Scan barcode
natnurdock's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Vomit
blewballoon's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, and Murder
danny_fox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I have never been so interested in a book that I read it in 3 days, especially a book that has 500 pages.
I adored everything about this book. The characters, the world, the plot, oh my gooood.
I cannot believe this book isn't more popular. I NEED this book to be more popular.
Definitely became one of my all time favorites, and can already see myself coming back to it in the future.
Baz and Simon have officially become my new comfort characters <3
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Bullying
Minor: Violence, War, Car accident, and Cursing
erebus53's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
++edit to add++ After writing this review I stumbled upon an article that describes how this book fits in with its previous books.. which don't exist. Rowell writes "a book that was inspired by fictional fanfiction of a fictional series".
https://lithub.com/how-rainbow-rowell-weaponized-fandom-for-good/
++
The story deals with a couple of lads at a Magic-School, who are roommates, constantly paranoid about each other and secretly-notsosecretly plotting to kill each other. Their relationships is utterly dysfunctional, which is possibly one of the weirdest and truest part of the story. Mostly teen stories come across as a bit simple and based in pointless misunderstandings, but this enemies to lovers plotline felt a lot more like my memories of highschool, which were a twisted mess of love and hate. Don't call me emo.
I think the stand-out bit of Simon Snow's world is the way that the magic works. It is triggered not necessarily by ancient dead languages but by living ones. Concentration and intent is coupled with incantations that come from clichés, catch phrases, idioms, and commonly known poems and songs. You can literally throw up a wall to protect yourself with "Can't Touch This!"... though it may only be powerful against people who are familiar with the song. It feels a lot like "Light as a Feather Stiff as a Board" only with common memes and quotes. They actually use "These aren't the droids you're looking for" to hide things from people's perception... and as phrases pass out of common use, so do their potency for weaving magic.
The evil baddy in the story is a mysterious force that swallows magic, and leaves the world mundane in its wake. Simon and his best friend Penelope, work with their friends (and enemies) and for much of the time nobody knows who is allied with whom... And at the equinox, ghosts come back to tell people the things that they think are most important to pass on to their still-living loved ones, which spices things up a bit with revelations, spilled secrets and quests. The Principal of the school is in a simmering conflict with the aristocracy of the magical world, as he wants to provide magical training regardless of lineage, to anyone with the talent.
As far as the story is concerned, the characters are a hot mess. The kids rely on the guidance of teachers, who are about as messed up as they are themselves, which means that adult support is not all it cracked up to be, though it's cool if you have a kickarse punk-rock Aunty who can bust you out of trouble when you are in too deep. The characters are a diverse ethnic mix, and the depiction of how Penny copes with her best friend's casual Racism about her looks and South Asian background rings true.
Ghosts, Vampires, Pixies, Numpties, Worsegers (like Badgers..only...) populate this world replete with silly wordplay and a main character who didn't find out that any of this existed until he was 11. This is a very queer love story, and I like the characters, even if they are jerks.
Well worth the read if you have the patience for being dropped in at the deep end.
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Cursing, Gore, Pregnancy, Racism, Stalking, Ableism, Confinement, Toxic friendship, and War
Moderate: Alcohol and Eating disorder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Deportation, and Medical content
mackenzienoelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Minor: Death of parent, Violence, Murder, Drug use, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
strange_little_ranger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Death, Drug use, Grief, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Alcohol, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts
planetesastraea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
First I didn't find anything charming in the fact that he apparently harassed his room mate for years on the assumption that he was evil and only deserved death.
Most importantly I found his thoughts regarding his (ex) girlfriend entirely disturbing: after stating that he wasn't sure they were a good fit together anyway, he spins into a completely toxic behaviour when /she/ seems to want to break up. "She can't reject me", "She can't reject me for /him/", "He can't have her", "Maybe she isn't in her right mind if she rejects me", and last but not least, "I'll kill that guy and this way he won't have her."
There isn't a moment in the book that criticises the character's behaviour in this chapter in any way. What the hell?
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
skudiklier's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I don't believe the art and the artist can be separated much in this case--not when she has refused to listen to those she's harmed, or acknowledged said harm at all. I don't think Rowell or her work should be supported, at least for now. I won't be buying any of her future books unless she fully reckons with the harm her racism has caused.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, Confinement, Kidnapping, Suicide, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm, Animal cruelty, Child death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Animal death, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Eating disorder