Scan barcode
xandra_lyn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I think this was my favorite one so far!!
ronjaslibrary's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
5.0
nfry42's review
5.0
The third installment in the “Tales of Mundane Magic” series is a treat! Fans of RPGs such as Dungeons and Dragons will get a kick out of the storytelling style. I felt like I was part of a D&D campaign with my friends while reading! The RPG style gave the book a fresh perspective while still tying in beautifully with the other books in the series.
One of the highlights of the series as a whole is all different ways that magic is incorporated into a world so similar to ours. This aspect of the series really shines in Volume 3! It’s fun to see how magic makes life easier in some ways, but also has unintended consequences. The world feels really grounded and realistic while still being whimsical.
Another highlight of this book was the character interactions. I loved seeing the characters we know and love from the first two books all together on a road trip. It was fun to see how they all worked together to solve problems, and all the silly character interactions on the road, especially between characters we haven’t seen interact much in previous books.
Finally, I loved the “after credits scenes” included at the end of the story. They gave fun insight into the characters of the world of mundane magic.
Overall, this book was a wonderful addition to the series. I would recommend this book to kids and adults alike!
One of the highlights of the series as a whole is all different ways that magic is incorporated into a world so similar to ours. This aspect of the series really shines in Volume 3! It’s fun to see how magic makes life easier in some ways, but also has unintended consequences. The world feels really grounded and realistic while still being whimsical.
Another highlight of this book was the character interactions. I loved seeing the characters we know and love from the first two books all together on a road trip. It was fun to see how they all worked together to solve problems, and all the silly character interactions on the road, especially between characters we haven’t seen interact much in previous books.
Finally, I loved the “after credits scenes” included at the end of the story. They gave fun insight into the characters of the world of mundane magic.
Overall, this book was a wonderful addition to the series. I would recommend this book to kids and adults alike!
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
*I received a free review copy in exchange for an honest review of this book.
Tales of Mundane Magic: Volume Three takes Gertie, Bridget, and their friends on a road trip, exploring even more fun magic stuff (plus some creepy things) as they deliver a very special macguffin. A little more grounded without taking things too seriously.
This book feels more mature than the previous volumes without it being jarring. It's less glib while still feeling very fun and adventurous. I know I previously said that Volume Two felt a bit more mature than Volume One, and I stand by that. I'm not sure whether Volume Three is more mature than both of them or if it just keeps the tone at the same level as Volume Two, but it happens so soon after Volume Two that either would be appropriate. The road trip setting is a nice way to make sure the series feels fresh after two volumes set at the same school, and it works wonderfully.
The macguffin is nice, it didn't feel like a plot contrivance while I was reading and it's only as I try to describe its role without spoiling what it is that I realize it was a macguffin at all (which is a good sign for how well it fits). I'm enjoying Vivien's continued presence in the series, I think she's my favorite. More generally I like how everyone has a very distinct expertise or style of magic. It builds an ensemble of characters without anyone feeling gimmicky. I like how Faye and Gertie have specializations which are tied to collections of enchanted objects (charms and hats, respectively), as a plot device it allows for problems to be exactly as solvable as they need to be since we don't know all of what they have, but they have a lot of them. I know that was true in the previous volume, but it Faye really gets a chance to shine here in the way that Gertie did in the first two books.
I like the trend of having one or two pretty creepy stories, but mostly in a fridge-logic kind of way. If you think about them, the implications are terrifying, but if you stay at the level of the main narrative they're not unduly stressful. There's a kind of shrugging, a "well I guess this is a thing to figure out" attitude that is part of why these books can feel so light even when some darker things happen. It's a confidence, that between them all they'll figure it out. One big shift from the previous books is that here's it's clear that they're aware of at least some of the consequences if they fail, whereas in Volume One I wasn't sure if they realized what it could mean if things didn't work out.
Overall this is a great addition to the series, it's nice to have this group share a (mostly positive) bonding experience after the rather tense events at the end of the last book. My favorite story in the main sequence was at the rink, and I'm very exited for future developments off of the bonus story with Theodore.
Tales of Mundane Magic: Volume Three takes Gertie, Bridget, and their friends on a road trip, exploring even more fun magic stuff (plus some creepy things) as they deliver a very special macguffin. A little more grounded without taking things too seriously.
This book feels more mature than the previous volumes without it being jarring. It's less glib while still feeling very fun and adventurous. I know I previously said that Volume Two felt a bit more mature than Volume One, and I stand by that. I'm not sure whether Volume Three is more mature than both of them or if it just keeps the tone at the same level as Volume Two, but it happens so soon after Volume Two that either would be appropriate. The road trip setting is a nice way to make sure the series feels fresh after two volumes set at the same school, and it works wonderfully.
The macguffin is nice, it didn't feel like a plot contrivance while I was reading and it's only as I try to describe its role without spoiling what it is that I realize it was a macguffin at all (which is a good sign for how well it fits). I'm enjoying Vivien's continued presence in the series, I think she's my favorite. More generally I like how everyone has a very distinct expertise or style of magic. It builds an ensemble of characters without anyone feeling gimmicky. I like how Faye and Gertie have specializations which are tied to collections of enchanted objects (charms and hats, respectively), as a plot device it allows for problems to be exactly as solvable as they need to be since we don't know all of what they have, but they have a lot of them. I know that was true in the previous volume, but it Faye really gets a chance to shine here in the way that Gertie did in the first two books.
I like the trend of having one or two pretty creepy stories, but mostly in a fridge-logic kind of way. If you think about them, the implications are terrifying, but if you stay at the level of the main narrative they're not unduly stressful. There's a kind of shrugging, a "well I guess this is a thing to figure out" attitude that is part of why these books can feel so light even when some darker things happen. It's a confidence, that between them all they'll figure it out. One big shift from the previous books is that here's it's clear that they're aware of at least some of the consequences if they fail, whereas in Volume One I wasn't sure if they realized what it could mean if things didn't work out.
Overall this is a great addition to the series, it's nice to have this group share a (mostly positive) bonding experience after the rather tense events at the end of the last book. My favorite story in the main sequence was at the rink, and I'm very exited for future developments off of the bonus story with Theodore.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence
CW for guns.anubis005's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
Don’t you hate when you’re on a road trip with the homies and a tornado chases your magical car? The correct answer is no, because that’s awesome, and so is Tales of Mundane Magic Volume 3. Volumes 1 and 2 gave the reader brief peeks into the world of the Mallon Sisters, but I really appreciated Volume 3 choosing to follow their entire road trip adventure. I’m always a sucker for good team dynamics, and the kids from Flories don’t disappoint. It’s great fun to watch them problem solve with each of their magical specialties. Additionally, as someone who never cared much for magic powers, seeing more of the modern uses of magic and how it blends with technology is definitely a huge plus. I also quite liked the darker tone of this volume. It ratchets up the intensity and stakes for the kids and never loses its momentum. All and all, a very fun and exciting read for all ages!
megc's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of the latest volume in Shaina Krevat's Tales of Mundane Magic series. If you're looking for a lighthearted, fun read about magical shenanigans, look no further! Having only read the first volume myself, I was worried initially about whether I would be able to enjoy this to the full extent. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that while the plot features characters from the previous two volumes, it's actually quite easy to follow along with the story with no prior knowledge of the series. The characters are very unique in their personalities and magical abilities, which makes it easy for the reader to keep track of who is who. The story is also not influenced by the plot of the previous two, as it focuses on the protagonists' road trip across unknown territory and the exciting encounters they have along the way.
Shaina excels at writing her characters and stories in a way that can get readers of any ages immersed and interested in the story. The writing style is fun and memorable, and even at my age I find the characters super relatable (“I don’t care how nice it is here, the Wi-Fi sucks” - what a mood!). The use of magic in a modern setting throughout the book never fails to delight, and Shaina finds some very creative uses for it throughout the plot. Personally, while this volume has made me very excited to receive Volume 2 in the mail, I think this will be my favorite in the series so far. Volume Three takes some risks by venturing into more serious scenarios and themes compared to the first two volumes, and the risks certainly pay off. Overall, Tales of Mundane Magic is anything but mundane, and Shaina does not disappoint in her newest entry. I cannot recommend it enough!
More...