Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
loved the plot twist at the end, sometimes the world building was too in your face…
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
adventurous
emotional
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
As soon as Macari found her groove with this novel, I was hooked. The world building in Secrets of Isoria is incredibly detailed and complex, and you can tell how much effort was put into creating it. The concept itself is fascinating, and the synopsis definitely doesn’t prepare you for how uniquely the concept is developed within. I loved the mystery of the story, as spies and detective-esque mystery solving certainly weren’t what I expect when going into a fantasy novel. It was just so unique.
I absolutely loved the character development, especially toward the end as we see Orion accept her powers and embrace her gifts to the fullest extent. However, I will say, the utter betrayal toward the end of the book had my jaw drop and it was a struggle to keep from waking my husband up by yelling at the book. You know it’s written well when the plot twists make you that shocked.
I will say, there is an incredible amount of info-dumping at the beginning. Every room, outfit, and facial expression is described in intense detail, which felt a bit overwhelming and unnecessary at times. However, this did ease up after the first 15-20% of the book and it got much easier to read - more smooth and easier to take in.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to seeing the second one come out!
I absolutely loved the character development, especially toward the end as we see Orion accept her powers and embrace her gifts to the fullest extent. However, I will say, the utter betrayal toward the end of the book had my jaw drop and it was a struggle to keep from waking my husband up by yelling at the book. You know it’s written well when the plot twists make you that shocked.
I will say, there is an incredible amount of info-dumping at the beginning. Every room, outfit, and facial expression is described in intense detail, which felt a bit overwhelming and unnecessary at times. However, this did ease up after the first 15-20% of the book and it got much easier to read - more smooth and easier to take in.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to seeing the second one come out!
2.5/5 Stars
I was so looking forward to this one, and I really wanted to love it. Unfortunately it just wasn’t fully for me. Very easy to tell that this is a debut novel. The book was very repetitive and chaotic. There was also very little suspense to keep me engaged since almost everything was resolved within the next page it seemed. This also felt fairly juvenile. I think my enjoyment would have been higher if I was still 15.
The idea behind this book was there, it just needed a bit more work. At time this felt more like the outline of what the book was going to be, and was missing all the in between stuff.
I was so looking forward to this one, and I really wanted to love it. Unfortunately it just wasn’t fully for me. Very easy to tell that this is a debut novel. The book was very repetitive and chaotic. There was also very little suspense to keep me engaged since almost everything was resolved within the next page it seemed. This also felt fairly juvenile. I think my enjoyment would have been higher if I was still 15.
The idea behind this book was there, it just needed a bit more work. At time this felt more like the outline of what the book was going to be, and was missing all the in between stuff.
I loved this I think one of my favorite books of the year!
let me start off I am a sucker for academic/ magic schools setting. I was in love as a child with the Harry Potter series and that is of course a magic school and since then I have a few more amazing books with magic school like the crave series and zodiac academy (a lot more) and this is my newest book to join that collection.
For me everything worked, I loved the plot and the story I fell in love with the charters and was shipping them a lot together :) . also the magic school is so interesting to read about and it's very original. also the writing style is amazing is was easy to follow and very fast paced. I wished this book was way well known in the booktok and bookstagram community but maybe one day it will get the hype it deserves!
can not wait to post this on my instagram! also can not wait for book two!
let me start off I am a sucker for academic/ magic schools setting. I was in love as a child with the Harry Potter series and that is of course a magic school and since then I have a few more amazing books with magic school like the crave series and zodiac academy (a lot more) and this is my newest book to join that collection.
For me everything worked, I loved the plot and the story I fell in love with the charters and was shipping them a lot together :) . also the magic school is so interesting to read about and it's very original. also the writing style is amazing is was easy to follow and very fast paced. I wished this book was way well known in the booktok and bookstagram community but maybe one day it will get the hype it deserves!
can not wait to post this on my instagram! also can not wait for book two!
I would recommend this book if you are between 12 and 15 yo. I thought it was a YA/adult fantasy book, turns out it was meant (I think) as more of a kids book. Very fast paced and the world building was lacking which did not allow for a real connection with the characters.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not my cup of tea when it comes to writing style and while the idea of the "like hogwarts but each house is inspired by an element like avatar" sounds great it feels like a crossover alternate universe fanfiction
This was soooo goood!
This story follows Orion who has always been a bit of an outcast in school and in just life because she has these strange powers that she has no idea where they came from or why she had them. Orion’s mother gets called away for work for a year causing Orion to have to go live at her grandmother Corinne’s home. Her grandmother died and left her house to Orion’s mother and a man called Banden lives there. One evening, Orion is attacked by creatures and passes out and is taken to Isoria, a secret island where sorcerers go to train and is also home to the King of Isoria, Leo and MISTIC - Magical Intervention Society for Tactical Intelligence and Combat(basically like a spy school?). This is where she learns more about the history of Isoria and why her mother left and that they are trying to stop Cyril Obsidian who is trying to take over the throne from King Leo of Isoria. Orion decides to join Isoria and go to school there and try to find out more about her past and her family and what they were hiding from her.
I truly enjoyed this book! I was unsure since I don’t normally enjoy school settings for books, but this one is an exception! I love the world on the secret island Isoria and the sorcerer schools for different elements, and there’s also enchanters or those who are both!
I love the characters, especially Orion and Alec. They developed a lot and very nicely in this story, especially Orion. She at first seemed a bit immature about everything, but slowly seemed to grow up and realize not everything is about herself.
The romance is well done too. My heart was just aching through the whole book, especially for Alec! Oh that boy! I’m in love and I just want him to be okay. I’m on his side
This story follows Orion who has always been a bit of an outcast in school and in just life because she has these strange powers that she has no idea where they came from or why she had them. Orion’s mother gets called away for work for a year causing Orion to have to go live at her grandmother Corinne’s home. Her grandmother died and left her house to Orion’s mother and a man called Banden lives there. One evening, Orion is attacked by creatures and passes out and is taken to Isoria, a secret island where sorcerers go to train and is also home to the King of Isoria, Leo and MISTIC - Magical Intervention Society for Tactical Intelligence and Combat(basically like a spy school?). This is where she learns more about the history of Isoria and why her mother left and that they are trying to stop Cyril Obsidian who is trying to take over the throne from King Leo of Isoria. Orion decides to join Isoria and go to school there and try to find out more about her past and her family and what they were hiding from her.
I truly enjoyed this book! I was unsure since I don’t normally enjoy school settings for books, but this one is an exception! I love the world on the secret island Isoria and the sorcerer schools for different elements, and there’s also enchanters or those who are both!
I love the characters, especially Orion and Alec. They developed a lot and very nicely in this story, especially Orion. She at first seemed a bit immature about everything, but slowly seemed to grow up and realize not everything is about herself.
The romance is well done too. My heart was just aching through the whole book, especially for Alec! Oh that boy! I’m in love and I just want him to be okay. I’m on his side