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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.
bibliophiliadk's review against another edition
3.0
INTERESTING PREMISE, POOR EXECUTION
Actual rating: 2.5 ⭐️
I was so excited for this book mainly because if the title - I mean, how can you not get excited about a book about a gay wizard who so openly claims his sexuality that the books is named after it?! Sadly, it had a lot of issues that made it hard to love this book as much as I wanted to.
THE THINGS I LIKED
Queer representation: Johnny is gay. Alison is transgender. Hunter is a little unsure of his sexuality at first. Blake is probably pansexual though it is never voiced. I loved how each of these were represented.
THE THINGS I DISLIKED
Magic?: What magic? Though this is a book about magic and wizards, there is actually very little magic in it...
Pace: The pace was just all over the place, making the story feel oddly patchy and fragmented.
Writing: Sorry, but the writing felt almost amateurish, there were simply too many unnecessary descriptions.They hindered the story instead of driving it forward.
World building: Yeah, this part was REALLY lacking. Everything was super confusing because it was unexplained. And the different fantasy elements just didn't seem to go together somehow, it was as if there were too many ideas. They were left un-executed and almost seemed like three different fantasy-worlds patched together into one.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Actual rating: 2.5 ⭐️
I was so excited for this book mainly because if the title - I mean, how can you not get excited about a book about a gay wizard who so openly claims his sexuality that the books is named after it?! Sadly, it had a lot of issues that made it hard to love this book as much as I wanted to.
"Just two guys riding a unicorn. Nothing gay about that."
THE THINGS I LIKED
Queer representation: Johnny is gay. Alison is transgender. Hunter is a little unsure of his sexuality at first. Blake is probably pansexual though it is never voiced. I loved how each of these were represented.
THE THINGS I DISLIKED
Magic?: What magic? Though this is a book about magic and wizards, there is actually very little magic in it...
Pace: The pace was just all over the place, making the story feel oddly patchy and fragmented.
Writing: Sorry, but the writing felt almost amateurish, there were simply too many unnecessary descriptions.They hindered the story instead of driving it forward.
World building: Yeah, this part was REALLY lacking. Everything was super confusing because it was unexplained. And the different fantasy elements just didn't seem to go together somehow, it was as if there were too many ideas. They were left un-executed and almost seemed like three different fantasy-worlds patched together into one.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
FOLLOW MY BLOG FOR MORE BOOK GOODNESS
jasonswrench's review against another edition
4.0
OK, so I wasn't completely sure what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised that this book didn't rely on some of the wizarding tropes that exist out there. Sure, the main character gets sucked inside a wizarding world and ends up attending a wizarding academy, but this place is no Hogwarts.
The reading was delightful and kept me guessing what would happen next. In this regards, it's similar to another famous wizarding series. In many respects, the central character's sexuality is almost a backdrop rather than the focus of the story itself. One of my biggest critiques of a lot of LGBTQIA literature is that coming of age stories are all angst and coming out and no story. Instead, the characters in this book deal with coming out and their sexualities and gender identity, but those issues are hung on the backdrop of the crazy wizarding world the characters are sucked into. For this reason, I'm really glad this book is getting published and will hopefully be read by a lot of people.
As a note, I did get the opportunity to read this book prior to publication. However, the opinions of this review are 100% mine and were not affected by the publisher or author in any way.
The reading was delightful and kept me guessing what would happen next. In this regards, it's similar to another famous wizarding series. In many respects, the central character's sexuality is almost a backdrop rather than the focus of the story itself. One of my biggest critiques of a lot of LGBTQIA literature is that coming of age stories are all angst and coming out and no story. Instead, the characters in this book deal with coming out and their sexualities and gender identity, but those issues are hung on the backdrop of the crazy wizarding world the characters are sucked into. For this reason, I'm really glad this book is getting published and will hopefully be read by a lot of people.
As a note, I did get the opportunity to read this book prior to publication. However, the opinions of this review are 100% mine and were not affected by the publisher or author in any way.
cynsworkshop's review against another edition
3.0
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
I'm a Gay Wizard is a fascinating novel with a compelling beginning, but then begins to lack as the mystery of Marduk Institute begins to unfold.
The saving grace of the novel is the complexities of the characters. They are dealing with their sexual identities in a world that abuses them. Johnny is gay, and despite not going out of his way to hide it, he does not broadcast it for fear of being ridiculed and abused. There is a scene that is quite brutal but shows something authentic that happens almost daily. It is a hate crime, and it is a powerful scene to show the reader.
However, while the characterization is adequate, the pacing of the novel seems to lag. Once Johnny and Alison enter their new school for wizards and witches, the reader does not get to learn much about the magic. It does have a delightful blend of real Wiccan practices, fantasy, and science fiction to make it tangible to the reader. Nevertheless, the pacing is a big issue with the novel.
There is a mystery unfolding within the novel, but it takes too long to develop the story alongside the characters. It ended up coming off as tedious and repetitious, going back and forth on the character development than focusing on the story itself. The story loses itself in the characters.
Now, while the characters are allowed to be complicated, sometimes the tone of their narratives makes them unlikable at times. They seem pushy and ignore the boundaries of their friends. It seems as though the author had a hard time trying to find the balance in creating the tension between the characters.
Overall, while the characters do offer something for the narrative, the pacing fails to give it life.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
I'm a Gay Wizard is a fascinating novel with a compelling beginning, but then begins to lack as the mystery of Marduk Institute begins to unfold.
The saving grace of the novel is the complexities of the characters. They are dealing with their sexual identities in a world that abuses them. Johnny is gay, and despite not going out of his way to hide it, he does not broadcast it for fear of being ridiculed and abused. There is a scene that is quite brutal but shows something authentic that happens almost daily. It is a hate crime, and it is a powerful scene to show the reader.
However, while the characterization is adequate, the pacing of the novel seems to lag. Once Johnny and Alison enter their new school for wizards and witches, the reader does not get to learn much about the magic. It does have a delightful blend of real Wiccan practices, fantasy, and science fiction to make it tangible to the reader. Nevertheless, the pacing is a big issue with the novel.
There is a mystery unfolding within the novel, but it takes too long to develop the story alongside the characters. It ended up coming off as tedious and repetitious, going back and forth on the character development than focusing on the story itself. The story loses itself in the characters.
Now, while the characters are allowed to be complicated, sometimes the tone of their narratives makes them unlikable at times. They seem pushy and ignore the boundaries of their friends. It seems as though the author had a hard time trying to find the balance in creating the tension between the characters.
Overall, while the characters do offer something for the narrative, the pacing fails to give it life.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
jacemchale's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia and Homophobia
anarose13's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
vellichorblues's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
dbguide2's review
I mange to get to about 11% and (once again) realised I wasn’t connecting at all to the characters. I’m definitely more of a character reader. Don’t get me wrong, I really really love my plots, but badly written characters spoil the vibe for me and is the main cause of me dnfing a book.
Plus, there was a lot of information being shoved at the reader in the tiny part that I read and that’s another reason to not carry on reading. I like having information but not that much in such a little timespan.
jessicabeckett's review against another edition
2.0
(Between a 1.5, 2 or 2.5 star rating.) Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review can be found here at Booked J.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
When I saw the title of this book I was somewhere between secondhand embarrassment (it is one of those titles that I'm just not super into, like I MARRIED MY BEST FRIEND or THE BAD BOY'S RIGHT SHOULDER BLADE or whatever) and intrigue. The intrigue won out because, hello, representation. I saw it and was like, UH, yes, sign me up, immediately, thanks.
I'm a Gay Wizard has a lead in representation. It made me SO happy.
Not only does it feature a gay main character, but a transgender character and a few other potential sexual identities that are yet to be explored. For this alone, Santoni should be praised for bringing these characters into our lives. While I had a lot of issues with the plotline and the way the story is written, its biggest redeeming quality is the sincerity Santoni portrays his characters.
Going into I'm a Gay Wizard, I expected the story to be driven by its magical elements and veer into magical realism. However, it felt to be very much so character driven and I definitely am appreciative towards that. Where Santoni lacks in development of the world and magic, he gains in portrayal of his characters. Also, there's this brutal force of honesty in Santoni's plotlines that mix the magic seen in I'm a Gay Wizard with the world we live in. I'm always keen on novels that take fantasy and blend in bits and pieces of our world's struggles.
(!! GIVE ME ALL THE PARALLELS.)
Because of these moments, there are going to be some very real topics that are touched upon that will be triggering. I'm a Gay Wizard truly does not shy away from this. As always, I have to recommend that readers look into what trigger warnings it might feature. There were a lot of slurs that were used in it that could be very damaging to some readers and, bluntly, felt a bit excessive.
Overall, I enjoyed quite a few moments during I'm a Gay Wizard but also felt it fell flat in so many other moments. Does this make it a bad novel or any less important? Absolutely not. Santoni writes in a way that is simple/to the point; sometimes it drifts off into an underdeveloped territory, but it's by no means badly written.
Much like with After, I can definitely tell it had its origins on Wattpad, but that makes me all the more impressed by how far Santoni has come--and how much potential his writing has to grow.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
When I saw the title of this book I was somewhere between secondhand embarrassment (it is one of those titles that I'm just not super into, like I MARRIED MY BEST FRIEND or THE BAD BOY'S RIGHT SHOULDER BLADE or whatever) and intrigue. The intrigue won out because, hello, representation. I saw it and was like, UH, yes, sign me up, immediately, thanks.
I'm a Gay Wizard has a lead in representation. It made me SO happy.
Not only does it feature a gay main character, but a transgender character and a few other potential sexual identities that are yet to be explored. For this alone, Santoni should be praised for bringing these characters into our lives. While I had a lot of issues with the plotline and the way the story is written, its biggest redeeming quality is the sincerity Santoni portrays his characters.
Going into I'm a Gay Wizard, I expected the story to be driven by its magical elements and veer into magical realism. However, it felt to be very much so character driven and I definitely am appreciative towards that. Where Santoni lacks in development of the world and magic, he gains in portrayal of his characters. Also, there's this brutal force of honesty in Santoni's plotlines that mix the magic seen in I'm a Gay Wizard with the world we live in. I'm always keen on novels that take fantasy and blend in bits and pieces of our world's struggles.
(!! GIVE ME ALL THE PARALLELS.)
Because of these moments, there are going to be some very real topics that are touched upon that will be triggering. I'm a Gay Wizard truly does not shy away from this. As always, I have to recommend that readers look into what trigger warnings it might feature. There were a lot of slurs that were used in it that could be very damaging to some readers and, bluntly, felt a bit excessive.
Overall, I enjoyed quite a few moments during I'm a Gay Wizard but also felt it fell flat in so many other moments. Does this make it a bad novel or any less important? Absolutely not. Santoni writes in a way that is simple/to the point; sometimes it drifts off into an underdeveloped territory, but it's by no means badly written.
Much like with After, I can definitely tell it had its origins on Wattpad, but that makes me all the more impressed by how far Santoni has come--and how much potential his writing has to grow.