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samusc's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
5.0
I'm coming to accept that anything by Sarah Gailey is an automatic 5 star read for me.
Magic For Liars contained many of my favorite elements aspects for a book to have:
Magic For Liars contained many of my favorite elements aspects for a book to have:
- Messy main characters (they excel with this)
- Complex sibling relationships
- Unreliable narrator
- Murder mystery where everyone is sus
- Urban Fantasy and Dark Academia setting
Other aspects that I really enjoyed were the romance subplot (with casual bi rep!), a chosen one trope where the chosen one isn't the main character, and the authenticity of the aftermath of losing a parent to cancer in high school.
The way interactions between characters are written out, with emphasis on mirroring people, hit really hard as an autistic reader.
The twists were a wild ride, well plotted and hinted at in a satisfying way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Abortion
nicnevin's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is a murder mystery in a high school that so happens to be filled with young mages.
Ivy is a private detective given the case. Ivy has no magic but her twin Tabitha does. Ivy tries to navigate the world of magic and murder whilst remarking that how similar the high school environments are.
Its a good book, even if the ending is abrupt and so many loose ends are left dangling.
Ivy is a private detective given the case. Ivy has no magic but her twin Tabitha does. Ivy tries to navigate the world of magic and murder whilst remarking that how similar the high school environments are.
Its a good book, even if the ending is abrupt and so many loose ends are left dangling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, and Violence
bookbelle5_17's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Ivy Gamble is called to her first murder investigation as a P.I. at a magic school, Osthorne Academy. Osthorne is also where he estranged sister, Tabitha is a teacher, and unfortunately, the murder victim, is Tabitha's girlfriend.
Osthorne is full of teen drama and secrets that made me want to unravel the murder mystery more than ever. Ivy is complicated young woman, whom I couldn't relate to her very much, but I liked and sympathized with her. I did relate to her feeling left behind by her sister, who got a new life that didn't include her. Ivy and Tabitha's relationship plays an important part in Ivy's emotional journey. Alexandria was a character I couldn't stand but I pitied her. She is manipulative brat but she also doesn't understand her power. She is like a lot vulnerable teenagers. She wants to attention and desires control over her life. I would love Gailey is write a story about Alexandria and Dylan, because they were intriguing, but you only get Ivy's perspective on them. The magic felt complicated, and though normally I'm cool with complex magic systems you don't get enough to understand it. It felt underdeveloped, but in Gailey's defense this wasn't meant to be the focus. It is about an outsider who will never understand magic and is trying to solve a mystery without that understanding. As a fantasy reader first and foremost, I wanted more of the school. If I like the plot, I might read more from Gailey.
Osthorne is full of teen drama and secrets that made me want to unravel the murder mystery more than ever. Ivy is complicated young woman, whom I couldn't relate to her very much, but I liked and sympathized with her. I did relate to her feeling left behind by her sister, who got a new life that didn't include her. Ivy and Tabitha's relationship plays an important part in Ivy's emotional journey. Alexandria was a character I couldn't stand but I pitied her. She is manipulative brat but she also doesn't understand her power. She is like a lot vulnerable teenagers. She wants to attention and desires control over her life. I would love Gailey is write a story about Alexandria and Dylan, because they were intriguing, but you only get Ivy's perspective on them. The magic felt complicated, and though normally I'm cool with complex magic systems you don't get enough to understand it. It felt underdeveloped, but in Gailey's defense this wasn't meant to be the focus. It is about an outsider who will never understand magic and is trying to solve a mystery without that understanding. As a fantasy reader first and foremost, I wanted more of the school. If I like the plot, I might read more from Gailey.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cancer
yavin_iv's review
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy, Abortion, Terminal illness, Murder, Cursing, Bullying, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Eating disorder
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