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marieintheraw's review against another edition
5.0
Overall, if Jessica Lewis can start the urban fantasy revival of my dreams, I'd be grateful.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
thissagreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
THIS BOOK IS A HEAVY READ!!! Rather than fun, magical whimsy, in a nutshell: Katrell can bring people back from the dead and turns this ability into a big hustle, that begins to take over her life physically and mentally.
I love that Katrell got revenge on those who wronged her, but there were too many moments where she was so fiercely “I can do things on my own” that it inevitably became her downfall.
Here were my issues with the story:
1. Katrell’s mother was a bum, constantly begging or guilting Katrell for money, but didn’t look for a damn job herself. On top of that, she literally let her raggedy, trash human boyfriend, be horrible and abusive while Katrell constantly begged her mother to do the right thing and leave him! It took SO MUCH for Katrell to stop caring about her mother and I understand she’s a teenager, but even her best friend Willow/“Will” (who had suffered her own heap of childhood trauma) told Katrell to stop excusing her mother for being so terrible but Katrell didn’t leave until the very end of the book.
2. I wish the people who were brought back from the dead had more purpose, but I think they were just extensions of Katrell in some ways, so I think that explanation could’ve been a little more clear.
3. Where the hell was the school system or child protection services? The ONE counselor had an idea of what was going on, but he acted much too slowly, and it was quite frustrating that no adult stepped in and took some of the burden off of Katrell. It wasn’t until the end of the story, when Willow -“Will”- and Will’s adoptive parents take Katrell into their home.
4. There was a LOT less focus on how cool her magical abilities were, and more focus on how terrible her life was. I was looking forward to an escape, with “Black Girl Magic” but instead, I was angry and frustrated with everyone who let her down repeatedly.
Honestly this story feels more like a looking lens into impoverished kids of color who are let down by various adults and systems, forced to make tough choices, in order to survive and sustain some kind of life for themselves and their family.
!! So just be warned that this book is not an escape. As someone who knows what it’s like to work in mental healthcare with kids, it was the complete opposite of what I was looking for in a story. But not terrible! Just not an easy read.
I love that Katrell got revenge on those who wronged her, but there were too many moments where she was so fiercely “I can do things on my own” that it inevitably became her downfall.
Here were my issues with the story:
1. Katrell’s mother was a bum, constantly begging or guilting Katrell for money, but didn’t look for a damn job herself. On top of that, she literally let her raggedy, trash human boyfriend, be horrible and abusive while Katrell constantly begged her mother to do the right thing and leave him! It took SO MUCH for Katrell to stop caring about her mother and I understand she’s a teenager, but even her best friend Willow/“Will” (who had suffered her own heap of childhood trauma) told Katrell to stop excusing her mother for being so terrible but Katrell didn’t leave until the very end of the book.
2. I wish the people who were brought back from the dead had more purpose, but I think they were just extensions of Katrell in some ways, so I think that explanation could’ve been a little more clear.
3. Where the hell was the school system or child protection services? The ONE counselor had an idea of what was going on, but he acted much too slowly, and it was quite frustrating that no adult stepped in and took some of the burden off of Katrell. It wasn’t until the end of the story, when Willow -“Will”- and Will’s adoptive parents take Katrell into their home.
4. There was a LOT less focus on how cool her magical abilities were, and more focus on how terrible her life was. I was looking forward to an escape, with “Black Girl Magic” but instead, I was angry and frustrated with everyone who let her down repeatedly.
Honestly this story feels more like a looking lens into impoverished kids of color who are let down by various adults and systems, forced to make tough choices, in order to survive and sustain some kind of life for themselves and their family.
!! So just be warned that this book is not an escape. As someone who knows what it’s like to work in mental healthcare with kids, it was the complete opposite of what I was looking for in a story. But not terrible! Just not an easy read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment and Domestic abuse
lovelylilpill's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The friendship at the center of the story is the strongest part, but the rest feels lacking. The magic system isn’t explained and felt like it was just added to give the book a gimmick. It makes the scenes where something magic happens make no sense and the writing doesn’t match up to the scenes about her life. It’s like the author was writing two different story, contemporary about girl growing up an abusive home and fantasy horror story but they don’t mesh into one cohesive plot.
charlmax's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
crhogan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
librarybookscene's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
professor_kei's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This book was fast-paced and intense. Magical thriller with lovable and relatable characters Themes of friendship, resilience, and overcoming difficulties while finding yourself. TW for a rather traumatic and descriptive death of a pet.
kwashington's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
sherigodmother's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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
4.0