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judebugs's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
classwizard's review against another edition
3.0
First thing's first: this book is low fantasy. You can't really tell that from the cover or the description, but it takes place in North Carolina, which was a bit of a blindside after the prologue.
The narration is very tell not show, which isn't uncommon for middle grade, but it's not as well written as a lot of its competitors. I was a bit disappointed in the characters, but they grew on me as I read.
The plot is what actually carried me through. It is interesting and builds on itself well, even if it's interspersed with choppy description. The magic system is elemental, which I was not expecting, but it grew on me with the story.
All in all, not my favorite middle grade fantasy, but far from the worst.
The narration is very tell not show, which isn't uncommon for middle grade, but it's not as well written as a lot of its competitors. I was a bit disappointed in the characters, but they grew on me as I read.
The plot is what actually carried me through. It is interesting and builds on itself well, even if it's interspersed with choppy description. The magic system is elemental, which I was not expecting, but it grew on me with the story.
All in all, not my favorite middle grade fantasy, but far from the worst.
_aoibheann_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
katdfleming's review against another edition
4.0
Terrific read and a wild ending. One of my students read this before me and asked, "Where is the sequel?" When he realized he'd have to wait for it to be released some time in the future, he put his hands up to the sky dramatically and said, "No!!!" I see now why he made that cry. I wanna read it too! :)
arrrjae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
warcat's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book pretty well, but it is not on the level of Harry Potter. It is more similar to a series like Charlie Bone which is interesting enough as you are reading it, but it doesn't transport you to a world of magic the way Harry Potter does. Callum Hunt is a fairly standard protagonist and you certainly root for him, but you don't love him. There is something about this book that does make it different from others in the genre, but it it only comes into play at the end of this book, so I don't know yet if it will make this worth reading as a series. Guess I'll have to read the second book to find out!
maida's review against another edition
3.0
I still can’t form (mostly) coherent thoughts about this book because for every good aspect I am able to point out, I have about three others that annoyed me to no end. Yet I still really enjoyed it. I don’t know man.
In a way, I feel like this book basically took some things and plot points from Harry Potter and kind of turned them around so, you know, it wasn’t a blatant Harry Potter rip-off yet it’s still way to similar for my liking.
Meh.
In a way, I feel like this book basically took some things and plot points from Harry Potter and kind of turned them around so, you know, it wasn’t a blatant Harry Potter rip-off yet it’s still way to similar for my liking.
Meh.
katieinca's review against another edition
3.0
I live with kids who've read this *multiple* times, so I figured I should pick it up. Better at plot than characters, pretty decent worldbuilding (but please someone talk to me about the gates in and out of the Magisterium). A really neat ending, and a quick read. Moving on to the second one...