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sandonat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
Slow start which then made the end feel rushed. Really liked the guys relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, and Gaslighting
manaledi's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
I almost put this book down when the beginning was slow but it really grew on me. I mean magic books! But also the characters and the mysteries were well done
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Confinement, Gun violence, Medical content, and Kidnapping
thoughtsontomes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
For a book about magical books, I found this so unique while still grounded in some sense of stories that I’ve heard before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Torture and Body horror
shubka's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
A wonderful story of family, queer love, friendship,& adventure glued together with magic! A perfect book for any bibliophile!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death of parent
Moderate: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Toxic relationship
mabechel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Grief, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment
alexgo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book starts off slow, but don’t let that stop you. I tore through the last half the fastest I’ve ever read. Some of my favorite parts are the flaws in characters’ logic and failures to recognize patterns that frustrated me, reminding me that the reader sees more than any individual character can. This book is an excellent mystery, and includes rosebuds of romance without sidelining the plot or causing a toothache, including a very realistic queer tirade. The world building in pieces and parts from different perspectives causes the start to seem slow, but many details of the build up get a later callback. I was especially taken by the descriptions of how spells physically impact the body of the reader, the writer, and the spelled. An absolute delight I will gladly recommend to all of my fantasy lovers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment and Body horror
Deaths are somewhat gruesome, but not in an excessive way. The queer storyline includes a sort of suspiciousness that is common in many relationships, not just where magic is concerned.clairelisebella's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Abandonment, Body horror, Confinement, and Gaslighting
gnarly_cinnamonroll's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The plot of this is beautiful and the premise of magical books is fantastic. The complex family dynamics felt real- the sisters navigating the strain of what their parents imparted with them creates a tense atmosphere where you question what the sisters know as well as how their emotions will impact their choices.
Pearl & Esther’s relationship is refreshing and opening with queer characters is fantastic and heart warming.I could have done without Collins & Joanna’s relationship at the end of the book. It felt rushed to me and I would have loved more build up between the two. Similarly, I wish that there had been deeper nuance and consequence to Esther’s decision to leave Antarctica
I think overall there should have been more consequences for the characters as they go through the book.I feel as though none of them had any real repercussions to the decisions they made. The author did a could job creating a consistent tense/mysterious atmosphere that left me invested even though nothing negative ultimately happens to any of the characters. Towards the end of the novel I feel like the individual perspectives homogenized and the unique character voice was lost.
I really enjoyed all the characters in the book, but I feel like all of them had limited character growth- except perhaps Nicholas. There were some cool plot twists in the book as well.
Pearl & Esther’s relationship is refreshing and opening with queer characters is fantastic and heart warming.
I think overall there should have been more consequences for the characters as they go through the book.
I really enjoyed all the characters in the book, but I feel like all of them had limited character growth- except perhaps Nicholas. There were some cool plot twists in the book as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Child abuse
wordsmithreads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Blood
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
Minor: Colonisation, Classism, Xenophobia, and Genocide
fronk10's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
A fantastic magical thriller that I couldn’t put down! More twists and turns than a twisty turny thing, and it all came together so beautifully at the end. Despite all that, it’s also a cozy story about family and connection. Delightful!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, and Death of parent