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wylanslcve's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
I'll probably bump my rating up to 4 stars later on because this was such a fun read. I definitely have my issues with this (the plot convenience bothered me, especially in the third act of the book, the explanation for why elisabeth is so special didn't make sense and felt rather inconsequential in the long run because I completely forgot about it after a while, the character development needed some work) and it's by no means the best written book out there but the vibes??? the romance??? the character dynamics in general??? SILAS??? this was full of stuff I love / tend to look for in books despite its issues and I need more.
bhnmt61's review against another edition
3.0
What worked: the beginning, loved the first few chapters. The way the libraries practically become characters. But mostly, Silas’s character arc.
What didn’t work: it really, really dragged in the middle. I came very close to not finishing, and I skimmed quite a bit. Also, Elisabeth was too perfect, one of those wish-fulfillment heroines whose only problems are caused by the situation she’s placed in. I’ve never understood exactly what being a “Mary Sue” means, but I thought of that halfway through. If I understand correctly, Elisabeth seemed to me to be a Mary Sue.
Three and a half stars rounded down because the middle was so interminable. It ended with the setup for a sequel, and I’m not sure if I will read it. There was one story line that had me hooked (avoiding spoilers), and if the sequel continues that part of the plot, I will be interested.
What didn’t work: it really, really dragged in the middle. I came very close to not finishing, and I skimmed quite a bit. Also, Elisabeth was too perfect, one of those wish-fulfillment heroines whose only problems are caused by the situation she’s placed in. I’ve never understood exactly what being a “Mary Sue” means, but I thought of that halfway through. If I understand correctly, Elisabeth seemed to me to be a Mary Sue.
Three and a half stars rounded down because the middle was so interminable. It ended with the setup for a sequel, and I’m not sure if I will read it. There was one story line that had me hooked (avoiding spoilers), and if the sequel continues that part of the plot, I will be interested.
emilie_lilly_31's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
megj99's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this. Can’t wait to read the little novella next!
samanthaaf21's review against another edition
4.0
i really liked this book! it’s a little slow at first but once
i got past the first 100-ish pages i couldn’t put it down. elisabeth is such a strong main character and i absolutely adore her.
i also may be in love with nathaniel but i mean he’s a dark haired sarcastic bisexual so how could i not lmao.
anyways i’d definitely recommend, happy reading!
i got past the first 100-ish pages i couldn’t put it down. elisabeth is such a strong main character and i absolutely adore her.
i also may be in love with nathaniel but i mean he’s a dark haired sarcastic bisexual so how could i not lmao.
anyways i’d definitely recommend, happy reading!
bhammond0976's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
andotherworlds's review against another edition
4.0
4 // This was quite the enjoyable read! It was whimsical, captivating, and witty. I think the best way to put it would be to describe it as a darker version of Howl’s Moving Castle (the book). I completely understand and support all the hype for this book.
abiaustin's review against another edition
4.0
3.5⭐️ This had plenty of problems but it was still fun.
lue_moon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Quintessential YA fantasy; the kind of book I would have absolutely made part of my personality as a kid had I read it then. Magic, demons, libraries with sword-weilding librarians and books with their own personality and unique power. Hell yes. It was a fun read set in an immersive world. Absolutely YA, so if you're not a lover of YA, it won't be for you. But if you want to tap into memories of jumping into a magical world like you did as a kid or teen, this just may do it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child death