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drpolly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
violetfloof's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
4.0
alexatheking's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.75
lots of exposition as world building, but WHAT a fascinating world to build.
hitechredneck's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
happylilkt's review against another edition
3.0
Read this in one sitting. Oops.
This book is the love child of Hunger Games + Harry Potter and very unlike Novik's Uprooted and Spinning Silver (although the strong female protagonist is back in full force). The setting is current but the world is layered on our world in the style of Harry Potter, so, again, different from the world building as seen in her other books.
The main character, Galadriel or "El," is a sarcastic underdog with something to prove and (as she relates it) some serious potential for glory—whether that will be good or evil is TBD. Enmeshed in the school are horrible monsters that are anxious to eat the students and the teens are torn between allowing them to feed on their peers to satiate them or to stick together and risk the delayed hunger and desperation of the beasts. The primary source of drama is found in the culture / class power plays to make alliances and survive past graduation. Which sounds worse? Honestly, I think "El" and I would take the monsters over the politics.
While the dialogue was kind of weak at times (I don't think that's ever been Novik's strong suit) and we are in the protagonist's head too much, I was happy to not see the awkward sex / power dynamics that were in Uprooted. Overall, I found it fun to read and would recommend it generally.
Some language, no sex. Appropriate for teens. I didn't like it enough to continue the series.
This book is the love child of Hunger Games + Harry Potter and very unlike Novik's Uprooted and Spinning Silver (although the strong female protagonist is back in full force). The setting is current but the world is layered on our world in the style of Harry Potter, so, again, different from the world building as seen in her other books.
The main character, Galadriel or "El," is a sarcastic underdog with something to prove and (as she relates it) some serious potential for glory—whether that will be good or evil is TBD. Enmeshed in the school are horrible monsters that are anxious to eat the students and the teens are torn between allowing them to feed on their peers to satiate them or to stick together and risk the delayed hunger and desperation of the beasts. The primary source of drama is found in the culture / class power plays to make alliances and survive past graduation. Which sounds worse? Honestly, I think "El" and I would take the monsters over the politics.
While the dialogue was kind of weak at times (I don't think that's ever been Novik's strong suit) and we are in the protagonist's head too much, I was happy to not see the awkward sex / power dynamics that were in Uprooted. Overall, I found it fun to read and would recommend it generally.
Some language, no sex. Appropriate for teens. I didn't like it enough to continue the series.
wanwanorange's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
annethea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
lowk3y's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
eloisearchangelobooks's review against another edition
5.0
Main girl was likeable and not stupid. Her choices and thought patterns reflected each other and I wasn’t dying of second hand cringe every two seconds. I know that seems like a low bar, but with a lot of these types of books- this type of character is near impossible to find.