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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
This book made me giggle watching the mischief pulled by the elderly wizard as he fooled his family into believing his senility. I adored the internal dynamics of the main character as he adapted to the unique chaos and stability of his new life, while still fiercely standing for his personal values and ethics. The author did a wonderful job of depicting the complicated, emotional and volatile disposition of humans, while introducing a sense of magic and wonder not just to his story, but to the reader. My only faulting is that the climax, for all it’s built up tension and anticipation, felt lack luster. Even so, it was still a satisfying and heart warming read.
Very competently written with a nice style. However however what a boring ass book.
A really, really cool idea…unfortunately written by an extremely inexperienced writer, so that all the potential is absolutely squandered.
Instead of developing story, character, or relationships, the author spends 99% of thier time narrating every single step in every action of pointless minute. For example:
He went to the drawers. He pulled out the drawer. He saw a teaspoon. He reached for the teaspoon. He took out the teaspoon. He placed it on the tray.
You want to hear, in painstaking detail, every time he pulls a key out of the key cabinet? Or step by step follow a cable guy putting in internet cable and getting your signature or follow the woman installing internet? How many staples are out in a wall? Three pages on considering buying a flip chart?
How about reading word for word not only the conversations, but a narrated description of that boring board meeting you were forced to attend about economic progression theory on real estate? Yup, it’s all there. Just for you.
Honestly you could cut 90% and have a complete story. It’s pretty clear there wasn’t an editor on this whatsoever.
This is an extremely common issue with inexperienced writers…and it’s like that for almost every single action, as well as completely describing passing characters that have little to no actual presence in the story. It feels like it was written by a rather talented freshman in high school, who needs to take far more writing classes, and learn about story and structure, and my GOD learn story pacing. Listening to every tiny pointless action becomes excruciating; and this is the bulk of the book. Constantly repeated minute like making coffee and setting trays. There’s 500 pages of this.
Sure there’s ‘wizard’ in the title, but….no actual plot, magic, or real writing ability.
Usually when small things are painfully, excruciatingly narrated, it means something. There’s importance, whether for atmosphere or story. Nope, not here. Not at all. And the stilted, awkward conversation is…not compelling to read to say the least.
The ‘entitled niece’ is intolerable-which is fine for a villain, but…why not just get a restraining order? She forces he way into another person’s home whenever she feels like it, walking into their room, etc etc., and nobody bothers to ever actually enforce any kind of rules on her at all. I’d have the cops there the first time someone walked into my house uninvited, threatening my guests, refusing to accept any ground rules or even polite social niceties….she’s allowed because ‘plot’ requires her to.
And the idea that a young, ex military vet is baffled by the idea of a laptop is….
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Very cute story. Only the description of one of the main women aka “villian” felt very objectifying and not in line with the overall vibe of the main character.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like it a lot. Listened non stop.
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
5 stars if used as a bedtime audiobook, which was my purposes!! Cozy fantasy has been a new fave for my sleep preparations, but are rarely books I would recommend reading physical copies of.
This is because the storylines are intentionally cozy and magical, but rarely riveting. This book met these needs with ease! Very wholesome and slow paced.
This is because the storylines are intentionally cozy and magical, but rarely riveting. This book met these needs with ease! Very wholesome and slow paced.
unique
Absolutely adored this story, it was lighthearted and fun, a unique plot that kept me interested. A nice palette cleanser from my usual reads.
Absolutely adored this story, it was lighthearted and fun, a unique plot that kept me interested. A nice palette cleanser from my usual reads.