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hedyharper's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, Xenophobia, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, Medical trauma, Hate crime, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
caitcosentino's review
adventurous
challenging
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? No
4.25
Obsessed with this world! The paragons & marvels at ATI are so unique and interesting. Ella's a strong main character.
I guessed most of the twists but still enjoyed it. I do wish the villian was a little more compelling.
I need to know more and why Mr Durand was with Gia.
I guessed most of the twists but still enjoyed it. I do wish the villian was a little more compelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Kidnapping and Blood
Minor: Death
jessicaludden's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
“Just as we group the stars above, we organize the light within, making sense of chaos.”
This was a great listen! The narrator did an amazing job differentiating the characters. I really liked the magic in this world and I really enjoyed following Ella’s story. I loved the mystery aspect and the development of friendship.
This was a great listen! The narrator did an amazing job differentiating the characters. I really liked the magic in this world and I really enjoyed following Ella’s story. I loved the mystery aspect and the development of friendship.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying and Kidnapping
qrschulte's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
I loved this book!!! If you’re looking for a Harry Potter dupe that actually has diversity (race, gender, sexuality, disability) you have to pick this up. I loved all the nods to other authors in the “background” characters’s names; a very fun addition. AND I CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENS NEXT TO MY SWEET BABIES!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Racism, Gaslighting, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, Confinement, Abandonment, Child abuse, Hate crime, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Murder, Torture, Medical content, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, and Child death
rachelkreadsbookz's review
adventurous
lighthearted
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Kidnapping
jupternorth's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Child 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!
---------
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
annalisaely's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book has everything I love about magical schools and secret magical worlds, but better than many I have seen in many ways. The world building is whimsical yet logical, in depth but mysterious. The characters have unique personalities and are not so easily sorted into perfect and bad, and I loved the friendships between children and also between children and adults. Wonderful magical creatures, as well!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, and Bullying
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