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oliverreeds's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-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
4.0
only reason its a four is bc of spelling mistakes and like a few really bad plot holes (and also how slow it was for a hot minute). the characters are beautifully written. the dialogue is amazing. i genuinely loved this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Cursing, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, and War
longlost's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
"They squeeze Blythe’s hand as if they could transfer their own will straight into her veins. “You come from an amazing family, Blythe. They’re strong. And so are you. They believe in you, and they know you haven’t given up on them, and they believe, with every fiber of their heart and being, that you’re coming to save them. You’re going get in that van and you’re going to drive. Drive until you find your family again. Drive until you that find fucker from the Trident Republic and give. Him. Hell.” Jamie’s eyes blaze. “Drive until you light Electric City the fuck up.”
I knew I had to read this book the minute I read the "no-love-interest, found family adventure you’ve been searching for," tag in the summary. And while it took me a little while to really get into the story, I'm glad I stuck it out because it was all worth it for that ending.
One of the biggest strengths of this book is its characters. The development between the Guardians' relationship was incredible, both heartwarming and heartbreaking when it needed to be. I adored each and every one of them; Blythe for her determination to rescue her family, Cordelia for howher character developed throughout the story, until she was prepared to sacrifice her own family to save Blythe's , Daniel's shy-spoken demeanor and the bravery he developed along their journey , Antonio and his ability to bring positivity and optimism to any situation, Storm and her incredible coolness and her kindness towards Daniel , Caspian's willingness to own up to his mistakes and do better , and Jay's bravery in stepping into a world he's never been a part of just to help some new friends.
Ashia Monet crafts a rich inner world just beyond the reach of the Common - where magic sings in your veins, and where dangers lurk in every corner. While I was incredibly attached to the Guardians and their characters, the other characters that Monet places into this world were just as full of depth and each provided a new window into this world of magic that the book draws us into. Despite their brief appearance, I loved reading about Jamie and their attempts to befriend Blythe, and Katia was frustratingly endearing even if I still don't understand a lot of her character.
You can really feel the love Monet has for this world in her writing. The fondess for the characters, the detail for the world they inhabit, the power behind this found family adventure that comprises of queer POC teenagers finding themselves and finding each other. Every word is crafted with such care, such indisputable respect for each of the characters and their stories. I can't stress enough how much I loved reading about the Guardians and their storylines. Definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone fond of the found family trope, and to anyone who's looking for a road trip rescue mission with a lot of bonding and some bombass worldbuilding.
I knew I had to read this book the minute I read the "no-love-interest, found family adventure you’ve been searching for," tag in the summary. And while it took me a little while to really get into the story, I'm glad I stuck it out because it was all worth it for that ending.
One of the biggest strengths of this book is its characters. The development between the Guardians' relationship was incredible, both heartwarming and heartbreaking when it needed to be. I adored each and every one of them; Blythe for her determination to rescue her family, Cordelia for how
Ashia Monet crafts a rich inner world just beyond the reach of the Common - where magic sings in your veins, and where dangers lurk in every corner. While I was incredibly attached to the Guardians and their characters, the other characters that Monet places into this world were just as full of depth and each provided a new window into this world of magic that the book draws us into. Despite their brief appearance, I loved reading about Jamie and their attempts to befriend Blythe, and Katia was frustratingly endearing even if I still don't understand a lot of her character.
You can really feel the love Monet has for this world in her writing. The fondess for the characters, the detail for the world they inhabit, the power behind this found family adventure that comprises of queer POC teenagers finding themselves and finding each other. Every word is crafted with such care, such indisputable respect for each of the characters and their stories. I can't stress enough how much I loved reading about the Guardians and their storylines. Definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone fond of the found family trope, and to anyone who's looking for a road trip rescue mission with a lot of bonding and some bombass worldbuilding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Cursing, and Gore
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, and Grief
Minor: Death, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Content warnings from the author: Discussion of deceased parents, siblings, and potential parental and familial death. Description of mild bloodshed in violent scenes. Mention of drugs and drug use, primarily marijuana. Gun use. Supernatural horror in the form of monsters, primarily found in Chapters 6, 12, and 25. Car accident in Chapter 19 Discussion of anxiety disorders and panic disorders primarily found in Chapters 22, 23, and 25 Racial n-word slur, ending in -a, found in Chapter 21 (before you drag me, yes, I am Black). Mild anxiety attack in Chapter 25. GRAPHIC: Cursing: The characters curse quite often. Kidnapping: The book is about Blythe's journey to rescue her family after they are kidnapped. Violence / gore: There are various fight scenes throughout the book. MODERATE: Adult/minor relationship: Blythe makes the observation thatmargotnelson's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I grew really attached to the characters. Their group dynamic was so fun, their banter was entertaining, and they're a great example of the found family trope. On the other hand, the writing felt clunky for most of the book, with a lot of info-dumping sections and blocks of dialogue explaining the world-building in a way that did not feel like the way real people talk at all. There were also plot-lines and secondary characters that were made to seem really important and then were never resolved. I think there's going to be a second book, so maybe the answers will be in there.
I'd say if you're looking for a fun, slightly corny book of magic antics with a diverse cast of goofy teenagers, this is a good pick!
I'd say if you're looking for a fun, slightly corny book of magic antics with a diverse cast of goofy teenagers, this is a good pick!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, and Cursing
Moderate: Stalking, Blood, Car accident, and Confinement
Minor: Gun violence, Grief, Death, and Death of parent
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