Scan barcode
rebeccasreadingrambles's review against another edition
4.0
What a fun book! Amari is such an awesome character and I connected with her almost immediately. It had me hoping mad the way she was treated at her school because she was Black and on scholarship, and I was blown away by how strong and determined she was to stand up for herself and saddened that she had to do this. When she is treated again as an outsider with hate because she was a super freaking powerful Magician, she didn't let that stop her from being her best, learning her magic, and doing everything to find her brother. I loved all the magical aspects of this book and the Bureau, and every page revealed something intriguing or mysterious. There are so plan twists and shocking turns that had me on the edge of my seat until the end. Amari is such a fantastic character and this is a MG book that I recommend to all readers who love some magic in their lives.
claireoh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
beckeal's review against another edition
2.0
Maaaaan, I dunno, this was just nooot what I hoped! I’d heard a bunch of good reviews and now I’m just so confused?!
.
The good: The themes and the creative ideas.
.
The bad: The execution. Sooooo not good?? I suppose if I was middle-grade aged, I wouldn’t have noticed the sloppy execution, but I’m a believer that just because something’s middle-grade doesn’t mean it can’t be well-considered, well-planned, and well-written. And while some of the themes and ideas are valuable for young kids, some were sooo obviously a misstep, and not a single beta-reader or editor stopped to question them? To tidy them up?
.
I almost stopped reading this multiple times. This is the 2nd or 3rd middle-grade I’ve read in recent months/years that is just SLOPPY! I’ve read chapter books for 6 year olds with more thoughtful nuance. Such a shame. Handled better, this coulda been super cool. Sorry. I don’t get it.
.
The good: The themes and the creative ideas.
.
The bad: The execution. Sooooo not good?? I suppose if I was middle-grade aged, I wouldn’t have noticed the sloppy execution, but I’m a believer that just because something’s middle-grade doesn’t mean it can’t be well-considered, well-planned, and well-written. And while some of the themes and ideas are valuable for young kids, some were sooo obviously a misstep, and not a single beta-reader or editor stopped to question them? To tidy them up?
.
I almost stopped reading this multiple times. This is the 2nd or 3rd middle-grade I’ve read in recent months/years that is just SLOPPY! I’ve read chapter books for 6 year olds with more thoughtful nuance. Such a shame. Handled better, this coulda been super cool. Sorry. I don’t get it.
wherethewidlies's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCHHHH I FEEL LIKE CELEBRATING. fantastic, enjoyable i'm hooked from the very first part i couldn't put this down the plot, the setting are amazing. read this!!!
thebookedpath's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It felt like a mashup of Men In Black and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It felt a little slow at times and I wish for more scenes showcasing the supernatural beings of the world as well as the other departments. I also wished the All Souls Festival would have been longer. (Were there and musical performances/other forms of entertainment?) I looked forward to the sequel!
bookish_satty's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Really enjoyed this story especially the reveal about the traitor really shocked me as I didn't see it coming at all. I liked the emotional ending very much. As this story is middle grade so I went in with the expectation of just enjoying my time with these characters to the fullest and not worry about their fates as I knew in the end all would be okay. Let me tell you that after reading back to back adult dark fantasy books this gem was a breath of fresh air. It worked wonders as a palette cleanser for me.
Only thing I didn't like was the school setting with the stereotypical tropes present otherwise this story was a hit for me. Definitely will be picking up the next installment.
Only thing I didn't like was the school setting with the stereotypical tropes present otherwise this story was a hit for me. Definitely will be picking up the next installment.
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
4.0
Cute and fun and nostalgic! Love the messages and themes.