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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have been curious at this book for a while, ever since it was featured on a display at Barnes and Noble. I saw it had a sequel out, so I decided to go ahead and try it out. I almost put it on the DNF pile several times during the reading process, and probably would have if I didn't buy it. It got more interesting around the last third, and I do find some of the characters interesting, but boy was it a slog to get to those good parts. I actually had to read the first sixty pages twice just because I was so lost the first time. I was tempted to take notes as I read, and can see myself reading through the book again just to try absorbing it better.
I'm going to tackle what I think is the biggest negative of this book: its world-building. There are some intriguing ideas, but they don't feel like they're fully realized. I had so many questions about so many aspects of the world. Most of those were questions about the magic system. I like the idea of it being tied into the moon, but I was left with so many questions. Does the degree of waxing or waning affect a person's magic in any way? When it comes to Eclipses, does it have to be a lunar eclipse or does a solar eclipse work as well, and does that change how the power manifests? What's the difference between a Dreamer and a Nightmare Weaver, and can they be interchangeable? Don't even get me started on questions surrounding Baz's magic. I didn't even bother reading the various powers at the beginning, since I feel like the book should have been able to explain it all on its own. It did not. As I said, I think it's a great concept, it just needed more fleshing out. I don't believe the magic system was too complex; it just wasn't demonstrated well.
Which leads me to the second negative: the complete waste of an academic setting. It was very easy to forget that this was supposed to be taking place in a school, since almost no part of the story actually involved the campus or the faculty. I think there was one time where it was mentioned Emory went to class, but there was no description of that class. The narrative completely skipped over it and then said she was free the rest of the day. So she took one class (which she was late for) and had no other classes all day? What do they even teach people here? The academic setting would have been a perfect way to introduce the reader to the different types of magic, and to give us some idea of the world.
On to some nitpick stuff. I don't get how Rosemarie becomes "Romie" as a nickname. Wouldn't "Rosie" make more sense? The villain at the end was so obviously broadcasted I'm not sure it was ever meant to be a twist or a shock. I also personally don't like this trend of dialogue being hidden inside a paragraph. It's easy for me to lose track of a conversation when the prose takes up several sentences, then some dialogue is put in without starting a new paragraph. Why are so many writers doing this? I also feel like the editor needed to go over this book again. There were a few instances where things could've been polished, and the pronoun game was played a few times. At times, the book read like it was done ten plus years ago with the way it weirdly specified people's eye colors at the most random times, or made Emory the special snowflake chosen one. I really thought we were past that in literature.
On to the stuff I like. Most of this is in the last third, when it was revealed what happens to those with Eclipse powers. The actual purpose of the ritual was very intriguing, too. I really wish more was done with both of these ideas. I also ended up really liking Kai's character the more he was featured in the story. I admit I got tired of hearing about Romie, but I can also appreciate the different ways Emory and Baz were taking her loss. As a character, Emory felt a little all over the place. She and Baz were written too much alike from the start (both seeing themselves as being plain/not as interesting or as powerful as Romie and Kai). Baz was more consistently interesting of the two.
It feels like there are too many ideas crammed into the book when one or two of them would've been plenty. This series could have easily been stretched out longer so the reader has time to understand all the moving parts. I read the excerpt from the sequel and I'm intrigued enough to check it out, so there's that.
I'm going to tackle what I think is the biggest negative of this book: its world-building. There are some intriguing ideas, but they don't feel like they're fully realized. I had so many questions about so many aspects of the world. Most of those were questions about the magic system. I like the idea of it being tied into the moon, but I was left with so many questions. Does the degree of waxing or waning affect a person's magic in any way? When it comes to Eclipses, does it have to be a lunar eclipse or does a solar eclipse work as well, and does that change how the power manifests? What's the difference between a Dreamer and a Nightmare Weaver, and can they be interchangeable? Don't even get me started on questions surrounding Baz's magic. I didn't even bother reading the various powers at the beginning, since I feel like the book should have been able to explain it all on its own. It did not. As I said, I think it's a great concept, it just needed more fleshing out. I don't believe the magic system was too complex; it just wasn't demonstrated well.
Which leads me to the second negative: the complete waste of an academic setting. It was very easy to forget that this was supposed to be taking place in a school, since almost no part of the story actually involved the campus or the faculty. I think there was one time where it was mentioned Emory went to class, but there was no description of that class. The narrative completely skipped over it and then said she was free the rest of the day. So she took one class (which she was late for) and had no other classes all day? What do they even teach people here? The academic setting would have been a perfect way to introduce the reader to the different types of magic, and to give us some idea of the world.
On to some nitpick stuff. I don't get how Rosemarie becomes "Romie" as a nickname. Wouldn't "Rosie" make more sense? The villain at the end was so obviously broadcasted I'm not sure it was ever meant to be a twist or a shock. I also personally don't like this trend of dialogue being hidden inside a paragraph. It's easy for me to lose track of a conversation when the prose takes up several sentences, then some dialogue is put in without starting a new paragraph. Why are so many writers doing this? I also feel like the editor needed to go over this book again. There were a few instances where things could've been polished, and the pronoun game was played a few times. At times, the book read like it was done ten plus years ago with the way it weirdly specified people's eye colors at the most random times, or made Emory the special snowflake chosen one. I really thought we were past that in literature.
On to the stuff I like. Most of this is in the last third, when it was revealed what happens to those with Eclipse powers. The actual purpose of the ritual was very intriguing, too. I really wish more was done with both of these ideas. I also ended up really liking Kai's character the more he was featured in the story. I admit I got tired of hearing about Romie, but I can also appreciate the different ways Emory and Baz were taking her loss. As a character, Emory felt a little all over the place. She and Baz were written too much alike from the start (both seeing themselves as being plain/not as interesting or as powerful as Romie and Kai). Baz was more consistently interesting of the two.
It feels like there are too many ideas crammed into the book when one or two of them would've been plenty. This series could have easily been stretched out longer so the reader has time to understand all the moving parts. I read the excerpt from the sequel and I'm intrigued enough to check it out, so there's that.
mysterious
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed this! Was recommended on my local bookstore’s insta and did not disappoint. Sure, you can’t really think about the setting or the science of the magic system too hard, and it has all the hallmarks of classic YA style writing (how many eyebrows can “cock” and “quirk?”) but the vibes were wonderful and I really enjoyed the characters. Really fueled my magic school appetite as a more grown person past the JKRpocalypse. The side characters especially were all very memorable to me and the author does a good job weaving all the plot threads together and make everyone feel like they’re all involved and have their own motivations. Saw people complaining that the “plot twist” was predictable but tbh it was hinted at enough that I don’t really think it was supposed to be a secret at all. I certainly didn’t consider it a twist.
Hele rollercoaster tot 60-65% vond ik het 5 sterren, toen was het een beetje sloom en het einde vond ik een beetje vlak vallen. Wel goed geschreven en ga sowieso de volgende boeken lezen, maar gewoon beetje mid en voorspelbaar. Wel een mooi opzetje voor volgende boeken tho
3.75 ⭐️ (denk ik)
3.75 ⭐️ (denk ik)
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Loved this book. A little slow to start, and a few idiot character decisions, but loved the world and the interactions!!
dark
mysterious
slow-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:
No
Just realizing I’m really not into the academic setting and the FMC is really hitting the annoying-nerves.
I think at 14-16 years I would have like it but now it feels more like a bunch of Highschool-Drama-Kids-Atmosphere.
I think at 14-16 years I would have like it but now it feels more like a bunch of Highschool-Drama-Kids-Atmosphere.
adventurous
dark
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