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perfektionaise's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, how do I say it?
This book is an okay read. The worldbuilding is neat, the characters are likeable.
But it has many teething troubles of a debut. Like the character's motivation are only superficially distributed and they are lacking depth. The author has a lot of worldbuilding done but didn't transfer in many places. You're told names or stuff exactly one time and then you have to remember what is everything called.
Problems are addressed in a sketchy way which is a bit disappointing.
This book is an okay read. The worldbuilding is neat, the characters are likeable.
But it has many teething troubles of a debut. Like the character's motivation are only superficially distributed and they are lacking depth. The author has a lot of worldbuilding done but didn't transfer in many places. You're told names or stuff exactly one time and then you have to remember what is everything called.
Problems are addressed in a sketchy way which is a bit disappointing.
diversify_your_shelf's review against another edition
4.0
TW: homophobia and transphobia (and related bullying and violence)
"I'm a Gay Wizard" is a really fun book and definitely something that YA (and fiction in general) needs more of-- people not being white, cis, and hetero and that being an integral part of the story but not the main plot point. Johnny is very much not straight and there are issues in the book relating to him being gay but the plot of the book is that he and his friend Alison (mtf) have accidentally become wizards. After doing one spell Johnny and Alison are kidnapped and taken to a school for people for wizards and navigate what it means to be a wizard. Them being gay and transgender respectively is a part of who they are and how they handle the world, but the book takes such care to make sure that while the ideas of gender and sexuality are always present, the characters and their lives have other issues. Alison is mentioned as trans *after* the fact that she dresses all in black and I think that's marvellous as she is written as a stereotypical quirky female best friend-- the being trans does not change the fact that she is both quirky and female.
The wizardry in this book is quite fascinating as it relies on knowing math and science and not an ability to speak Latin or other arcane phrases. As the story develops Alison and Johnny get love interests and have to deal with their conflicting feelings about staying for said love interests and leaving a place that a dangerous class system and mind-wiped everyone they love.
My one issue with this book is that sometimes the writing can be a bit off. There is a lot of characters saying exactly what they mean which limits some nuance in the writing and makes the beginning of the book less enticing than the rest of it as it is a bit on the nose. The same can be said for the end of the book in that it seemed a bit abrupt and rushed. The ideas were there but the execution of them could have used an extra few pages.
Overall, "I'm a Gay Wizard" was such a fun book and it is so great to see better representation in YA! I look forward to seeing what else VS Santoni brings to the writing world in future!
"I'm a Gay Wizard" is a really fun book and definitely something that YA (and fiction in general) needs more of-- people not being white, cis, and hetero and that being an integral part of the story but not the main plot point. Johnny is very much not straight and there are issues in the book relating to him being gay but the plot of the book is that he and his friend Alison (mtf) have accidentally become wizards. After doing one spell Johnny and Alison are kidnapped and taken to a school for people for wizards and navigate what it means to be a wizard. Them being gay and transgender respectively is a part of who they are and how they handle the world, but the book takes such care to make sure that while the ideas of gender and sexuality are always present, the characters and their lives have other issues. Alison is mentioned as trans *after* the fact that she dresses all in black and I think that's marvellous as she is written as a stereotypical quirky female best friend-- the being trans does not change the fact that she is both quirky and female.
The wizardry in this book is quite fascinating as it relies on knowing math and science and not an ability to speak Latin or other arcane phrases. As the story develops Alison and Johnny get love interests and have to deal with their conflicting feelings about staying for said love interests and leaving a place that a dangerous class system and mind-wiped everyone they love.
My one issue with this book is that sometimes the writing can be a bit off. There is a lot of characters saying exactly what they mean which limits some nuance in the writing and makes the beginning of the book less enticing than the rest of it as it is a bit on the nose. The same can be said for the end of the book in that it seemed a bit abrupt and rushed. The ideas were there but the execution of them could have used an extra few pages.
Overall, "I'm a Gay Wizard" was such a fun book and it is so great to see better representation in YA! I look forward to seeing what else VS Santoni brings to the writing world in future!
georginap92's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
angeldawn's review
adventurous
medium-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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia
charliepryounger's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
musingintrovert's review
3.0
This was kind of chaotic, but in a way that kept me intrigued as to what was going on in the story. I did feel at times though that some of the exposition in the prose could've been condensed more in the editing process. Overall, however, this was a solid escapist read!
inkorkeys's review against another edition
2.0
I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
review up on my blog Inkorkeys
First things first: THAT cover! amazing, full points for that awesome, colourful and artistic cover.
On to the rest.
I’m a Gay Wizard is a wattpad book, and I don’t know if I subconsciously went into this one with some preconceived prejudice about what a wattad book is, i.e. After *cough cough*, but I didn’t really enjoy it.
I don’t think there was anything inherently wrong with the plot of I’m a Gay Wizard but I did think it read like an early draft of a novel. One that needed some re-writes focused on the writing style. For me, it felt, dare I say it…like some good fanfic of an otherwise awesome book. again, I don’t think that is necessarily a huge negative mark against the book but, it just wasn’t what I was looking for right now. And perhaps this is mostly why I wasn’t a huge fan, because like I said before, the premise itself was good, interesting, intriguing. I’m here for wizards and I am especially here for gay wizards, because I feel like that’s never a combination we see in literature. I could be wrong but I’ve never come across a gay wizard. That’s why I was originally so excited to get this one from netgalley. So Santoni definitely gets points for originality, but misses the mark on the execution, in my opinion.
review up on my blog Inkorkeys
First things first: THAT cover! amazing, full points for that awesome, colourful and artistic cover.
On to the rest.
I’m a Gay Wizard is a wattpad book, and I don’t know if I subconsciously went into this one with some preconceived prejudice about what a wattad book is, i.e. After *cough cough*, but I didn’t really enjoy it.
I don’t think there was anything inherently wrong with the plot of I’m a Gay Wizard but I did think it read like an early draft of a novel. One that needed some re-writes focused on the writing style. For me, it felt, dare I say it…like some good fanfic of an otherwise awesome book. again, I don’t think that is necessarily a huge negative mark against the book but, it just wasn’t what I was looking for right now. And perhaps this is mostly why I wasn’t a huge fan, because like I said before, the premise itself was good, interesting, intriguing. I’m here for wizards and I am especially here for gay wizards, because I feel like that’s never a combination we see in literature. I could be wrong but I’ve never come across a gay wizard. That’s why I was originally so excited to get this one from netgalley. So Santoni definitely gets points for originality, but misses the mark on the execution, in my opinion.
audreyhoyt00's review against another edition
3.0
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley
I thought it was ok. I love the idea and parts of it were great but overall it was just ok.
I really enjoyed the characters and liked their relationships. The setting was another plus and the whole magical world concept was cool and well thought out.
In the cons section, it felt very unfinished. Not in the way some ARCs are where there's formatting or typos to fix. The whole plot felt unfinished and hard to follow sometimes. They also did this thing that annoys me where you're met with a plot hole and then a few pages later there's an explanation for it. Like the writer noticed the plot hole and instead of going back to prevent it they put a band-aid over it.
I really want to see this series go somewhere because of the world and the characters. I have a lot of hope that it will get better.
I thought it was ok. I love the idea and parts of it were great but overall it was just ok.
I really enjoyed the characters and liked their relationships. The setting was another plus and the whole magical world concept was cool and well thought out.
In the cons section, it felt very unfinished. Not in the way some ARCs are where there's formatting or typos to fix. The whole plot felt unfinished and hard to follow sometimes. They also did this thing that annoys me where you're met with a plot hole and then a few pages later there's an explanation for it. Like the writer noticed the plot hole and instead of going back to prevent it they put a band-aid over it.
I really want to see this series go somewhere because of the world and the characters. I have a lot of hope that it will get better.
serena_dawn's review
3.0
I requested and received this ebook ARC from NetGalley.
I liked the peeks behind the scene of the how and why of the world's making, it's mythology, and I believe that means there's more to come. Johnny and Alison are the outcasts in their school - and they're wizards (yes, a term that apparently applies to genders, although that's never stated).
Primarily this novel reminded me of the Matrix and Magicians (TV show/book, recalling Harry Potter and Narnia) it's school halls are named with gods/goddesses like Apollo, Ares, Odin, Plutus and Zeus (but apparently these gods are wizards, in fact everyone has potential for magic use), but the power origins and makers are called Asuras, Devas and Maras which are a different world myth entirely. I would have preferred the origin story as it were to have been smoothed out better, it certainly doesn't run as well as the timeline written after every chapter, or the explanation for the world and the dream Everywhen.
All wizards (who are not of the Legacy of Lineage, parents having been wizards) are abducted, the memories of friends and family taken, erased. As if that's not nightmare enough, wizards aren't very progressive - and they're all being held prisoner at the Institute -it's join or be a "Defector".
What's more, in Johnny's dreams is the terrifying Sandman following, hunting, him. Luckily, Johnny isn't facing all this alone, he has Alison and Blake and Hunter -who he's falling in love with.
And Linh, who he seeks to uncover school secrets with to join the Defectors and gain his freedom before it's too late and either the Sandman or the school "Smiths" get him.
There's a few open ended questions - what happens with Linh and the Defectors, what connects Luther to Melchior and Alwina? How did a unicorn die...?
I have say tell one of the weirdest things happened while reading a fellatio scene in this book. I was at work on lunch (I often read on my phone) when one of my coworkers sits down to have their break (there's only one table in a smallish room so that's not unusual) anyway a bit of time passes- coworker kind of laughs at his phone, I look up, and he tells me he's reading a joke about this guy sending a dick pic to a man despite the man telling him like three times he's not a woman and not being believed. I am reading gay fellatio and he's sympathizing with "a poor dick-pic guy being scarred for life".
I liked the peeks behind the scene of the how and why of the world's making, it's mythology, and I believe that means there's more to come. Johnny and Alison are the outcasts in their school - and they're wizards (yes, a term that apparently applies to genders, although that's never stated).
Primarily this novel reminded me of the Matrix and Magicians (TV show/book, recalling Harry Potter and Narnia) it's school halls are named with gods/goddesses like Apollo, Ares, Odin, Plutus and Zeus (but apparently these gods are wizards, in fact everyone has potential for magic use), but the power origins and makers are called Asuras, Devas and Maras which are a different world myth entirely. I would have preferred the origin story as it were to have been smoothed out better, it certainly doesn't run as well as the timeline written after every chapter, or the explanation for the world and the dream Everywhen.
All wizards (who are not of the Legacy of Lineage, parents having been wizards) are abducted, the memories of friends and family taken, erased. As if that's not nightmare enough, wizards aren't very progressive - and they're all being held prisoner at the Institute -it's join or be a "Defector".
What's more, in Johnny's dreams is the terrifying Sandman following, hunting, him. Luckily, Johnny isn't facing all this alone, he has Alison and Blake and Hunter -who he's falling in love with.
And Linh, who he seeks to uncover school secrets with to join the Defectors and gain his freedom before it's too late and either the Sandman or the school "Smiths" get him.
There's a few open ended questions - what happens with Linh and the Defectors, what connects Luther to Melchior and Alwina? How did a unicorn die...?
I have say tell one of the weirdest things happened while reading a fellatio scene in this book. I was at work on lunch (I often read on my phone) when one of my coworkers sits down to have their break (there's only one table in a smallish room so that's not unusual) anyway a bit of time passes- coworker kind of laughs at his phone, I look up, and he tells me he's reading a joke about this guy sending a dick pic to a man despite the man telling him like three times he's not a woman and not being believed. I am reading gay fellatio and he's sympathizing with "a poor dick-pic guy being scarred for life".
nichollinlove's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this book. I'm hoping because this book is "Teen Fiction" as stated near the barcode and I am 33 (obviously NOT a teenager) forced me to like it less. I'd really like to give my copy to an actual teenager and hear their own unbiased feedback.
I think the characters themselves are wonderful, they are complex and in desperate need of representation in literature. They are completely relatable to your inner awkward teen self.
Johnny's dialect was confusing at times and made it hard to stay with him as he bounced back and forth between young and old. When I could hang with Johnny, his sweet and gentle soul was a pleasure to be with. Ali was endlessly witty and caring and strong, I really enjoyed her character. Blake, Hunter, Linh were all portrayed realistically to their ages as well.
The author gave insight to some experiences that are endured only by the LGBTQ community and I think he executed those moments well enough. While highlighting these horrible experiences is a necessary evil, I do wish there had been more on how they affected both Johnny and Ali's mental states.
I wasn't as moved by the "magic" aspect of the book. It just felt like it was reaching too much too fast. I couldn't keep the pace of the story under control. I also felt some of the information that supported the plot was flimsy and inconsistent at times. And it was hard to see the world with what I was given sometimes.
I would entertain the idea of reading the second one when it comes around but I am hesitant to be first on the list and will probably wait to see what kind of feedback it gets. I'd really love to see Johnny's future endeavors, but maybe with a more solid plot and voice.
I received this book through Goodreads giveaways and am offering my honest opinion of it. I will do my best to find a younger mind to share this book with and hope it finds them better than it did me.
I think the characters themselves are wonderful, they are complex and in desperate need of representation in literature. They are completely relatable to your inner awkward teen self.
Johnny's dialect was confusing at times and made it hard to stay with him as he bounced back and forth between young and old. When I could hang with Johnny, his sweet and gentle soul was a pleasure to be with. Ali was endlessly witty and caring and strong, I really enjoyed her character. Blake, Hunter, Linh were all portrayed realistically to their ages as well.
The author gave insight to some experiences that are endured only by the LGBTQ community and I think he executed those moments well enough. While highlighting these horrible experiences is a necessary evil, I do wish there had been more on how they affected both Johnny and Ali's mental states.
I wasn't as moved by the "magic" aspect of the book. It just felt like it was reaching too much too fast. I couldn't keep the pace of the story under control. I also felt some of the information that supported the plot was flimsy and inconsistent at times. And it was hard to see the world with what I was given sometimes.
I would entertain the idea of reading the second one when it comes around but I am hesitant to be first on the list and will probably wait to see what kind of feedback it gets. I'd really love to see Johnny's future endeavors, but maybe with a more solid plot and voice.
I received this book through Goodreads giveaways and am offering my honest opinion of it. I will do my best to find a younger mind to share this book with and hope it finds them better than it did me.