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jkneebone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Sigh. To be honest, this book was kind of a drag. The short version of why Mister Impossible gets under 3 stars from me is that Maggie Stiefvater is a beautiful writer, and also that - despite Ronan being one of my favorite characters in The Raven Cycle - Ronan's chapters were the most boring parts of this book.
Although I really enjoyed The Raven Cycle, I've always felt unsatisfied with the ending of the series, which made me hesitant to start a new series by Stiefvater. I didn't want to set myself up for the same disappointment, but my curiosity got the best of me. And I really liked Call Down the Hawk, even though a lot of it felt like character introduction and set-up; I was cautiously optimistic about where all that set-up would take us in Mister Impossible. The answer was...nowhere.
I realized partway through listening to Mister Impossible that what annoys me about the plot of TRC is how it ended up feeling like the characters were fighting not against outside forces, but against problems and enemies they themselves had created. Sure, some of their quests had them finding genuine magic, or brought in genuine threats, but ultimately most of it were things they created themselves, which makes it all feel a bit pointless. The reason I realized this is because MI is doing same thing.
I don't know if it's a pacing issue or a stakes issue, but that's how this book read to me. Like, why are Ronan and Hennessy doing all this? "To stop the Moderators from killing all dreamers" should have been a great reason, but instead it felt like they were just caught in their own world or making up their own mission.
Carmen and Liliana were interesting enough, but barely in the story, especially in the second half. The saving grace were the stories and POVs of Jordan, Declan, and Matthew. I loved all of them getting closer to each other - Jordan serving as a mentor to Matthew was very sweet, and of course the Jordan/Declan relationship was so well done.
(I'm also a bit confused overall on the world-building around dreamers. We've met a few dreamers in TRC, and obviously they aren't the only ones with the ability, but the number of dreamers/dreams that are implied to exist in MI - especially at the end - is confusing. How would it stay a secret? How would that impact our reality? I feel like much of the plot could have stayed the same without Inviting those questions. I feel like it's also pushing believability that Niall wouldn't have known sweetmetals existed/figured out a way to get one so Aurora would stay awake, although it is believable that he was enough of a jerk not to think about it/care.)
I don't even mind where Stiefvater took Ronan's character in this book; it's that he felt so flat while she was doing it. I could have believed some of the things that happened to him if they'd been presented with more conviction or better explanation.
I'm gonna finish out the series because at this point I'm invested (and the audiobook narrator is *really* good) but at this point I'm not optimistic for even half of the plot points being resolved in book 3. We still learned barely anything in this book about Boudicca or Declan having a whole other mother. Even more questions about the Moderators were introduced at the end of this book. I'm not even sure what the main plot or conflict is supposed to be since it kind of feels like Ronan and co. are making it all up? I want to know what happens, but I'm not holding my breath that the plot will be resolved in Greywaren any more than it was at the end of TRC.
A solid YA fantasy for those who have enjoyed previous books in the series and don't mind a slow, slow opening. Some cursing and a bit of violence, but nothing too bad.
Graphic: Violence
thalia16's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, Drug use, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Gun violence
nevermoregothic's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting and Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent
trintrin's review against another edition
- 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
Addressing the elephant in the room first. That title was the reason I didn't really want to read this series immediately after reading The Raven King, and it doesn't make it any better after finishing and loving this book. Maggie whyyyyy ಥʖ̯ಥ
Ahem, now, where do I start. This book feels so much more... cohesive? than the first one. Like the characters blend in with each other so well, in a good way. Where Call Down the Hawk was more plot-focused with splatter of good characters, this one was beautiful characters with a plot where you don't fully understand but vibe with. Sort of like a call back to TRC. Where Carmen and Parsifal didn't vibe in the first one, her and Lilliana were an outstanding duo here. Where Ronan was either on a solo mission or with his brothers in the first one, he's with Bryde and Hennessy here, and what a fantastic trio they made! I love their chemistry so much.
The highlight of this book, and the entire trilogy for me, has been Declan. What a pleasant surprise from the Declan we saw in TRC. It feels so nice to see the character you kept rooting for actually turns out to be a decent person.
JORDAN MY GIRLLLLL
I felt very lukewarm about Farooq-Lane in the first one, because I loved her character, but also needed some development from her to fully adore here. And we got just that in this one.
Matthew, what an absolute sweetheart. His POVs always ended up breaking me.
HENNESSY, I cannot put into words how much I love Hennessy. She felt very different for the first half of this book. More talkative — was she always talkative? — less self-destructive misery.
It is an absolute CRIME Adam Parrish is not in this book as much as I want him to be.
Getting to the biggest part of the book, THE PLOT TWISTS. Because WHAT THE ABSOLUTE FUCKITY FUCK?
Ronan, please let's just go back to being a gay catholic street-racing farmer, shall we?
Graphic: Violence, Cursing, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Gun violence
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, and Car accident
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and Drug use
booksandstardust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Gun violence
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Grief, Death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Murder, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Fire/Fire injury
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Death
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Murder
aaannika's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Violence and Child abuse
Minor: Death
ramunepocky's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
toopunkrockforshul's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Vomit
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Death of parent and Child abuse