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librarianlayla's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Everything we needed and more.
If you're looking for a book filled with mystery, diverse characters and set in a magical school with a best friend trio - then this is for you.
Ella's journey through her first year at the Arcanum is non stop action. This world is rich and fully fledged with magical creatures, marvellous abilities and very real, raw, experiences.
The way that Ella is treated by students and teachers alike really drew a lot of parallels with my childhood as we as struggles that continue to this day. This book really made me feel things.
Book 2 cannot come quick enough!
If you're looking for a book filled with mystery, diverse characters and set in a magical school with a best friend trio - then this is for you.
Ella's journey through her first year at the Arcanum is non stop action. This world is rich and fully fledged with magical creatures, marvellous abilities and very real, raw, experiences.
The way that Ella is treated by students and teachers alike really drew a lot of parallels with my childhood as we as struggles that continue to this day. This book really made me feel things.
Book 2 cannot come quick enough!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, and Xenophobia
Minor: Murder, Child death, Racism, and Death
purplepenning's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Grief, Kidnapping, Racism, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, and Hate crime
Minor: Blood
betweentheshelves'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
4.5
Thanks to Macmillan Children's and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Marvellers to review! This middle grade, magical school fantasy should definitely be on your radar of May releases. It is absolutely a delight to read! From beginning to end.
Clayton's skills in world building are on full display here! If you're a fan of magical schools in the slightest, you'll absolutely love this. Arcanum is a magical school in the sky. What isn't to love about that? The way that we're presented with the world and the school quickly pulls you into the story. I promise you'll be hooked from the get go!
And the characters! Not only do we get to see them through interactions, but the bits and pieces between chapters. Throughout, Clayton includes news clippings, messages, etc. to help with building characters and the world. And it works so well! Not only does it help with world building, but we get to see different character personalities as well. Honestly, it just makes you fall in love with this little group of misfits even more.
All in all, if you're looking for a new middle grade fantasy to dive into, definitely pick this one up when it comes out in May!
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Let me tell you, this book is a delight! From the magic school to the friendships made to the overall world. Middle grade fantasy fans will definitely enjoy this! Stay tuned for a full review to come next week.
Clayton's skills in world building are on full display here! If you're a fan of magical schools in the slightest, you'll absolutely love this. Arcanum is a magical school in the sky. What isn't to love about that? The way that we're presented with the world and the school quickly pulls you into the story. I promise you'll be hooked from the get go!
And the characters! Not only do we get to see them through interactions, but the bits and pieces between chapters. Throughout, Clayton includes news clippings, messages, etc. to help with building characters and the world. And it works so well! Not only does it help with world building, but we get to see different character personalities as well. Honestly, it just makes you fall in love with this little group of misfits even more.
All in all, if you're looking for a new middle grade fantasy to dive into, definitely pick this one up when it comes out in May!
---------
Let me tell you, this book is a delight! From the magic school to the friendships made to the overall world. Middle grade fantasy fans will definitely enjoy this! Stay tuned for a full review to come next week.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Blood, and Bullying
Minor: Medical content, Death, and Kidnapping
armontheroad's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was kindly sent to me (unsolicited) by the publishers. All thoughts in my reviewer are my own.
THE MARVELLERS is a masterpiece of our time!! I wish I had this Middle-Grade Fantasy when I was growing up, but I am beyond ecstatic that today’s young readers will have this in their libraries! Dhonielle Clayton is a master at her craft. This world is one you are enthralled and excited about from the very beginning. THE MARVELLERS yanks you into their eccentric world and you will not want to leave!
As with all good stories set in magical schools, not everything is as it seems. Ella deals with a LOT in this book. Watching her try to navigate this new world whilst being true to her own heritage, dealing with microaggressions left and right, on top of all the other horrible things she is put through for being the first Conjurer to a Marvellian school was hard to read about at times. I can clearly see the pull of inspiration our real-world had on Clayton’s writing and I am deeply grateful for her commentary. Recommending this book solely as a “fun magical fantasy school” would be dishonest! Clayton writes about a lot of serious topics in this middle grade. Although the story has loads of fun, lighthearted moments, it is also about Ella dealing with being profiled and verbally attacked on a daily basis.
I will leave this by saying, I truly believe this is a novel every single person should pick up!! There were a few twists that I did not expect, characters I fell fast in love with, and a world I do not want to see an end to. THE MARVELLERS is brilliant! I am still reeling from the ending and desperately hoping that we get more books in this series! THE MARVELLERS is *the* story to heal your inner child!!
CWs/TWs: kidnapping (minor), blood (moderate), death (minor), medical content (minor), microaggressions (major), racism (major), etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Kidnapping, Medical content, and Death
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