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iseefirede's review
adventurous
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I loved this book from the first chapter. I finished it within 2 days. The fact that the main character is ND is fantastic. There was character growth and there wasn't a lot of long-drawn-out world building that I noticed. And just flying wolves with telepathy and telekinesis *chef's kiss*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Bullying, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexism, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, War, Vomit, Torture, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Suicide
naomiysl's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed this story! It was quite a bit longer than the children's books I usually read, but it didn't drag like some YA I could mention, and felt like the plot fully filled the pages. Characters were well developed and most experienced growth. The world building was for the most part worked into the story, no long history lessons or asides to bore us, and the science/magic was self-consistent and clearly had a logic and crucially, that logic wasn't explained in long boring detail. It was a nice touch that the betrayal was motivated by medical debt because that felt like a very true to life condemnation of a reality we live in. Very nice deft hand in bringing the plot to a conclusion while leaving ample room for the sequel.
I had been concerned before purchasing that the portrayal of a nonverbal autistic character by an allistic author would do a disservice to the people she represents. I reached out to the author with this concern, and she was very forthcoming about her process, which included expert advice and sensitivity readers, so I took the chance on it. While I am not someone who goes nonverbal and cannot speak to that experience, it feels well done and I am glad I took the chance. There is no disdain for disability, and in many ways this character is more powerful than any others, because of her neurodiversity rather than in spite of it. I appreciate that.
The only potential negative I can list is that it has the feel of a new author's first book, but I don't mind that. Every author needs to write a first book before they can write others, and I look forward to reading future Alongi books when she's even more come into her own voice as a writer.
Also, and I feel this goes without saying but I also can't end this review without saying it, flying wolves! SO COOL.
I had been concerned before purchasing that the portrayal of a nonverbal autistic character by an allistic author would do a disservice to the people she represents. I reached out to the author with this concern, and she was very forthcoming about her process, which included expert advice and sensitivity readers, so I took the chance on it. While I am not someone who goes nonverbal and cannot speak to that experience, it feels well done and I am glad I took the chance. There is no disdain for disability, and in many ways this character is more powerful than any others, because of her neurodiversity rather than in spite of it. I appreciate that.
The only potential negative I can list is that it has the feel of a new author's first book, but I don't mind that. Every author needs to write a first book before they can write others, and I look forward to reading future Alongi books when she's even more come into her own voice as a writer.
Also, and I feel this goes without saying but I also can't end this review without saying it, flying wolves! SO COOL.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, War, Ableism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Child death, and Violence
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