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shanthecitygirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am always shocked by how efficiently these novellas tell a story. In this one, Rini comes to Eleanor West's school in a very unconventional way. She falls from sky; having been transported from the world where she was born, a world of baking and sweet treats. You see, her mother Sumi, went to the world of sweets as a kid, grew up, saved the world, met a candy cane farmer and fell in love. Except she also came back here and was murdered in the first book of this series . Thus begins a Back to the Future style shenanigans to save Rini. Along the way, we get to spend more time with some new and notable characters from Eleanor West's school, and see a few different worlds, which is always a delight.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia and Eating disorder
thewizardem's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Transphobia
katelynprice's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Minor: Eating disorder, Bullying, and Cursing
rosemaryandrue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
When a strange girl lands in the turtle pond behind the School for Wayward Children in search of her lost mother, some of the students decide to go on a quest to help build the long-dead Sumi back to life so that she can fulfill her destiny.
We return to the current day storyline with this book, in which we follow both new and returning characters as they journey through different worlds in an attempt to resurrect Sumi. I liked both meeting new characters and hanging out with familiar faces, and McGuire's worlds are as vibrant and strange as ever. If some lore was relayed in rather info-dumpy dialogue, well it didn't detract much from the story.
We return to the current day storyline with this book, in which we follow both new and returning characters as they journey through different worlds in an attempt to resurrect Sumi. I liked both meeting new characters and hanging out with familiar faces, and McGuire's worlds are as vibrant and strange as ever. If some lore was relayed in rather info-dumpy dialogue, well it didn't detract much from the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder and Suicide attempt
Minor: Transphobia and War
matcha_cat's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Bullying
Minor: Body horror, Murder, Eating disorder, Blood, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
mayaism_01's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Though I felt like this book is the weakest of the series so far, it still had what I love about these books (the fantastical world-building and the great cast of characters that you get so attached to) The world gets expanded a lot in in this addition to the series which is super exciting for what it means for the upcoming books, I just found the pacing was a bit more drawn out in this book, despite it being the shortest in length, but I really enjoyed the callback to Nancy from the first book and the new additions to our adorable found family!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying and Eating disorder
Minor: Child death, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, and Ableism
littlems_bookworm's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Oh I loved this one!! I already partly knew of the ending before listening but the events leading up to said ending were just perfect. I absolutely loved the use of color not just expressed but emphasized when describing confection. What I wish though, if only a moment, that there was more of a background to the baker. Part of me hopes that she will be contacted about the school? Maybe attend? Or so what Cade means by "observing someone get chosen by a door from a distance"
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Suicide attempt, and Eating disorder
twistykris's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Definitely a different vibe than the first two books! More light-hearted and, well, filled with Nonsense in a Nonsense world. I loved the world-building of Confection, but it also was difficult to wrap my brain around at times. I think I'm more suited for a Logic world 😅
It was nice to have some returning characters, especially Nancy. And I loved the addition of Cora! As a fat woman, I could understand her struggles and insecurities about how people perceive her in regards to her weight. Especially the scene where the group is walking a long distance and she feels that she, as the fat girl, can't be the first one to ask for a break.. relatable!
I do wish we got more of Layla the baker. She was only introduced towards the end and I really loved her story.
Overall, a fun story, but it was certainly harder for me to grasp the nonsensical aspects of the world. Looking forward to continuing the series!
It was nice to have some returning characters, especially Nancy. And I loved the addition of Cora! As a fat woman, I could understand her struggles and insecurities about how people perceive her in regards to her weight. Especially the scene where the group is walking a long distance and she feels that she, as the fat girl, can't be the first one to ask for a break.. relatable!
I do wish we got more of Layla the baker. She was only introduced towards the end and I really loved her story.
Overall, a fun story, but it was certainly harder for me to grasp the nonsensical aspects of the world. Looking forward to continuing the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Death, and Body shaming
Moderate: Body horror, Eating disorder, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt and Cancer
takarakei's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Book 3 - they're back at the school with some new characters. This one is really funny (particularly one of the new characters). Fun narration and more of the worlds (nonsense).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
Moderate: Bullying, Body horror, Death of parent, and Eating disorder
Minor: Transphobia
maeverose's review against another edition
3.75
I’m really reading slumpy at the moment so it’s hard to rally my thoughts and feelings about this book. I didn’t really care for Confection as a world or Rini (or Sumi) as characters, so being as that was kinda the main focus it automatically meant I wasn’t gonna enjoy this one as much, but weirdly enough I think I liked it more than the second book (which was the world I was most interested in). This had much more of a plot than the second book, and more world building (even if that world building felt a little info dumpy and forced at times, I don’t tend to mind that too much and it was cool to learn more about how the doors and worlds work). I like Kade, Cora and Christopher and am excited to get to see their worlds at some point (hopefully).
I am a bit unsure about some of the various rep in this book though (fat, disability, and hijabi in particular). A lot of it felt performative. I’m not fat or Muslim so I can’t really speak on those, and I’m not disabled in the way this character is, but the fact that she’s somewhat magically ‘fixed’ in her world bothers me a bit). The trans rep with Kade is the only thing I can really say feels pretty well done.
I am a bit unsure about some of the various rep in this book though (fat, disability, and hijabi in particular). A lot of it felt performative. I’m not fat or Muslim so I can’t really speak on those, and I’m not disabled in the way this character is, but the fact that she’s somewhat magically ‘fixed’ in her world bothers me a bit). The trans rep with Kade is the only thing I can really say feels pretty well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Bullying, Ableism, Cancer, Eating disorder, Gore, and Child abuse
Minor: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Racism