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queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, blood, death, homophobia, child abuse mention, ICE agents/detention center mention
Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco is book one in the A Hundred Names for Magic series. Another great Rin Chupeco book! This one was very different from the others I've read by them. This one is set in a more familiar world, but combines other fantastical lands and stories into it.
We follow Tala, a spellbreaker (a person who's curse it is to negate magic) living in the desert town of Invierno, AZ, a town that also resists most magic. Because of Tala's family curse, she is an outsider with no friend besides Alex, who trusts her and her family to keep his royal secret. All the stories we know are true in this world: Jack Giantkiller, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and more. All Tala wants is to be able to control her curse and maybe go on a date with a cute boy.
One night, the legendary firebird shows up, reigniting hope that they will be able to restore Avalon, Alex's royal home, but with ICE agents everywhere and Ice Maidens and nightwalkers running after them, nothing is simple. Tala and Alex are joined by a ragtag group of teenage warriors called the Bandersnatchers, in order to help protect Alex and help restore the country of Avalon from it's frozen curse by the Snow Queen. Alex is hiding even more than Tala and the others know.
This was an exciting read that had an interesting magic system that actually involved technology and modernity. The concept of curses and dooms (not always bad) were fascinating. Chupeco also turns all the familiar fairytales on their heads, making princesses like Sleeping Beauty badasses in their own right. We also get to see some badass Filipino octogenarian warriors.
There are themes about immigration policies, political intrigue, the abuses of ICE agents, and the cost of selling one's soul for power and revenge. I love our little found family, and can't wait to see where things go with them in the next books with each of their prophecies/dooms. Nothing is as it seems, and that was most evident with the twist at the very end that I wasn't expecting! Chupeco has done it again!
Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco is book one in the A Hundred Names for Magic series. Another great Rin Chupeco book! This one was very different from the others I've read by them. This one is set in a more familiar world, but combines other fantastical lands and stories into it.
We follow Tala, a spellbreaker (a person who's curse it is to negate magic) living in the desert town of Invierno, AZ, a town that also resists most magic. Because of Tala's family curse, she is an outsider with no friend besides Alex, who trusts her and her family to keep his royal secret. All the stories we know are true in this world: Jack Giantkiller, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and more. All Tala wants is to be able to control her curse and maybe go on a date with a cute boy.
One night, the legendary firebird shows up, reigniting hope that they will be able to restore Avalon, Alex's royal home, but with ICE agents everywhere and Ice Maidens and nightwalkers running after them, nothing is simple. Tala and Alex are joined by a ragtag group of teenage warriors called the Bandersnatchers, in order to help protect Alex and help restore the country of Avalon from it's frozen curse by the Snow Queen. Alex is hiding even more than Tala and the others know.
This was an exciting read that had an interesting magic system that actually involved technology and modernity. The concept of curses and dooms (not always bad) were fascinating. Chupeco also turns all the familiar fairytales on their heads, making princesses like Sleeping Beauty badasses in their own right. We also get to see some badass Filipino octogenarian warriors.
There are themes about immigration policies, political intrigue, the abuses of ICE agents, and the cost of selling one's soul for power and revenge. I love our little found family, and can't wait to see where things go with them in the next books with each of their prophecies/dooms. Nothing is as it seems, and that was most evident with the twist at the very end that I wasn't expecting! Chupeco has done it again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Child abuse
guessgreenleaf's review
adventurous
funny
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Homophobia
Minor: Deportation, Violence, Blood, and Confinement
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay this book was so good and I enjoyed it so much! I was a little hesitant because I haven't seen much about it but I am SO GLAD that I read it.
The beginning has a LOT going on. There is a lot of worldbuilding, magic, and tons of characters. It was a bit overwhelming for the start but as I continued, I got really invested in quite a few of the characters! Plus there is a JOURNEY with a rag-tag group that has to work together and I am always all for that 🙌
I think the only things were that because there are so many characters, it's a little hard to keep track at first and some of them are not as well developed. But I'm hoping we get more in book 2!
All of the references to fairytales and how they were spun for this world was AWESOME! I loved the references and characters that were mentioned and how they were brought into the history and the story. It was woven in really well!
The beginning has a LOT going on. There is a lot of worldbuilding, magic, and tons of characters. It was a bit overwhelming for the start but as I continued, I got really invested in quite a few of the characters! Plus there is a JOURNEY with a rag-tag group that has to work together and I am always all for that 🙌
I think the only things were that because there are so many characters, it's a little hard to keep track at first and some of them are not as well developed. But I'm hoping we get more in book 2!
All of the references to fairytales and how they were spun for this world was AWESOME! I loved the references and characters that were mentioned and how they were brought into the history and the story. It was woven in really well!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, and War
Mention of ICE, threat of deportation, detention centers for childrentahsintries's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Genocide
Minor: Homophobia, Bullying, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This fantasy is chock-full of fairy tale and legendary references in terms of history, locales, and powers, but it's also a dystopia, so naturally, the worst parts of our society remain, villainous ICE agents included. In the truly garbage Royal States of America, Tala has inherited her family's curse, making her a Spellbreaker who disrupts magic. Her best friend is the heir-in-hiding for the defeated and iced-over kingdom of Avalon. As his 18th birthday nears, it's time for Alex to take his homeland back.
There's a lot to love in this book, including funny chapter titles a la Rick Riordan. Of many favorites, "in which bad bureaucratic policies have consequences" is a true knockout, and another gem is "in which objects in mirrors are closer than they appear," and "in which the castle wants Tala to be its guest" earns a gold star. I could have literally picked any three random chapter titles, people. They're that entertaining. The pop-culture references are also sublime, from Star Wars to the TARDIS to the power of Grayskull. This provided extra tasty seasoning over a healthy diet of Wonderland, Camelot, and Neverland plot elements.
I also loved the ethnically diverse main cast with a Filipina protagonist at the helm. We are also graced with a gay King Arthur descendant and a non-binary Chinese-Canadian Loki among the main characters. The teenage leads form a promising group with hilarious quirks and a good mix of individual strengths and weaknesses that complement one another as a team.
There were some downsides for me. I felt buried in world-building at the start of this book, and other info dumps still arose later in the story. The front-loaded world-building made for a slow start to the plot and sporadic characterization. While I liked the cast, I don't feel I saw their full range. There was definitely that anticipatory "first book in a series" feeling to suggest that the real action is yet to come. The last part is a matter of personal taste. There's a lot of prophecy in the story from seers to visions to a personal "doom" spoken at birth, and these strands of fate were not always tricky to decipher. It rendered certain events predictable and paused the flow of the story.
For fans of fairy tale retellings, especially the epically chaotic variety that smooshes them all together for maximum effort, this book is for you. Definitely check it out if it sounds like your cup of ya fantasy tea.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Genocide, Grief, Homophobia, Police brutality, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Vomit
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? No
5.0
Chupeco’s The Never Tilting World duology is one of my top five favorite fantasies of all time, so even though I didn’t know much about it, I was very excited for Wicked as You Wish. From the very first page, it hooked me, and I had such a fun time reading. It’s definitely a new favorite!
This book is unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s an urban fantasy set in an alternate version of our world, where America is a monarchy and various storybook worlds like Wonderland and Neverland are actual countries. This world’s history is an amalgamation of different fairytales blended with real world history, with King Arthur as prominent a historical figure as George Washington. Other stories and characters mentioned include Cinderella, Robin Hood, Briar Rose, the Snow Queen, Alice in Wonderland, and more. Loki is a prominent side character. Although it seems like a lot for one book, Chupeco made it all work. In fact, I found the creativity of it all quite fascinating.
I loved the characters. Tala, Alex, Zoe, Ken, West and Loki are all brilliant and complex, with such fun dynamics between them. They’re now one of my favorite found families. I know I say that about nearly every found family I come across, but I can’t help it. It’s one of my favorite tropes, and I really do love this ragtag group of heroes. I think Tala, Loki and Zoe are my favorites of the bunch.
One thing I noticed that I really appreciated was the lack of romance. Aside from a crush Tala has early on that quickly goes south, the only love here is familial and platonic. Zoe’s dating someone but they’re never actually on-page. As much as I was hoping for Tala and Zoe to end up together—despite there being no evidence of attraction on either end—I like that Chupeco chose to put the story’s focus elsewhere.
Although the story was slower at times, I never minded because the characters kept me entertained. I found myself always wanting to get back to the book whenever I had to put it down.
The ending went much smoother than expected, given that there’s a sequel, but I’m not complaining. My heart can only take so many cliffhangers. I will say that I found one thing predictable, saw it coming a mile away, but Tala’s reaction to said thing was interesting. I’m very curious to see if she changes her mind in the sequel.
And then there’s the epilogue….. excuse me, what? Like I said, not a cliffhanger, but also not something I ever, ever expected.The firebird is loyal to the Snow Queen?? Was, this whole time?? I’m very concerned about what this means for Tala and Alex and the rest of the crew. Much concern, very feelings.
Looking very forward to book two!!! Stop sleeping on Rin Chupeco’s books, y’all!!!
Representation
This book is unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s an urban fantasy set in an alternate version of our world, where America is a monarchy and various storybook worlds like Wonderland and Neverland are actual countries. This world’s history is an amalgamation of different fairytales blended with real world history, with King Arthur as prominent a historical figure as George Washington. Other stories and characters mentioned include Cinderella, Robin Hood, Briar Rose, the Snow Queen, Alice in Wonderland, and more. Loki is a prominent side character. Although it seems like a lot for one book, Chupeco made it all work. In fact, I found the creativity of it all quite fascinating.
I loved the characters. Tala, Alex, Zoe, Ken, West and Loki are all brilliant and complex, with such fun dynamics between them. They’re now one of my favorite found families. I know I say that about nearly every found family I come across, but I can’t help it. It’s one of my favorite tropes, and I really do love this ragtag group of heroes. I think Tala, Loki and Zoe are my favorites of the bunch.
One thing I noticed that I really appreciated was the lack of romance. Aside from a crush Tala has early on that quickly goes south, the only love here is familial and platonic. Zoe’s dating someone but they’re never actually on-page. As much as I was hoping for Tala and Zoe to end up together—despite there being no evidence of attraction on either end—I like that Chupeco chose to put the story’s focus elsewhere.
Although the story was slower at times, I never minded because the characters kept me entertained. I found myself always wanting to get back to the book whenever I had to put it down.
The ending went much smoother than expected, given that there’s a sequel, but I’m not complaining. My heart can only take so many cliffhangers. I will say that I found one thing predictable, saw it coming a mile away, but Tala’s reaction to said thing was interesting. I’m very curious to see if she changes her mind in the sequel.
And then there’s the epilogue….. excuse me, what? Like I said, not a cliffhanger, but also not something I ever, ever expected.
Looking very forward to book two!!! Stop sleeping on Rin Chupeco’s books, y’all!!!
Representation
- Filipino protagonist and side characters
- gay side character
- East Asian side character
- Chinese nonbinary side character that uses they/them pronouns
- side characters of color
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racism
Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Genocide
A prominent side character’s parents died prior to the story and that’s referenced a few times. Same with the genocide and the child abuse, though the latter is regarding a minor side character.angelicathebookworm's review
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Violence, Xenophobia, and Racism
malloryfitz's review
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Xenophobia
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Violence, Racism, Murder, Homophobia, Genocide, and Cursing
ofbooksandechos's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
People who don’t look and act like you is what you hate. Every other excuse is only a pretense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Homophobia
azrah786's review against another edition
4.5
[This full review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Wicked As You Wish is a magical, action-packed adventure with a diverse cast of characters and a sassy firebird that will keep you entertained from start to finish. It takes place in an alternate universe where fairy-tale lands and characters exist. In recent history a war between the Kingdom of Avalon and The Snow Queen of Beira resulted in Avalon being frozen and the demise of its monarchy, the disappearance of the Snow Queen and magical repercussions worldwide.
The story follows Tala Warnock, a descendant of the Makiling clan - a Filipino bloodline with a curse that repels magic. Like her mother she is a Spellbreaker. Allies to Avalon, Tala’s family were of a number of refugees that managed to escape the kingdom when it fell, and took residence in the city of Invierno, Arizona. Invierno is a place where magic doesn’t work, and in the Royal States of America where using magic means punishment and being an Avalonian refugee means deportation, it’s the perfect place to hide.
Also hiding in Invierno is Alexei “Alex” Tsarevich, Crown Prince of Avalon, the sole survivor of his family’s massacre. 12 years of living undercover and being moved from location to location for his own safety has now landed him in the custody of the Warnocks and the Katipuneros (a group of celebrated Avalonian warriors). However, on his 18th birthday everything changes when the legendary firebird - Avalon’s biggest weapon - returns, setting Tala and Alex off on an adventure to save Avalon.
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Wicked As You Wish is a magical, action-packed adventure with a diverse cast of characters and a sassy firebird that will keep you entertained from start to finish. It takes place in an alternate universe where fairy-tale lands and characters exist. In recent history a war between the Kingdom of Avalon and The Snow Queen of Beira resulted in Avalon being frozen and the demise of its monarchy, the disappearance of the Snow Queen and magical repercussions worldwide.
The story follows Tala Warnock, a descendant of the Makiling clan - a Filipino bloodline with a curse that repels magic. Like her mother she is a Spellbreaker. Allies to Avalon, Tala’s family were of a number of refugees that managed to escape the kingdom when it fell, and took residence in the city of Invierno, Arizona. Invierno is a place where magic doesn’t work, and in the Royal States of America where using magic means punishment and being an Avalonian refugee means deportation, it’s the perfect place to hide.
Also hiding in Invierno is Alexei “Alex” Tsarevich, Crown Prince of Avalon, the sole survivor of his family’s massacre. 12 years of living undercover and being moved from location to location for his own safety has now landed him in the custody of the Warnocks and the Katipuneros (a group of celebrated Avalonian warriors). However, on his 18th birthday everything changes when the legendary firebird - Avalon’s biggest weapon - returns, setting Tala and Alex off on an adventure to save Avalon.
"Most things in life none of us signed up for. But you've got friends looking out for you every step of the way. Every bad seed will always be outnumbered by the good sprouts. Remember that."
This was my first Rin Chupeco book and I am now determined to pick up every single one of her works.
To start off I absolutely loved the world-building in Wicked As You Wish. Rin instantly throws us into this captivating universe where fairytale lands coexist with the various nations of our modern world. Where characters from said fairytales have been intricately woven into our world history. To me it instantly felt reminiscent to the TV show Once Upon A Time, though everything has been retold in a refreshing way and the addition of ,b>Asian folklore and myths have made it all the more unique and enjoyable. It does take a few chapters to comprehend and feels a bit info dumpy at times but I personally loved all the detail.
The magic system is equally fascinating - outlined by the author to be inspired by Full Metal Alchemist and Bleach. It is pretty multifaceted and again does take some time to fully understand, but the main gist behind it is that in order to claim any form of power/magic you must sacrifice something of equal measure in return. An element of the magic system that particularly interested me was the Spelltech – items imbued with magical spells, including technological items. I mean how useful would an “antigravity hands-free selfie spell” on your phone be!?
Magic plays a key part in the overall plot of the story too, mainly in the form of curses and prophecies. However, it is a resource with many regulations attached in this world due to its involvement in past events. Thus it also has a big role in the global power play and I as a reader LOVE when there’s a dash of politics in fantasy.
Along with worldly political tensions Rin also touches on various other topics and issues which are relevant in today’s society. From racism and homophobia, to American immigration policies and the treatment of refugees, to child abuse - the writing and how thoroughly developed all these elements are makes it evident just how much time and effort has gone into this book.
Also can we take a second to appreciate how unapologetically Filipino this book is! The culture and folklore, the lingo, the family and community dynamics, the FOOD!!! Since reading this book I have had the biggest urge to eat all the Filipino food and that is the magic of #OwnVoices representation.
"Just because you've never been to the Philippines doesn't mean their rivers don't course through your blood. It doesn't mean you don't have their mountains in your eyes. It's not where we are, it's who we are. You'll always be both a Makiling and a Warnock, and always a Filipina. Never forget that."
Tala and Alex have a heart-warming platonic friendship and as the main protagonists were wonderful to follow however, I really enjoyed how the third person narrative allows us to really get to know the side characters too. We have Tala’s parents and the Katipuneros who act as extended family to both protagonists. The heme of family is very central to this story and is wonderfully written.
Then we have the Banders, a found family themselves, who on orders from the Cheshire (the Duke of Wonderland) have the task of protecting Alex and Tala on their adventure. I did feel at first that some scenes involving these character were a bit congested with one too many personalities. Though that being said as the story progresses we become more accustomed to each of the members, and their banter and relationships are great. Furthermore it becomes clear that they all have a bigger role to play in the story when aforementioned prophecies and subplots come into play. This has me super excited for the rest of the books in the series. My enemy to lovers obsessed heart is particularly excited to see more of a pair at the centre of a Robin Hood inspired family rivalry.
Last but not least I need to of course mention the firebird – truly a treasure. I’m looking forward to returning to this world, all these characters and the quirky Riordan-esque chapter titles in the future A Hundred Names for Magic books!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Bullying, Racism, Child abuse, and Violence
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