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ravia14's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The story was fun to read and I'm glad I read it. The plot was pretty intricate for such a short novel, but none of the characters were as well rounded and worked out as I would have liked them to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Violence and Gore
Minor: Dementia, Racism, and Infidelity
kayceeisbookish's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I was spellbound from page 1. A magical mystery involving sorcerers? Count me in! My only gripe is that I need moreeeee!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, Vomit, Gore, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gaslighting, Murder, and Toxic relationship
lastblossom's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
There's a dash of magic in here, but the snappy narration and relatable protagonist keep the story grounded and surprisingly realistic.
Thoughts
Modern stories where magic is considered just as standard as any other industry are always fun for me. So it was nice to have an apprentice who argues with her parents over whether or not to become a professional sorcerer, or something more respectable, like a lawyer. You know the one. And I think that's my favorite part of the book. Despite being a world with magic, the story is a very grounded novel with a relatable protagonist who has very relatable problems. The magic system is clearly explained, although not explored as deeply as I'd like, and magic is used way less often that I initially expected. The family and friends are appropriately messy, although there's a part of me that would not have complained if they were even MORE messy. Narration is quick and snappy, and I enjoyed the POV quite a bit. A good read for anyone looking for a YA modern mystery with just a touch of magic to it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
There's a dash of magic in here, but the snappy narration and relatable protagonist keep the story grounded and surprisingly realistic.
Thoughts
Modern stories where magic is considered just as standard as any other industry are always fun for me. So it was nice to have an apprentice who argues with her parents over whether or not to become a professional sorcerer, or something more respectable, like a lawyer. You know the one. And I think that's my favorite part of the book. Despite being a world with magic, the story is a very grounded novel with a relatable protagonist who has very relatable problems. The magic system is clearly explained, although not explored as deeply as I'd like, and magic is used way less often that I initially expected. The family and friends are appropriately messy, although there's a part of me that would not have complained if they were even MORE messy. Narration is quick and snappy, and I enjoyed the POV quite a bit. A good read for anyone looking for a YA modern mystery with just a touch of magic to it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
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