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roseleebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is a story that follows teenage twins Clem and Chris, whose family has a history of power and loss related to their inherited magic and former leadership on the Generational magic council. Their search for answers about the death of their father leads to a much bigger mystery than they were prepared for.
The book reads like a detective story and there are a lot of elements built around the magic system and politics related to the council. It is fast paced but the way each new piece of information is revealed makes sense and helps to move the story along without feeling contrived. I thought the characters actions were logical for them as teenagers who are trying to solve a mystery while also navigating their lives as 16-year-olds.
I really enjoyed the writing, it feels like it would translate well to television or film because of the focus on events and plot. There is resolution at the end, but definitely some setup for the next book.
Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Bullying, Racism, and Sexual content
chilivanilli28's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Racism
kstacy91'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Homophobia, and Racism
mallorypen'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
3.75
Racism and classism were also main characters in this novel, and the concept of Gen magic fit into the "real world" aspects of the story in a way that didn't at all feel forced or awkward. If magic did exist, I could believe wholeheartedly that this was how magic came to be, and that this is how it is practiced, demonized, and regulated.
Other things I really enjoyed:
- The duality of the gods and how magic could be good or evil - and that even when gods became personally invested,
like Papa Eshu backing Marie, they still have their own agendas. - Chris' story arc away from and back to magic - especially being a badass in her first act back to magic
- The relationship between Clem and Chris as twins
My main qualm with the book was the cast of characters got to be a lot to keep straight; recognizing this is book one of three - and that characters who played smaller roles in this story may have different roles to play later - I still got confused on who was who, and which characters did what as the twins unraveled the mystery of who tried to kill their mother, and ultimately, who set their family up to take the fall for a murder. It also made some of the relationships a little hard to believe - Ursula is meant to have a special connection with Clem, and yet there's so much other stuff from other people happening in between their scenes and Clem's thoughts about her, it doesn't show as entirely as consuming as the characters tell us it is.
I also wanted the pacing to be a little tighter:
- fewer characters and less of the added POVs would have helped with my perception of how the story lagged in some places.
- I get leery of instalove, and though I thought Ives and Clem's relationship was VERY cute and sweet, it got strong WAY fast - I wanted more development in some places, like with their courtship.
- The ending - after allllll that build up - was abrupt. Again, acknowledging this is the start of a series, but the loose ends didn't really feel like "ooh, read on!" cliffhangers
besides the moon god arc and of course, WHATEVER IS GONNA HAPPEN WITH IVEEEEEEES
All told, I enjoyed this novel, but I don't think I'm going to continue the series.
Moderate: Racism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
abookdork'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
4.75
Graphic: Racism, Murder, Hate crime, and Violence
librarybookscene's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Abandonment, Mental illness, Homophobia, Grief, and Bullying
Moderate: Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, and Bullying
thissagreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Racism and Violence
Moderate: Car accident
sarahmayerwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Racism and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
melody_travers'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
4.5
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Grief, Gore, Body horror, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
ashylibrarian'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
3.0
- Intergenerational, family magic; dark and light
- Attacking white supremacy
- DRAMA and, of course, blood debts
- Sometimes the story felt a bit heavy, but overall, the story was engaging and powerful
*Representation
- LGBTQIA+
- Gay
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Car accident, and Gun violence