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carmineslamp's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's a perfect book, I'd give it the full 5 but it'd not on the same level as other books I'd consider a full 5. I mostly re-read this because I watched the movie and they fr gave it the PJO movies treatment. Aggie is so girlboss. Tedros is so malewife. Sophie is so gaslight.
If you're coming here expecting this to be like the movie, turn back around and find another book :D!
Ok, so there's a lot of misogyny (the Evergirls focused on beauty and being failed if they didn't adhere to the strict gender norms of finding a prince or whatever, Evergirls failed if they aren't asked to the Ball, but Everboys only getting half marks, etc) but I thought it was on purpose in the way that it was being condemned?? Like "ah, look at the juxtaposition of Good being so vain" as if to demonstrate how gray the whole nature of morality is! Which is why the scenes of Evers and Nevers trying to mingle (during the Trial by Tale, during that final battle) is so profound!
If you're coming here expecting this to be like the movie, turn back around and find another book :D!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Death, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Gaslighting, Bullying, and Body shaming
hayleyvem's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Gaslighting, Body shaming, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Violence, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic friendship, Blood, Death, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Torture, Child death, and Confinement
Minor: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Homophobia, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, and Lesbophobia
xandra_lyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Did I end up liking this book? Yes.
Did I start off liking it? Absolutely not.
The first half is rough. There are interesting aspects, but it just took too long to get to the point. It's also kinda crass at points. About half way through, it picks up and I could not put it down.
And then. And then!!!
It ends on a cliff hanger. Super obnoxious.
But yes, I will be reading the second book.
Did I start off liking it? Absolutely not.
The first half is rough. There are interesting aspects, but it just took too long to get to the point. It's also kinda crass at points. About half way through, it picks up and I could not put it down.
And then. And then!!!
It ends on a cliff hanger. Super obnoxious.
But yes, I will be reading the second book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Violence, and Torture
Violence is vague, but I can't describe all of it because there's too much. There are several deaths in it. Torture: nothing explicitly described, but talk about hearing people scream from the doom room a lot.ninahuynh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I can't help but rate this book 4.75 stars! This is technically a reread, as I have read it once during middle school. Now as an adult, I can see the appeal of the book to my middle school self and still do enjoy the book. There are moments when the characters get on my nerves, but I have to remember that they are children and trained to think in certain ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Animal death, Blood, Death, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death of parent and Fatphobia
flyintothestorm's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm going to read the second one too, because I don't know if the book was really plain and predictable and trying to do some things that it didn't achieve or if it gave me that impression because I knew more or less the plot of the movie and it was setting things up for the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Child death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Death of parent
lri_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Death
thecourtofreading's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this has always been a childhood favourite of mine; i remember being obsessed with this world and the characters, and now the movie is out on netflix i decided to reread ... as an 18 year old. and i'm still absolutely bewitched by it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Child death, and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death
Minor: Misogyny, Blood, and Death of parent
ashlightgrayson's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
- 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
5.0
I enjoyed reading this book more than I expected to. I have not read a middle grade novel in a long time and I was not sure if I was going to be able to smoothly dive back into books of that demographic. This experience was quite delightful. The plot at first seems very simple and the characters seem a bit one dimensional. However, as the story continues there are deeper themes that are explored well.
The story strongly focuses on the friendship between Agatha and Sophie. The girls are starkly different from each other and their goals and wishes also oppose each other throughout the plot. When Agatha is transported to the School for Good and Sophie is taken to the School for Evil, both of them believe that their positions have been switched. As you get to know Sophie and Agatha's inner thoughts, though, this placement starts to seem more and more appropriate.
Sophie is very spoiled and vain from the beginning and her actions are motivated strongly by self interest. There were moments in the story where it felt like Agatha was the one who clearly cared more about preserving their friendship and Sophie's well being without that sentiment being reciprocated.
Tedros fills the role of the stereotypical love interest. There are tropes that are leaned into very strongly in the world. However, in the same vein all the tropes you would expect from fairy tales are inverted. I absolutely loved the ending. If you only wanted to read this book and not continue the rest of the series you totally can. The ending is conclusive enough that you are able to do that. Although, I found it open ended enough that it piqued my interest and I am excited to continue exploring this world and these characters.
The story strongly focuses on the friendship between Agatha and Sophie. The girls are starkly different from each other and their goals and wishes also oppose each other throughout the plot. When Agatha is transported to the School for Good and Sophie is taken to the School for Evil, both of them believe that their positions have been switched. As you get to know Sophie and Agatha's inner thoughts, though, this placement starts to seem more and more appropriate.
Sophie is very spoiled and vain from the beginning and her actions are motivated strongly by self interest. There were moments in the story where it felt like Agatha was the one who clearly cared more about preserving their friendship and Sophie's well being without that sentiment being reciprocated.
Tedros fills the role of the stereotypical love interest. There are tropes that are leaned into very strongly in the world. However, in the same vein all the tropes you would expect from fairy tales are inverted. I absolutely loved the ending. If you only wanted to read this book and not continue the rest of the series you totally can. The ending is conclusive enough that you are able to do that. Although, I found it open ended enough that it piqued my interest and I am excited to continue exploring this world and these characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Slavery
hope_sky321's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
calamitywindpetal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Murder, Misogyny, and Blood
Minor: Death and Death of parent