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cboschie's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Nice enough read - good if you’re looking for an easy, cottagey read with mental health themes. Would’ve loved some more worldbuilding and a wider scope, and the romance felt rushed at times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
avacadosocks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Mental illness and Body horror
ribbonquest's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.25
The language of flowers and plants and their practical uses are a huge part of Flowerheart's magic. Clara's magic produces flowers based on her emotions. Potion ingredients are chosen based on their meanings and actual effect (ex: garlic could be for digestive health but also good fortune.) The plant meanings are woven throughout the story and really interesting if you're into plant magic.
Flowerheart gets the "cozy fantasy" label from some readers, but I don't entirely agree. Much of the story is magical metaphors for mental health struggles. Clara's magic sometimes speaks to her as negative self talk. Most of the supporting cast have hidden motivations, so it's hard to tell who to trust. It can be very stressful.
Content warning: Plant-based body horror
Flowerheart gets the "cozy fantasy" label from some readers, but I don't entirely agree. Much of the story is magical metaphors for mental health struggles. Clara's magic sometimes speaks to her as negative self talk. Most of the supporting cast have hidden motivations, so it's hard to tell who to trust. It can be very stressful.
Content warning: Plant-based body horror
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Classism, and Confinement
bee_ayy's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Very ~flowery~ writing. Quite literally. The use of flowers/nature as a running theme throughout the story was nice. I'm always a fan when books do that. Though the writing was noticeably repetitive as well.
Felt like a lot of loose threads were still left hanging by the end. And this book didn't feel like it lived up to it's own premise, but perfectly inoffensive nonetheless.
Felt like a lot of loose threads were still left hanging by the end. And this book didn't feel like it lived up to it's own premise, but perfectly inoffensive nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness
yessicookie's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.0
An interesting depiction of mental health in a world of magic, it was very exciting and intense in some parts! Other parts were a bit slower. I am curious about this fantasy world, i do hope to see a sequel.
I will issue a content/trigger warning for those with a fear of plants growing under their skin that is a recurring theme throughout the entire book.
I will issue a content/trigger warning for those with a fear of plants growing under their skin that is a recurring theme throughout the entire book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Body horror
Minor: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
asahome's review
3.75
TL;DR: A young woman must put aside her personal feelings in order to learn to control her magic. A new teacher helps her learn that Elsa (from Frozen) has a better way of dealing with her emotions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Medical content, Ableism, Mental illness, and Addiction
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Death of parent, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content
Ableism:aiplusyou's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
5.0
maybe if i keep reading bangers this year it'll make my stats look less awful. anyway, this was super cute? i'm obsessed with the way magic works in this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
camiclarkbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.25
One of my dearest friends gave me “Flowerheart” for Christmas so it moved to the top of my TBR. She said that it was a charming, cozy standalone and I’m happy to report that she was right (she always is)!
“Flowerheart” was a fun YA fantasy that gave serious cottagecore vibes but did have some spooky elements to it. It reminded me of a lighthearted “Sorcery of Thorns,” which is one of my favorite books.
Bakewell definitely leaned on the vibes of the book, but the characters were sweet and the plot was engaging. I love an element of mystery and a deadline from higher forces and “Flowerheart” featured both!
As much as I enjoyed the book, I wasn’t totally satisfied with the ending. I’m not able to say much more without spoiling anything, but there were some consequences and decisions that everyone was distressed by until the end when they appear to have forgotten everything.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Abandonment, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Mental illness
the_rabble's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Overall, pretty sweet story with some distractingly dark edges that are incongruent with the vibe.
Clara and Xavier are great. Fun relationship there. Side characters are charming. Plot is rock solid engaging. Values are questionable- in a Roald Dahl sort of "kids are cannon fodder" way.
On page one you're dealing with someone with intense anxiety essentially being told she needs to get it together or get a magical lobotomy.
There's a lot of very charming flower magic and potion making, but damn, y'all, this is a rough one for anyone who's had to figure out their flavor of neurodiversity solo or interacted with a powerful system that has big feelings about your feelings. It's all vibes until a hammer drops.
I had a good time with the characters, but can't shake how these 16 year old kids are treated like wizened adults or are completely SOL. If the characters were older, this story would slap but it just seems like a world that's universally cool with child abuse.
[General Spoiler]These kids are treated like the actions between the ages of 11-16 define the rest of their lives, whether by failing training or getting minor things wrong. They are constantly threatened with the permanent loss of magic or a throttling of magic that would injure them for working with their feelings. We are told magic is emotions and even the "good guys" have an incredibly toxic control-based relationship with their feelings.
[Ending]One of the kids gets the magic lobotomy bc he did his job (a 16 year old with a medical job) but also accidentally created a drug. Which he cures the effects of. But he still has the lobotomy. Forever. After already having the throttle that injures him for using magic he's required to use with no supervision. All before his voice finishes dropping.
Additionally, the magical council responsible for this systemic child abuse commits a lot of procedural violations, but clearly has no appeals system.
This is a fun read because there's a lot of charm, the writing moves and breathes, centers a well-written friendship with progress that feels earned, emotional thoughtfulness, flower references and imagery that'll knock your socks off, and a smattering of queer representation.
But the moment you step back and see the characters as children, shit's dark.
Clara and Xavier are great. Fun relationship there. Side characters are charming. Plot is rock solid engaging. Values are questionable- in a Roald Dahl sort of "kids are cannon fodder" way.
On page one you're dealing with someone with intense anxiety essentially being told she needs to get it together or get a magical lobotomy.
There's a lot of very charming flower magic and potion making, but damn, y'all, this is a rough one for anyone who's had to figure out their flavor of neurodiversity solo or interacted with a powerful system that has big feelings about your feelings. It's all vibes until a hammer drops.
I had a good time with the characters, but can't shake how these 16 year old kids are treated like wizened adults or are completely SOL. If the characters were older, this story would slap but it just seems like a world that's universally cool with child abuse.
[General Spoiler]
[Ending]
This is a fun read because there's a lot of charm, the writing moves and breathes, centers a well-written friendship with progress that feels earned, emotional thoughtfulness, flower references and imagery that'll knock your socks off, and a smattering of queer representation.
But the moment you step back and see the characters as children, shit's dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Abandonment