racism, sexism, rigid gender boundaries, ICE raids and detainment, and unwanted sexual advances
Wow, what a book. I really enjoyed this one and the world that it's set in! Manu is an undocumented immigrant from Argentina who's father is a leader of a crime family. She and her mother are on the run. But, things aren't quite what they seem and Manu discovers that there's a whole lot more to her life that she doesn't know.
I found this to be an enjoyable read! I loved how the worlds -- reality and the more fantasy-based one -- mirrored our own. There were chances to combat it and the book did, taking with it sexism and those very rigid gender boundaries and applying them to multiple worlds and showed how they were wrong. It was a good read!
I think my main con for the book was the pacing. It felt off in some respects, mainly because there were so many things that had to be built up for the reader. I'm not in the immigrant community and so I was really appreciative that Garber set the stage so I, as a not own-voices reader, could really get into the mindset of being undocumented and the fear there. But, it did take a lot of time up and I would have liked the fantasy world to be fleshed out just a little more. And by the time it was starting to be built up, the book was coming to a close and then it had to be wrapped up quickly. The reveal at the end felt a little lackluster for that reason.
Still, it was an enjoyable read! I'm excited to read the second book and see how things build from there. It's definitely a series to watch out for!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Police brutality, Sexism, and Xenophobia
readandfindout's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
My spoiler-free video review
Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 4.5 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 4 stars
Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 4.5 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 4 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia and Misogyny
Minor: Sexism, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
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