Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Imaginative and clever. I liked Ceony as a heroine, even if she was reluctant to learn the Folding/paper magic at the start.
Good world building and I'm intrigued to read the next book to see if some of the characters introduced in this one will make appearances.
Good world building and I'm intrigued to read the next book to see if some of the characters introduced in this one will make appearances.
I wanted to love this book. I loved the idea and premise, but it was hard to get through. It's just that it could have been so much more. The first real interesting thing to happen didn't happen for over 70 or so pages, and in those first 70 pages there wasn't much character development. I surely did not know how the two main characters felt about each other. There was nothing there to indicate what they thought of each other, no clues at all. Just you think it's getting good it slows down even more and carries on. The book also ends with questions unanswered. I feel like this book wasn't given the time and attention it deserved.
An enjoyable, lighthearted read, though I have some qualms with the main character, who is meant to be a strong female, adopting the role of housemaker and kitchen maid. I understand that this is meant to be set in Victorian times, but still... the plot, though the premise is interesting, very quickly devolves into a typical, cliched romance. Nonetheless, if you're looking for a mindless, fantasy read, this will do the trick.
I wanted to like this book so badly. I feel like I’ve read about it and had seen it on lists with other books I liked. I feel like the subject matter had the potential to be really interesting and intriguing.
But I just didn’t like it. I felt like I never got a chance to know the characters, so I didn’t really care about what was going on or why things were happening the way they were. The action started way quicker and never really grabbed me. The paper magic didn’t seem to play as big a role as it could have and maybe that would have been more interesting to me? I don’t know, maybe it’s just not my type of genre. I certainly won’t be reading the rest of the series (honestly, not sure how many books there even are).
And a note to be fair, this was in ebook format and I read it sporadically in between other books, but still. I don’t think that would’ve made me like it any better.
But I just didn’t like it. I felt like I never got a chance to know the characters, so I didn’t really care about what was going on or why things were happening the way they were. The action started way quicker and never really grabbed me. The paper magic didn’t seem to play as big a role as it could have and maybe that would have been more interesting to me? I don’t know, maybe it’s just not my type of genre. I certainly won’t be reading the rest of the series (honestly, not sure how many books there even are).
And a note to be fair, this was in ebook format and I read it sporadically in between other books, but still. I don’t think that would’ve made me like it any better.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this book once I gave it a try. The story was low key without being long enough to get boring. To me, the idea behind this story and the world was unique and the author made the world building seem effortless.
My only hesitation with this book is how abrupt Ceony's feelings for Emery came about. Maybe it just seemed like there was no hint to her internal feelings for him until she just had them.
My only hesitation with this book is how abrupt Ceony's feelings for Emery came about. Maybe it just seemed like there was no hint to her internal feelings for him until she just had them.
I really enjoyed Charlie's whimsical Spellbreaker duology, so I was excited to read this one, but I was so disappointed.
This book was just so boring.
The beginning was kind of bland. It took awhile for get the plot going.
Then the last 75% of it was just the main character meandering along inside a magical heart describing scenes she saw and occasionally running into some type of situation that is easily escaped..
That's it.
I understand that description phrases are important in a book, but in this book, that's *all there is* because nothing is really happening. It's 200+ pages of descriptive word-vomit with no real plot.
I also was not a fan of the book's "Hot for Teacher" vibes when the 19 yr old main character declares her love for the 32-yr old teacher. Let's be real... nothing wrong with age gaps, and sure, 19 is "legal," but what would a 19 yr old even have in common with a 32 yr old MAN she's known for a MONTH?! Gross. That declaration of love was made towards the end. I would have stopped reading altogether if it had happened earlier in book. Since it happened towards the end, I figured I had made it that far, so I might as well finish the book.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book, and I don't plan to read the rest of the series.
Honestly, the best part of the book was.
TW for the book: a scene where a character recalls discovering a friend who "unalived" herself is mentioned, so if that topic is sensitive for you, you might want to steer clear of this book.
This book was just so boring.
The beginning was kind of bland. It took awhile for get the plot going.
Then the last 75% of it was just the main character meandering along inside a magical heart describing scenes she saw and occasionally running into some type of situation that is easily escaped..
That's it.
I understand that description phrases are important in a book, but in this book, that's *all there is* because nothing is really happening. It's 200+ pages of descriptive word-vomit with no real plot.
I also was not a fan of the book's "Hot for Teacher" vibes when the 19 yr old main character declares her love for the 32-yr old teacher. Let's be real... nothing wrong with age gaps, and sure, 19 is "legal," but what would a 19 yr old even have in common with a 32 yr old MAN she's known for a MONTH?! Gross. That declaration of love was made towards the end. I would have stopped reading altogether if it had happened earlier in book. Since it happened towards the end, I figured I had made it that far, so I might as well finish the book.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book, and I don't plan to read the rest of the series.
Honestly, the best part of the book was
Spoiler
the paper dogTW for the book: a scene where a character recalls discovering a friend who "unalived" herself is mentioned, so if that topic is sensitive for you, you might want to steer clear of this book.
I read this series after visiting the authors booth at Dragonsteel Con 2020! I loved the aesthetic and borrowed the books from my library.
I loved this series!! So much! I didnt really love the romance until the third book. Thats when I really started shipping them, and I adored the ending!
I really want to own these books and get my hands on some more of her work!
So Charlie, if you remember me, I was wearing the doodle pants. :)
I loved this series!! So much! I didnt really love the romance until the third book. Thats when I really started shipping them, and I adored the ending!
I really want to own these books and get my hands on some more of her work!
So Charlie, if you remember me, I was wearing the doodle pants. :)
It took me a while to pick up this book and read it. It seemed as though every time I signed into one of my reading-related accounts, this book came up as "recommended for you." When someone keeps reminding me and reminding me of something they think I should do or enjoy, I tend to get resistant and put it off longer. The fact that now some computerized fact-gatherers also knew what I should read didn't set well. (You have to see my astrological chart to understand my special brand of stubbornness.)
The Paper Magician has a youthful voice, with mature scene development. It is charming and imaginative; a pleasure read. I have zoomed right ahead and started The Glass Magician.
(I received a Net Galley version for review purposes.)
The Paper Magician has a youthful voice, with mature scene development. It is charming and imaginative; a pleasure read. I have zoomed right ahead and started The Glass Magician.
(I received a Net Galley version for review purposes.)
This is a story if a young girl, Ceony, who has big dreams for herself and her magic. Unfortunately fates don't have those same dreams and she is forced to become an apprentice and learn the most boring art of magic, paper. Her teacher is Thane, who is a good looking, powerful, and just a little eccentric magician. Thane has secrets and a past that come back to cause trouble to both Ceony and himself.
Overall I liked this book. I like both characters and I liked the writing. Both Ceony and Thane have their moments of stubbornness, but they also seem like in the long run they would make a good team.
I do feel like this is an introductory book. It's saying here are the characters, here is what they do, here's a little adventure so you know who the villain is. Keep going to the second book though, because that's where the real story will take place. It's not bad, it's just that in the end I felt like this book was only here to set up what is coming, and that has always frustrated me a little.
A good read, 4 stars.
Overall I liked this book. I like both characters and I liked the writing. Both Ceony and Thane have their moments of stubbornness, but they also seem like in the long run they would make a good team.
I do feel like this is an introductory book. It's saying here are the characters, here is what they do, here's a little adventure so you know who the villain is. Keep going to the second book though, because that's where the real story will take place. It's not bad, it's just that in the end I felt like this book was only here to set up what is coming, and that has always frustrated me a little.
A good read, 4 stars.
Super interesting idea I liked her writing style. The storyline was a bit slow but that is common in a first in series book as she has to lay down a lot of ground work. I didn't want to write about this one until I got through book number two which was absolutely delightful (and not slow at all). I'm looking forward to diving into number 3 (but will wait until the weekend when I can really binge)