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valerina_13's review against another edition
I really wanted to like this one, but for my own personal reasons- I have to put it down.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
savtank's review against another edition
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an arc.
Full transparency: I have struggled with the idea of writing this review and leaving a rating because I did DNF this book at around 35%. Please take my feedback with a grain of salt. Just because I didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean you won’t.
I was so excited to read this and I am so sad to say that I knew from about 10% of the way through that I was not going to enjoy it.
To begin with the positives, the premise and magic system described in the synopsis really intrigued me. I really enjoyed the magic books, even the more simple ones were made to feel exciting.
But, the pacing was inconsistent and the prose was odd to me. Everything felt very clunky and forced. In my opinion there were several instances where details that added nothing to the world/character building or plot. I also did not appreciate the author’s stereotypes he applied to the female characters. Some of the first introductions we get to Cassie and her roommate Izzy are them complaining about their bodies which to me is just lazy writing.
The main characters and villains also felt very flat to me. I couldn’t connect with any of them and I struggled to focus while reading.
All this to say, I was disappointed but that doesn’t mean someone else out there won’t enjoy this book.
Full transparency: I have struggled with the idea of writing this review and leaving a rating because I did DNF this book at around 35%. Please take my feedback with a grain of salt. Just because I didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean you won’t.
I was so excited to read this and I am so sad to say that I knew from about 10% of the way through that I was not going to enjoy it.
To begin with the positives, the premise and magic system described in the synopsis really intrigued me. I really enjoyed the magic books, even the more simple ones were made to feel exciting.
But, the pacing was inconsistent and the prose was odd to me. Everything felt very clunky and forced. In my opinion there were several instances where details that added nothing to the world/character building or plot. I also did not appreciate the author’s stereotypes he applied to the female characters. Some of the first introductions we get to Cassie and her roommate Izzy are them complaining about their bodies which to me is just lazy writing.
The main characters and villains also felt very flat to me. I couldn’t connect with any of them and I struggled to focus while reading.
All this to say, I was disappointed but that doesn’t mean someone else out there won’t enjoy this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexism, and Racial slurs
maddie_can_read's review against another edition
Very interesting premise but I felt like I just kept waiting for it to get going. The tone and the pacing felt very inconsistent.
Didn't like how some of the female characters negatively talked about their bodies/ eating too much/ getting fat/ food restriction especially since it has nothing to do with the plot. Felt a little sexist and unecessary. one of my progress notes: Why is Izzie thinking about being fat when they have a magical space travelling book?? .
I also enjoyed that Cassie had a female friend to go through the journey withuntil she's replaced by a man when the author is done with her
I also was not a fan of the narrator, very flat and sad sounding, didn't seem to match the characters.
Didn't like how some of the female characters negatively talked about their bodies/ eating too much/ getting fat/ food restriction especially since it has nothing to do with the plot. Felt a little sexist and unecessary.
I also enjoyed that Cassie had a female friend to go through the journey with
I also was not a fan of the narrator, very flat and sad sounding, didn't seem to match the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Murder, Violence, Gore, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Stalking
traceyreads2's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Thank you to Netgalley for a digital ARC copy of this book.
I was surprised by the constant labeling of characters in this book only to pigeon hold them into tropes that are harmful and often not true. Why mention a character is a certain gender or ethnicity only to have them immediately be a ruthless murderer?
I really had high hopes for this book and was hoping to enjoy it more than I did, but I instead I could barely finish it.
I was surprised by the constant labeling of characters in this book only to pigeon hold them into tropes that are harmful and often not true. Why mention a character is a certain gender or ethnicity only to have them immediately be a ruthless murderer?
I really had high hopes for this book and was hoping to enjoy it more than I did, but I instead I could barely finish it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Misogyny, Racism, Fatphobia, and Xenophobia
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