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lydsgrace99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Classism, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault, Incest, and Pedophilia
tomas_lw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The plot is simple and fun. Six magicians with exceptionally powerful specialities are selected to join a secret society. But only five can actually join at the end. Cue intrigue, sex, betrayal, magic weirdness, love, hate, death and other fun things.
Over all the book was a great read.
I do have som complaints though.
First of all the author seemed to almost forgot entierly about Reina for almost the entire book which was disapointing since her opening chapter made me really attached to her. I really hope she gets more to do in the next book.
And the ending of the book is very out of left field and exposition heavy. It felt like the author at the last time decided to turn the book into a trilogy and rewrote the ending to set up the sequels. It's a bit heavy handed and not entirely satifying. So lets hope it pays of in the next books!
Also, the book could have had a bit more things happening as most of the book is either characters talking with or thinking about the other characters. Don't get me wrong, I love all these characters and the talking and plotting is terrific, but the pacing of the book could probably have been better with some more action in the middle.
Overall, a great read as I said above and I'm definitely getting the rest of the series ASAP.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol and Death
Minor: Pedophilia
nyoomie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Incest, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
nicole_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Medical content, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, and Terminal illness
If the warnings above trigger you then i donβt recommend this book. If not give it a try if you like and enjoy!fromlindenmere's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Violence
madarauchiha's review against another edition
- 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
Tbh the premise is something I rather loathed. A bunch if magical newly adults attending a ancient school of magic and things snowball from there. I never liked Harry Potter as a kid enough to finish it as a teenager. But this book isn't that. Nor is it Lev Grossman's 'The Magicians' trilogy.
This book is more 'a group of adults go through a very interesting but violent and deadly job interview. but wait, that's not all that's going wrong!'
The characters were very much unique and interesting, as mentioned by one if them, fairy tale typing. it's a subtle thing and not in your face about it it felt quite refreshing. I would put this book in the same list as level Grossman's The Magicians trilogy. They dont tread the same ground but I feel it's in the same category of adult realistic fantasy with adult characters that feel like adults.
The ending was solid to me. You wont be spoon fed everything, and it is open ended [and well plotted ] enough that you appreciate the finale the author left. I loathe duologies and sequel bait. This didnt feel like any of that.
There are a few cunty characters I know a lot of people won't like just because they're cunts. And that's fine because I'll love those bitches in their stead. Parisa, my beloved, pink heart emojis times a million.
content warnings:
minor ecofascism, orphaning, murder, religious persecution, drowning scenario, teacher student relationship, pedophilia, csa,
major NSFW but nothing overly explicit, unreality, abuse, manipulation, mind control, murder, suicide, suicide baiting, gun violence, guns, anti sex work sentiment, slut shaming, slut shaming, violence,
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pedophilia
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Pedophilia