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druzyquartz's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Grief, Abandonment, and Addiction
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
zimmermanrl15's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall, I'd say it was an okay read. This book gave me Howl's Moving Castle vibes so many times while reading it which was great, but it felt too much like reading a Howl and Sophie fanfiction.
The plot and subplot felt a bit all over the place and some things that needed to be fleshed out some more were quickly rushed through. I think this story would have worked better as a series versus a standalone. I also feel like some of my gripes with the story may just be that I am an adult so I think a lot of elements of the story fall flat for me, but would be eaten up by someone of the intended audience.
All this said, I do think the Catherine could absolutely be a powerhouse in the cozy fantasy genre. I'd love to see an adult cozy fantasy from her in the future!
The plot and subplot felt a bit all over the place and some things that needed to be fleshed out some more were quickly rushed through. I think this story would have worked better as a series versus a standalone. I also feel like some of my gripes with the story may just be that I am an adult so I think a lot of elements of the story fall flat for me, but would be eaten up by someone of the intended audience.
All this said, I do think the Catherine could absolutely be a powerhouse in the cozy fantasy genre. I'd love to see an adult cozy fantasy from her in the future!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse
Minor: Abandonment
dogoodwithbooks's review
I liked it, but I just wasn’t in the mood for it. Maybe I’ll come back to it again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Medical content
Moderate: Abandonment
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
bohemianhermit04's review
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Vomit, Body horror, and Abandonment
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