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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
***Spoilers***
Disappointed.
I thought this would be a journey following Ceony learning paper magic. She was a top student, and wanted to be a smelter. She has to come to terms with that fact. Paper Magicians are in short supply. Only 12 left. She was assigned to Paper. Once bonded to a material used in magic, you're bonded for life.
However it's a chase/rescue/lost in a heart of all things. Yes, a human heart, her teacher's heart all bloody surrounded with magic. But it transforms into more of a Mind vision in the chambers. And she has to figure out a way to get out, get the heart, return to London and save her teacher. Can she??
Magic loosely used
Basiclly what the magic spell did ;"bad guy hold still while I escape."
Usually in a story the magic in the world created is explained and makes sense. and it started to; Paper magic uses precision folds, and the wielder infuses their magic, spell works if done correctly. However, the Last spell in the battle; she wrote 7 letters, read them aloud, didn't tell us what they were, and bad guy freezes. Then she escapes.
A let down.
Disappointed.
I thought this would be a journey following Ceony learning paper magic. She was a top student, and wanted to be a smelter. She has to come to terms with that fact. Paper Magicians are in short supply. Only 12 left. She was assigned to Paper. Once bonded to a material used in magic, you're bonded for life.
However it's a chase/rescue/lost in a heart of all things. Yes, a human heart, her teacher's heart all bloody surrounded with magic. But it transforms into more of a Mind vision in the chambers. And she has to figure out a way to get out, get the heart, return to London and save her teacher. Can she??
Magic loosely used
Spoiler
and the culmination spell to "win the battle against bad guy" isn't explained. Person could have just said...I win you loose, bye.Basiclly what the magic spell did ;"bad guy hold still while I escape."
Usually in a story the magic in the world created is explained and makes sense. and it started to; Paper magic uses precision folds, and the wielder infuses their magic, spell works if done correctly. However, the Last spell in the battle; she wrote 7 letters, read them aloud, didn't tell us what they were, and bad guy freezes. Then she escapes.
A let down.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Poor writing. The pacing is all over the place. We start with a reluctant apprentice who meets her new master. He seems very kind, a bit mysterious and it takes her about 10 minutes in his house before she goes snooping through his personal stuff and finds out that he is the mystery benefactor who paid for her education. But then we are lead to believe that it’s still coincidence that she was assigned as his apprentice? She instantly learns everything he shows her, no struggle with the new magic. After 4 weeks the villain suddenly shows up, mortally wounds him and disappears with his heart. She decides to rescue him and sets off alone. What follows is basically a magic acid trip through his heart that goes on forever and then ofc she defeats the villain with the 5 spells she knows. I didn’t care about any of it bc there is no depth to the story or characters. Oh and she falls in love with him but nothing really happens between them (yet).
Apart from the poor plot and pacing the writing isn’t good either. In the span of 5 minutes she compares herself and the villain to like 5 different animals, it’s just weird. I think the magic system with different materials could have been really interesting but ultimately it’s just not fleshed out sufficiently.
Apart from the poor plot and pacing the writing isn’t good either. In the span of 5 minutes she compares herself and the villain to like 5 different animals, it’s just weird. I think the magic system with different materials could have been really interesting but ultimately it’s just not fleshed out sufficiently.
Awesome!
I loved this! I will most likely be up all night reading the next one. I can't wait to see what unfolds. Haha.
I loved this! I will most likely be up all night reading the next one. I can't wait to see what unfolds. Haha.
*purses lips*
This started so strong. Ceony, all in all, is a pretty awesome character. She's got mad skillz, a good head on her shoulders, and a stiff shot of feistiness. She's pissed that she's been shunted into paper magic and denied the metal that she hardcore had her heart set on, but goddamnit if she's not going to be the best damn paper magician that was ever forced to Fold!
Emery Thane's a pretty solid character as well. And Lira was super cool right up until she was utterly and completely one dimensional.
::dramatic re-enactment::
"Alright, Holmberg, what's the conflict in this novel?"
"Ceony has to fight an evil blood wizardess!"
"Jumpin' jackalopes, that sounds awesome! Tell me more about this villain. What makes her evil? Does she have a tortured past? Was she done wrong? A jilted lover? Misunderstood underdog that finally cracked under the pressure?"
"SHE'S EVIL." *shit-eating grin*
".....Yeah, ok, I've got that bit Charlie, but why? Why is she evil? What's her backstory? How did she get that way?"
"She's not a good person!"
"...Why, though?"
"Because.... because she's evil! And ... her magic uses blood and stuff! Human flesh!! And she's evil!! I said she's evil, right!?"
"..... Fuck it. Send it to print."
Really? Come on. What a waste of an awesome character.
ALSO. Wtf is wrong with fleshy, blood magic? I can make a SOOPER valid argument for the legalization of people-spells in one word: DOCTORS.
O.
M.
G.
How much better off would the world be?
Got shot in the chest? Gonna fuckin' die in like 3.2 seconds without advanced medicine that doesn't exist in the 1900's? NO PROB, MAN, I GOTCHOO. SHAZAM!! BE HEALED!!! *lays hands* *patient fucking lives* #nosurgeryrequired
How cool is that?!?!
But no. Blood magic is bad because bad.
Maaaaaannnnnnn. Prejudice.
If that shit had been legal, this book would have been a leaflet.
"Need a transplant, man? *ZAP* All set! Stay off your feet for a few hours, kay?"
Also, I was promised paper magic badassery. I got fans. And snowflakes. (The dog was pretty cool though. Not badass. But cool.)
And you know what paper's weakness is?
Water.
Fucking. Water.
Shit got wet? WHOOPS. Looks like your magic SUCKS.
*sigh*
Ok, I'm a little off track. I haven't even talked about the plot yet.
The plot:
The whole fucking middle of the book (ie. the meat of the story) didn't make any fucking sense.
It's not like it wasn't cohesive or understandable. It worked, and it worked within the setting. But. Why? Just why? What a weird and silly thing for the villain to do. Like... how did she think this was ever going to work? And .... why did she even do the thing she did that led to *this* thing in the first place? There's no motivation. No reason. Just. Evil bitch comes in palms blazing and wrecks shit. Because evil? Eh... What? No!! No, shit doesn't work like this!! Wtf, come back with my reasonable narrative!!! Everything else was cool until nothing made sense!
ALSO. I 100% do not support the
*pouty face*
I'm continuing the series because I like the characters and the setting is *neat* and I can get behind the bit that I 100% do not support because the characters involved are still wholly likeable.
But goddamnit, there had better be backstory and sense!!
This started so strong. Ceony, all in all, is a pretty awesome character. She's got mad skillz, a good head on her shoulders, and a stiff shot of feistiness. She's pissed that she's been shunted into paper magic and denied the metal that she hardcore had her heart set on, but goddamnit if she's not going to be the best damn paper magician that was ever forced to Fold!
Emery Thane's a pretty solid character as well. And Lira was super cool right up until she was utterly and completely one dimensional.
::dramatic re-enactment::
"Alright, Holmberg, what's the conflict in this novel?"
"Ceony has to fight an evil blood wizardess!"
"Jumpin' jackalopes, that sounds awesome! Tell me more about this villain. What makes her evil? Does she have a tortured past? Was she done wrong? A jilted lover? Misunderstood underdog that finally cracked under the pressure?"
"SHE'S EVIL." *shit-eating grin*
".....Yeah, ok, I've got that bit Charlie, but why? Why is she evil? What's her backstory? How did she get that way?"
"She's not a good person!"
"...Why, though?"
"Because.... because she's evil! And ... her magic uses blood and stuff! Human flesh!! And she's evil!! I said she's evil, right!?"
"..... Fuck it. Send it to print."
Really? Come on. What a waste of an awesome character.
ALSO. Wtf is wrong with fleshy, blood magic? I can make a SOOPER valid argument for the legalization of people-spells in one word: DOCTORS.
O.
M.
G.
How much better off would the world be?
Got shot in the chest? Gonna fuckin' die in like 3.2 seconds without advanced medicine that doesn't exist in the 1900's? NO PROB, MAN, I GOTCHOO. SHAZAM!! BE HEALED!!! *lays hands* *patient fucking lives* #nosurgeryrequired
How cool is that?!?!
But no. Blood magic is bad because bad.
Maaaaaannnnnnn. Prejudice.
If that shit had been legal, this book would have been a leaflet.
"Need a transplant, man? *ZAP* All set! Stay off your feet for a few hours, kay?"
Also, I was promised paper magic badassery. I got fans. And snowflakes. (The dog was pretty cool though. Not badass. But cool.)
And you know what paper's weakness is?
Water.
Fucking. Water.
Shit got wet? WHOOPS. Looks like your magic SUCKS.
*sigh*
Ok, I'm a little off track. I haven't even talked about the plot yet.
The plot:
The whole fucking middle of the book (ie. the meat of the story) didn't make any fucking sense.
It's not like it wasn't cohesive or understandable. It worked, and it worked within the setting. But. Why? Just why? What a weird and silly thing for the villain to do. Like... how did she think this was ever going to work? And .... why did she even do the thing she did that led to *this* thing in the first place? There's no motivation. No reason. Just. Evil bitch comes in palms blazing and wrecks shit. Because evil? Eh... What? No!! No, shit doesn't work like this!! Wtf, come back with my reasonable narrative!!! Everything else was cool until nothing made sense!
ALSO. I 100% do not support the
Spoiler
romance. He's way too fucking old for her and she JUST FUCKING MET HIM.*pouty face*
I'm continuing the series because I like the characters and the setting is *neat* and I can get behind the bit that I 100% do not support because the characters involved are still wholly likeable.
But goddamnit, there had better be backstory and sense!!
This book was tough to get through. I abandoned it for a few weeks when Ceony started wandering around in Thane's heart. It just did not work for me, either as a characterization or plot device. Also, the thoughts and actions of the characters did not seem at all appropriate for the Victorian England setting. I have no plans to continue the series. I was suckered in by the cute cover art.
I liked that this was a different sort of magical story than I've read before. I especially enjoyed the imagery. It was a quick read, but so full of imagination that it felt more like a movie in my head.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great premise and lots of promise but the writing fell short for me. I expect the movie will be way better. Especially with a lifesize origami skeleton butler and origami dog.