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sassblaster's review
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.0
harleyrae's review
4.0
3.5/5 Stars
I'm actually surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. It was a quick fast-paced book, that always kept you wondering what was gonna happen next. I enjoyed the creepy tone to the book, and found Tom to be a fun character to follow. While he sometimes made stupid decisions, he never made them to hurt anyone. There wasn't really much I didn't like.
All in all this was an OK book that I quite enjoyed. As of now I plan on continuing with the series.
I'm actually surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. It was a quick fast-paced book, that always kept you wondering what was gonna happen next. I enjoyed the creepy tone to the book, and found Tom to be a fun character to follow. While he sometimes made stupid decisions, he never made them to hurt anyone. There wasn't really much I didn't like.
All in all this was an OK book that I quite enjoyed. As of now I plan on continuing with the series.
indiareadsalot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kyky88148's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
squicki's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
tarawe's review against another edition
3.0
I think I would have enjoyed this more in print rather than as an audiobook. There's nothing glaringly wrong with the book but I just couldn't get invested in it.
hallobud12343's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Very good book. I totally recommend.
paige_georgia_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The pacing feels a little off but it is a very fun book, a little creepy and eerie!
deetour8's review
2.0
Like a 2.5, I liked it enough to finish it but not enough to read the next book in the series. I do think that a lot of young boys would obviously like it though.
lemonbun's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really fun and light book! And spookier than I expected. I was surprised how creepy it could be considering this is for a younger audience.
Tom was a decently likable MC. His character didn't exactly shine through but he wasn't unlikable either. I liked that we saw his struggles of overcoming his fears and getting used to the job rather than immediately taking to it.
Ahh the Spook. I don't like him. I think as a reader, I'm probably meant to, considering he's the all powerful and knowing teacher of Tom. But he just had too many sexist comments to say and frankly it took away from my involvement in the book. I mean, its about witches and ghosts and boggarts, and the Spook is sitting there telling Tom that women aren't to be trusted, women are suckers to compliments , women are this and that and blah blah blah blah blah.
In fact the whole world in the book seemed pretty sexist. Men are to be men. You don't like your job? Too bad . You're a man so deal with it. Charming.
You'd think with it being a fantasy world and the book having no need for any of that the author would have deemed it not necessary to include sexist BS but here we are.
At least Tom didn't seem to carry these opinions. Idk, I guess my main concern is considering this is a book aimed at young boys, they could take this stuff to heart.
All that aside though, the story was great, it had a great flow, and I was really hooked. Also, despite all the rubbish about how women suck, the female characters in the book were actually pretty badass.
So yeah, solid 4/5 stars and I'll definitely be reading the next book. The trials in book 1 were all wrapped up nicely, and I hope each individual book has a new evil to take on that incrementally get harder and harder to take down.
Tom was a decently likable MC. His character didn't exactly shine through but he wasn't unlikable either. I liked that we saw his struggles of overcoming his fears and getting used to the job rather than immediately taking to it.
Ahh the Spook. I don't like him. I think as a reader, I'm probably meant to, considering he's the all powerful and knowing teacher of Tom. But he just had too many sexist comments to say and frankly it took away from my involvement in the book. I mean, its about witches and ghosts and boggarts, and the Spook is sitting there telling Tom that women aren't to be trusted, women are suckers to compliments , women are this and that and blah blah blah blah blah.
In fact the whole world in the book seemed pretty sexist. Men are to be men. You don't like your job? Too bad . You're a man so deal with it. Charming.
You'd think with it being a fantasy world and the book having no need for any of that the author would have deemed it not necessary to include sexist BS but here we are.
At least Tom didn't seem to carry these opinions. Idk, I guess my main concern is considering this is a book aimed at young boys, they could take this stuff to heart.
All that aside though, the story was great, it had a great flow, and I was really hooked. Also, despite all the rubbish about how women suck, the female characters in the book were actually pretty badass.
So yeah, solid 4/5 stars and I'll definitely be reading the next book. The trials in book 1 were all wrapped up nicely, and I hope each individual book has a new evil to take on that incrementally get harder and harder to take down.