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emily_mh's review
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
Let's start with the positives! The art style was incredible. The four main characters had such wonderful relationships with one another and were all super sweet in their own rights. I also loved how central the witchiness and paranormal elements were in the story, which was unexpected yet welcome, as I thought it would be more romance-focussed. I ended up really loving the plot and the magic system.
I did, however, have some gripes. The first two are spoilery, and the other ones are about the disability rep.First of all, I felt like Tan's block was so important to the progression of the story, yet it appeared to have been resolved off-page. Secondly, the ending decision of Nova seeking her apprenticeship elsewhere seemed out-of-character, and also at odds with the rest of the book, where the focus was more on her parents accepting her decision (one that suited her better, too). I don't think every coming-of-age style story needs to end with the MC leaving their hometown.
Now, about the hearing disability rep. I also have a hearing disability and, like Nova, wear hearing aids for it, which is why I'm commenting about it. I know that Suzanne Walker has a hearing disability, so this is own-voices rep, yet I have very mixed feelings about the way in which it was done. First of all, I loved that in most illustrations of Nova her hearing aids were visible. I also liked that her disability was referenced throughout the book, so that while being disabled wasn't who Nova was as a person, it was never glossed over as part of her life. But some of the references were just... ??? It felt like certain situations were engineered to show that Nova was disabled - for example, Nova has to dial down her aids when the shop phone rings, but it turns out the caller is her best friend who (as stated in the book) would usually text, or if they would call, would call Nova's personal phone, which presumably would ring at her preferred volume. Also, I hated the comparisons that were drawn between being a werewolf and having a hearing disability. It felt kind of degrading to have my disability compared with something that doesn't actually exist. Sure, in a world where werewolves were real, it would make more sense to compare the two, but this book is written for readers who live in a world where it doesn't, so that felt pretty gross to read.
I did, however, have some gripes. The first two are spoilery, and the other ones are about the disability rep.
Now, about the hearing disability rep. I also have a hearing disability and, like Nova, wear hearing aids for it, which is why I'm commenting about it. I know that Suzanne Walker has a hearing disability, so this is own-voices rep, yet I have very mixed feelings about the way in which it was done. First of all, I loved that in most illustrations of Nova her hearing aids were visible. I also liked that her disability was referenced throughout the book, so that while being disabled wasn't who Nova was as a person, it was never glossed over as part of her life. But some of the references were just... ??? It felt like certain situations were engineered to show that Nova was disabled - for example, Nova has to dial down her aids when the shop phone rings, but it turns out the caller is her best friend who (as stated in the book) would usually text, or if they would call, would call Nova's personal phone, which presumably would ring at her preferred volume. Also, I hated the comparisons that were drawn between being a werewolf and having a hearing disability. It felt kind of degrading to have my disability compared with something that doesn't actually exist. Sure, in a world where werewolves were real, it would make more sense to compare the two, but this book is written for readers who live in a world where it doesn't, so that felt pretty gross to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Violence, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Minor: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Excrement, Ableism, Sexual content, and Death
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