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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
These Deadly Prophecies is a fantasy mystery YA story.
The book's concept is intriguing and the story is interesting, but the execution was poor. Sure, it's a YA, but the narration was too juvenile, the pace was over the place, and the characters didn't have any personality.
Also, why was their only excuse and motive for everyone who behaved poorly that they were 'rich white people' or simply 'white people'? For that to be mentioned once, it would have been criticizing racist behavior, but, after the tenth time, it started getting irritating.
In addition, the mystery wasn't handled well and only the twist in the end was somehow thrilling, but was overdone in the end.
A pitty, because it sounded pretty interesting.
The book's concept is intriguing and the story is interesting, but the execution was poor. Sure, it's a YA, but the narration was too juvenile, the pace was over the place, and the characters didn't have any personality.
Also, why was their only excuse and motive for everyone who behaved poorly that they were 'rich white people' or simply 'white people'? For that to be mentioned once, it would have been criticizing racist behavior, but, after the tenth time, it started getting irritating.
In addition, the mystery wasn't handled well and only the twist in the end was somehow thrilling, but was overdone in the end.
A pitty, because it sounded pretty interesting.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
I really loved this book! It was such a fun read w/ a good serving of emotional baggage and complicated family dynamics.
What I liked:
1. This reminded me so much of Knives Out, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and The Agathas and I absolutely loved it! I love a great murder mystery, especially with an FMC that is a little bit quirky and a whole lot loveable.
2. I especially loved that I didn’t figure out who the “Killer” was until a good way into the book, and even then, I wasn’t 100% sure! I love that this kept me on my toes when I can usually sniff out the killer immediately and without waver!
3. I loved the ideas behind the different forms of magic and how different each was. I also loved how each child in the Solomon family got one of each as their main talent.
4. This was legitimately funny. To me, a great mystery book is one that is not too deep or plagued with unsettled feelings, it is one where you can have moments of fun and silliness and then be brought back to “Oh right, we have to solve a murder here” the next moment. Tabatha and Callum’s partnership definitely was the humor in this haunting book and I loved it! I especially loved the self-defense classes he made her take and how he made sure they were always partnered up.
5. Lastly, I loved that the family and the book as a whole didn’t glorify Solomon upon his death. I won’t spoil any details, but you could say the book made it a point to even sully him after his death a bit.
What could have been better:
1. This needed just a bit more romance in my mind. Two make out scenes for a couple of hormonal teens with this much chemistry going through hell together to solve a crime was not nearly enough!
2. Finally, not that I liked her at all, but I wanted to see more of Detective Chang. She is supposedly this badass supernatural detective, which I’m sure has her as an outcast among her peers, and I feel like she has a story of her own!!! I needed more Elena Chang!
Thank you to Edelweiss, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House, and Andrea Tang for the advanced copy of this book. The opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
1. This reminded me so much of Knives Out, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and The Agathas and I absolutely loved it! I love a great murder mystery, especially with an FMC that is a little bit quirky and a whole lot loveable.
2. I especially loved that I didn’t figure out who the “Killer” was until a good way into the book, and even then, I wasn’t 100% sure! I love that this kept me on my toes when I can usually sniff out the killer immediately and without waver!
3. I loved the ideas behind the different forms of magic and how different each was. I also loved how each child in the Solomon family got one of each as their main talent.
4. This was legitimately funny. To me, a great mystery book is one that is not too deep or plagued with unsettled feelings, it is one where you can have moments of fun and silliness and then be brought back to “Oh right, we have to solve a murder here” the next moment. Tabatha and Callum’s partnership definitely was the humor in this haunting book and I loved it! I especially loved the self-defense classes he made her take and how he made sure they were always partnered up.
5. Lastly, I loved that the family and the book as a whole didn’t glorify Solomon upon his death. I won’t spoil any details, but you could say the book made it a point to even sully him after his death a bit.
What could have been better:
1. This needed just a bit more romance in my mind. Two make out scenes for a couple of hormonal teens with this much chemistry going through hell together to solve a crime was not nearly enough!
2. Finally, not that I liked her at all, but I wanted to see more of Detective Chang. She is supposedly this badass supernatural detective, which I’m sure has her as an outcast among her peers, and I feel like she has a story of her own!!! I needed more Elena Chang!
Thank you to Edelweiss, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House, and Andrea Tang for the advanced copy of this book. The opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a pretty solid book! I loved the way Andrea Tang wrote dialogue for her characters, especially the banter! There were some scenes I didn’t really like, and I feel like the swearing was pretty excessive but that might just be me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Minor: Sexual content
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes