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cawleen's review against another edition
4.0
I started this book without ever reading a synopsis, which was a first for me. It also caused a lot of confusion, and then forced me to read one! I originally thought this was just some coming-of-age teen book, when really, it was a pretty cool supernatural kickass teen book. I’ll definitely be reading the sequel (if there ever is one).
mattdoucette's review against another edition
5.0
I can't even describe how much I enjoyed this book.
The world building in the first half is welcoming and descriptive with descriptions that don't outsmart themselves and make it easy to experience the world the way the Arden & Winter do.
The characters are genuine and likable. You care about them and want them to be ok. The characters are distinct and full of life.
(Spoilery bit) The reveal that I felt like I was going to get with Arden was handled so well and so smooth. It feels like it would have had a place in any body horror classic.
The slow burn establishing the world is genuinely worth it as it shoots you out of a cannon at the end, rocketing toward what I hope are many more books to come.
The world building in the first half is welcoming and descriptive with descriptions that don't outsmart themselves and make it easy to experience the world the way the Arden & Winter do.
The characters are genuine and likable. You care about them and want them to be ok. The characters are distinct and full of life.
(Spoilery bit) The reveal that I felt like I was going to get with Arden was handled so well and so smooth. It feels like it would have had a place in any body horror classic.
The slow burn establishing the world is genuinely worth it as it shoots you out of a cannon at the end, rocketing toward what I hope are many more books to come.
jmanchester0's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
It's fun to get excited to read a book even before you read the first line. In The Alchemy of Being Fourteen, the cover, the chapter art, the chapter titles, even the intro all scream READ ME! (Have you heard a better chapter title than "Polyglot Muse"?)
And the book itself does not disappoint.
I love it when an author's writing style can suck you into the story and almost make you forget you're reading a book. Leah Williams writes her main (female) characters as smart. And real. I felt like these were friends of my daughter that I could meet in real life. It's nice that YA books are not only the most diverse books with the most cutting edge stories, but that they do a really good job of reflecting reality.
And, she does a fantastic job of showing you what it's like to be in high school.
And the book itself does not disappoint.
I love it when an author's writing style can suck you into the story and almost make you forget you're reading a book. Leah Williams writes her main (female) characters as smart. And real. I felt like these were friends of my daughter that I could meet in real life. It's nice that YA books are not only the most diverse books with the most cutting edge stories, but that they do a really good job of reflecting reality.
And, she does a fantastic job of showing you what it's like to be in high school.
It was like Dante's Inferno except the seven circles of hell were different levels of starter-kit adolescent embarrassment on up to the patented, more potent, teen angst.
She has an amazing flair to her writing. It really is the kind of book you don't want to stop reading. And you know you've found an author that's great at writing suspense when you find yourself holding your breath.
So often in paranormal fiction, it ends up overtaking the whole book. This book is about the supernatural. But it isn't. The conflict between the Praeta and Supra is there (read the book), but it's not, like, the focus of the book. (Sorry, had to get one "like" in there.) It's the conflict between Winter and herself; between Arden and herself. About coming to terms with who they are. As teenage girls. Adolescence sucks in so many ways. There are so many conflicting things going on. Leah Williams captures that perfectly, adding a fascinating subplot. In this way it's like real life - you have the stuff you're truly dealing with, and everything else just serves to make it more frustrating - or more interesting, depending on your perspective.
Highly recommended.
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
I read the first few chapters one day, then picked it up some weeks later and devoured it in a day. Part high school coming of age story, part fantasy novel, part exploration of self and family - this book was amazing. I eagerly await more.
cslats33's review against another edition
5.0
Okay so this book started off as contemporary and then bam out of nowhere becomes thrust amazing fantasy book that has never been done before. The Allister sisters and the family as a whole are amazing. I love the family dynamic so much. The twists and turns that happened throughout the book were seriously the best. The final serious twist at the end had me screaming out loud it was that good. Do yourself a favor and read this book!
alyssab's review
5.0
The sister relationship captured by Leah Williams in this book is so authentic and messy and sweet and goofy I just actually can't say enough to praise it. This author has a firm handle on what it's like to be a teenage girl trying to figure out what that means both in the world and in her own body, and she takes us along on these girls' adventures and griefs with tremendous warmth and compassion. I can't wait to read what the Allister sisters get up to next!
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