Scan barcode
edievdo's review against another edition
1.0
I normally give all books a chance, especially those from the fantasy genre, but I couldn’t even make it past chapter 3 in this book. The characters had no appeal, the magic system was weird, (the main characters are fashion mages.. really?) and the storyline was not interesting and seemed convoluted. Just didn’t seem worth it to try to see it to the end.
nyxieangel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kevinscorner's review against another edition
3.5
Innate Magic is a queer historical fantasy set in an alternate 1950s post-war London. It follows Paul Gallagher, a newly trained cloth mage with a secret illegal power.
I enjoyed Innate Magic, but this is indeed a strange book. It tells two separate stories that are entirely unrelated and do not intertwine at all—they are just happening at the same time to the same person.
Paul is bisexual, quippy, and doesn’t know when to shut up. I quite liked his personality and voice, but the way he is written makes him come across as a really shitty friend and also a promiscuous flighty man that is oddly religious. Now that’s another thing that’s strange about the book—the weird fixation on Christianity. There are so many (what I felt like) unnecessary insertions of religion that it makes me think the author is likely Christian and is weirdly using this book to proselytize (somewhat inappropriately). The book also touches on a few issues about class, race and sexuality, but never really goes too far into them.
The characters, wit, and banter are what made me like Innate Magic, but the structure still needs some work.
I enjoyed Innate Magic, but this is indeed a strange book. It tells two separate stories that are entirely unrelated and do not intertwine at all—they are just happening at the same time to the same person.
Paul is bisexual, quippy, and doesn’t know when to shut up. I quite liked his personality and voice, but the way he is written makes him come across as a really shitty friend and also a promiscuous flighty man that is oddly religious. Now that’s another thing that’s strange about the book—the weird fixation on Christianity. There are so many (what I felt like) unnecessary insertions of religion that it makes me think the author is likely Christian and is weirdly using this book to proselytize (somewhat inappropriately). The book also touches on a few issues about class, race and sexuality, but never really goes too far into them.
The characters, wit, and banter are what made me like Innate Magic, but the structure still needs some work.
saidahgilbert's review against another edition
3.0
The story was different from what the synopsis lead me to believe but it was still interesting to read. However, I am not going to continue the series. The magic system was too gory for me.
lorelrea's review against another edition
3.0
I’m just disappointed by this one. The ended was a total disaster. The plot and pacing were a mess. There were so many plot holes that I just could not get over. But it felt so unfortunate because the idea of this world and this magic is so interesting. All the God talk had me rolling my eyes. I’m not sure how I feel about the bisexual rep. I get what other people say about it being poor rep, but I thought Paul’s lust went with who he was as a character that was constantly seeking love. Idk, I’d be interested to talk more about that!
Overall, I won’t be picking up anymore from this series.
Overall, I won’t be picking up anymore from this series.
leeve_me_alone3217's review against another edition
i’m so torn up over the fact that i didn’t like this book. idk why, but it just wasn’t sparking joy.
las2912's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
maevebillings's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gillothen's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Oh dear. I stuck this out to the end, but I'm really not sure why. The author chose to set the story in a "reimagined" fifties London, but showed very little awareness of the period or culture - it was full of things that just weren't there in 50s Britain - telephone calls to a not very affluent Liverpudlian family, for example. A "Candy Store". There were also egregious mistakes - two characters meet at Marylebone Station, one planning to travel to Liverpool, the other to Dereham in East Anglia. Just no.
A really good story can make one overlook such bloopers. This did not succeed in doing so. I didn't really come to care about any of the characters and found myself constantly jolted out of the story - "Aces" as an all-purpose exclamation of approval, for example, or constant ham-fisted references to class which did little more than show the author didn't really have a clue. I wouldn't recommend this to any British reader.
A really good story can make one overlook such bloopers. This did not succeed in doing so. I didn't really come to care about any of the characters and found myself constantly jolted out of the story - "Aces" as an all-purpose exclamation of approval, for example, or constant ham-fisted references to class which did little more than show the author didn't really have a clue. I wouldn't recommend this to any British reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Physical abuse, Torture, Vomit, Child abuse, Cursing, and Murder