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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
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Body horror, and Mental illness
Minor: Drug use, Abandonment, Medical content, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, and Bullying
susanpevensie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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
4.0
there were a lot of things that i enjoyed about this book. clara herself, her wonderful relationship with her father, the concept of magic and the blossoming young love.
i’m not sure if it was intentional but clara’s magic and how it would spew mean things at her made me think about my own tendency to belittle myself—these core beliefs, the irrational thoughts that i have that would make me believe i’m the worst person who deserves nothing—only if i let them. the idea that clara had to make herself believe in her ability in order to control her erratic magic also reminds me of how sometimes i would have to literally stop my negative thoughts from straying. it’s when she was confident in her ability that her magic works. sounds cliché but i loved it all the same.
there was also this talk about the illness of the heart, the melancholy sickness that i felt was meant to symbolize depression. euphoria’s symptoms being the symptoms of that drug overdose. i loved the scene when clara and xavier worked together on the antidote.
overall, i enjoyed this book. if there was a sequel i’d def read it.
i’m not sure if it was intentional but clara’s magic and how it would spew mean things at her made me think about my own tendency to belittle myself—these core beliefs, the irrational thoughts that i have that would make me believe i’m the worst person who deserves nothing—only if i let them. the idea that clara had to make herself believe in her ability in order to control her erratic magic also reminds me of how sometimes i would have to literally stop my negative thoughts from straying. it’s when she was confident in her ability that her magic works. sounds cliché but i loved it all the same.
there was also this talk about the illness of the heart, the melancholy sickness that i felt was meant to symbolize depression. euphoria’s symptoms being the symptoms of that drug overdose. i loved the scene when clara and xavier worked together on the antidote.
overall, i enjoyed this book. if there was a sequel i’d def read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
mimmixoxo's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
I do agree with a lot of the comments that it feels as if something is missing or the end is underdeveloped especially with Clara’s mother. Overall a fun and quick read that helped me through my latest reading slump. (Although be wary of content warnings)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Vomit, and Chronic illness
barbsantos's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A story about depression and anxiety with lots of magic and flowers! This book is widely regarded as a cozy fantasy but there is some gore and darkness to it. The book overall is great, the only problem I found with it is the explanation of why her power was so erratic, it does not fit well with the magic system.
Big kudos for representation and for characters that make mistake but find redemption and forgiveness!
Big kudos for representation and for characters that make mistake but find redemption and forgiveness!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
kayleenm7's review
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.5
I picked this up in an attempt to brighten up my boom shelf between some solemn, dark nonfiction reads. As other readers have noted it can be a bit repetitive and parts of the story feel incomplete or less fleshed out. The world building was lacking, however the setting still felt like a warm hug. It was cozy and comforting and nostalgic and (mostly) lighthearted. Bakewell did infuse into the story a strong advocacy for mental health support and perhaps a call for certain systems in the real world to be reformed to better help others and I strongly appreciate that. The cast of characters were diverse and lovable. Really love the LGBTQ+ representation!!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness and Abandonment
lengelman's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness and Drug use
kshertz's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It was a sweet YA middle grade where a girl doesn’t know her magic and then it harms her father. Her childhood friend is hot and offers to help her learn. There are secrets and it’s harder than it looks. It was ok but the romance wasn’t super believable. There wasn’t a ton of action happening. But if I was a middle grade student I might love it!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness and Abandonment
smiti_nathan's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
3.25 - listened to this as an audiobook and narration was okay.
I appreciated this as a quick low stakes listen. The flower descriptions were nice. The premise of the book was intriguing, but I felt like it lacked in tension. There was a build up to this big revelation and I was left feeling, “…and…”. I appreciated the seamless LGBTQIA+ representation and modeling of romantic consent; however, some of the characters felt quite one-dimensional. There was whimsy, which was nice. Other aspects were quite repetitive. Also, there was this whole aspect of the council, its shortcomings, and what it meant to be a part of it that was glossed over in my opinion.
I appreciated this as a quick low stakes listen. The flower descriptions were nice. The premise of the book was intriguing, but I felt like it lacked in tension. There was a build up to this big revelation and I was left feeling, “…and…”. I appreciated the seamless LGBTQIA+ representation and modeling of romantic consent; however, some of the characters felt quite one-dimensional. There was whimsy, which was nice. Other aspects were quite repetitive. Also, there was this whole aspect of the council, its shortcomings, and what it meant to be a part of it that was glossed over in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, and Fire/Fire injury