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cookiecat73's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a fun read, I enjoyed the worldbuilding and magic and setting. It was a bit darker than I expected, given that it's a middle grade, and I have no problem with that, only I think they skimmed over some of what was going on a bit too much. Some of the events were truly traumatic things to experience, especially considering the characters' ages, and I think the book could have done with adressing that better and either give the characters time to heal, or emphasise how terrible it is that they can't. The whole book was very fast-paced, which again isn't necesarily bad, but it felt rushed, and I think it could have done with some slower-paced scenes and moments of downtime. The plot was very much just throwing things at the mc again and again, with little character development or any sense of overarching plot or arc, just lots of events and action scenes strung together.
Graphic: Sexism, Xenophobia, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Ableism, Alcohol, Trafficking, Blood, Confinement, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Animal death, Body horror, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, and Excrement
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