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emily_mh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
THIS WAS INCREDIBLE!!! Definitely one of my favourite reads of this year so far. It was so enjoyable that I hated putting it down. I was so obsessed with the world Alston created; he made me desperately want a job at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs (specifically in the Department of Hidden Spaces)!! The pacing was impeccable. All the characters were fantastic, but I especially LOVED Amari as our main character and her narrative voice. I cannot wait to pick up the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Racism, and Classism
Minor: Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child death, Murder, Ableism, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Infidelity, Slavery, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Graphic warning for missing loved one. Moderate warning for imprisonment. Minor warnings for divorce, plane crash, mass death, explosion, loss of loved one.bexi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Racism, Classism, Confinement, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Blood, and Slavery
321zeggy's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Hate crime
maybhank's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
*4.5 Omg I love this book
The reason why I don't give it a 5-star is because I wasn't invested in the story until halfway through the book. The pacing was too slow for my taste at the beginning that it put me into a reading slump but pass the first half after the 1st tryout starts? I flew through it. There was a reveal about 25% into the book that I find it very predictable but I like that the author had foreshadowed it a few chapters earlier, so I just looked past it.
I also love Amari as a main character. Amari kinda reminds me of myself. Impatient and very hot temper lol But my favorite is definitely Elsie. She is the opposite of Amari. She's such a softie but she isn't a pushover. Sure, she lets Lara and other students talk shit about her and she never fights back but it's only because she knows they're not worth her time, not because she's scared of them. She's patient and willing to tolerate with things/people so she can get information to help Amari find her brother. She doesn't push Amari to tell her things because she trusts her friend. And in Act 3, she had her own hero's journey moment where she overcomes her fear. It was a really small scene but I squeaked out of excitement because I was so happy for her. I need an Elsie my life.
And like I said I started to get really into the story after the tryout started because all of the challenges are so much fun, especially the last one. That was my favorite.
Also the plot twist at the end. Damn it, man. This kind of shit gets me everytime. Everytime books have a plot twist like this, I never see it coming. I wanted to scream because it reminds me so much of one fantasy book I like that broke my fucking heart with its plot twist. I was like nooooooooooooo
Thankfully my heart was put back together by the ending. It was so wholesome and it melts my cold fucking heart. I will definitely continue the series!
The reason why I don't give it a 5-star is because I wasn't invested in the story until halfway through the book. The pacing was too slow for my taste at the beginning that it put me into a reading slump but pass the first half after the 1st tryout starts? I flew through it. There was a reveal about 25% into the book that I find it very predictable but I like that the author had foreshadowed it a few chapters earlier, so I just looked past it.
I also love Amari as a main character. Amari kinda reminds me of myself. Impatient and very hot temper lol But my favorite is definitely Elsie. She is the opposite of Amari. She's such a softie but she isn't a pushover. Sure, she lets Lara and other students talk shit about her and she never fights back but it's only because she knows they're not worth her time, not because she's scared of them. She's patient and willing to tolerate with things/people so she can get information to help Amari find her brother. She doesn't push Amari to tell her things because she trusts her friend. And in Act 3, she had her own hero's journey moment where she overcomes her fear. It was a really small scene but I squeaked out of excitement because I was so happy for her. I need an Elsie my life.
And like I said I started to get really into the story after the tryout started because all of the challenges are so much fun, especially the last one. That was my favorite.
Also the plot twist at the end. Damn it, man. This kind of shit gets me everytime. Everytime books have a plot twist like this, I never see it coming. I wanted to scream because it reminds me so much of one fantasy book I like that broke my fucking heart with its plot twist. I was like nooooooooooooo
Thankfully my heart was put back together by the ending. It was so wholesome and it melts my cold fucking heart. I will definitely continue the series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
Minor: Death of parent
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