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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
This was so incredibly good as a tie up of everything, with everyone we know and love.
Another YW reader described how much they loved the series' approach to wizardry as, essentially, programming - from tweaking a single line of code to make a webpage a different color all the way to constructing an operating system from the ground up. This installment goes even further in that analogy, with legacy code and cranky sysadmins (the sark troubleshooter!) and programs that exist as a whole single-shot piece versus those made up from hacked-together halfassed whatever and held together with patches and duct tape. Not to mention backwards compatibility issues.
And god, this was so much fun. And not just because Neets finally got Kit to shut up. Although my burnt-out cinder of a heart liquefied just a little during those parts. Crazy kids have been developing chemistry for over three decades!
[a:Diane Duane|11761|Diane Duane|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1285664395p2/11761.jpg]'s highly active, extraordinarily broad Internet presence also makes itself known here, which is always a joy. (Hi, dduane!)
2021 reread: what got me this time is how beautifully and lovingly relationships of all kinds are depicted.
And god, this was so much fun. And not just because Neets finally got Kit to shut up. Although my burnt-out cinder of a heart liquefied just a little during those parts. Crazy kids have been developing chemistry for over three decades!
[a:Diane Duane|11761|Diane Duane|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1285664395p2/11761.jpg]'s highly active, extraordinarily broad Internet presence also makes itself known here, which is always a joy. (Hi, dduane!)
2021 reread: what got me this time is how beautifully and lovingly relationships of all kinds are depicted.
Enjoyable story. The competition aspect was pretty cool and very different from other books in the series. It didn't really have a direct bad guy in this situation.
Since Kit and Nita are officially going out now, their relationship is brought up by both of them and discussed in more detail than I really had interest for. Really, sexuality was a subject that had more coverage in general than I really was interested in hearing about.
Otherwise, a really fun story, and I am looking forward to the next book to come out.
Since Kit and Nita are officially going out now, their relationship is brought up by both of them and discussed in more detail than I really had interest for. Really, sexuality was a subject that had more coverage in general than I really was interested in hearing about.
Otherwise, a really fun story, and I am looking forward to the next book to come out.
Probably more like 4 stars for non-fans, but come on! If your reading book 10 you're a fan. Enjoyable and , as always, thought provoking on many levels.
Honestly, I felt this was probable Duane's weakest work of the series. She started with a solid premise, but strayed too often into unnecessary thoughts and talks on sexuality that didn't seem to fit the rest of the book. After spending 9 books with Kit and Nita, it felt like a disservice to Nita to spend so much time in her thoughts where not only was she telling herself to get her crap together, but was so shocked at never having thought of other character's romantic orientations or status. I get that it is something new, and I wasn't bothered when it started as it did make sense in small amounts, but by the time she got to asking about how planets express sexuality, I was finished with it.
Dairine and Mirnaz (I listened to this so don't know how her name is spelled) had the most interesting story and character development. I really enjoyed their parts and it was a refreshing reprieve from the rest. My only regret here is after all that build up, Mirnaz didn't feel like she got the attention she deserved in the end.
I had a hard time getting through parts of this book, but others did really shine, so it is a very mixed 3 rating I give it.
Dairine and Mirnaz (I listened to this so don't know how her name is spelled) had the most interesting story and character development. I really enjoyed their parts and it was a refreshing reprieve from the rest. My only regret here is after all that build up, Mirnaz didn't feel like she got the attention she deserved in the end.
I had a hard time getting through parts of this book, but others did really shine, so it is a very mixed 3 rating I give it.
Games Wizards Play is the tenth book in the Young Wizards series, which starts with So You Want to Be a Wizard. I generally really like this series, but I think this installment has structural issues. If I had to guess, I’d say that a lot of Games Wizards Play is setting up for a future book.
Games Wizards Play centers around the Invitational, a planet wide event where young wizards compete in what’s essentially a magical science fair. Nita, Kit, and Dairine are all invited to be mentors to students in the competition. Nita and Kit are given Penn Shao-Feng, who’s working on a solar spell and who’s also a complete jerk. Dairine is assigned Mehrnaz Farrahi, a shy fourteen year old Iranian girl with a plan to stop earthquakes in their tracks and a whole heap of problems from her wizardly family. The book shifts between the perspectives of Nita, Kit, and Dairine.
My largest problem with Games Wizards Play is that it felt anti-climatic. There were essentially four sources of tension in the book: Nita and Kit dealing with that sexist jerk Penn, Dairine trying to figure out what was going on with Mehrnaz, Nita having creepy prophetic dreams, and this underlying thread of awkwardness and confusion about the change in Nita and Kit’s relationship status. None of them were pulled off in an entirely satisfactory manner, although the Mehrnaz subplot came the closest. The resolution to the Penn plot line was definitely unsatisfactory, and I don’t feel like he had the character growth I was expecting or really saw any sort of consequences for his behavior.
It felt like Games Wizards Play was relying on the prophetic dreams for a large source of its tension, but I don’t think they actually had anything to do with the climax (or if they did, I don’t get how). This is what makes me think that it’s setting up for a future book.
Something else that might play into the “future book” syndrome is that there were a number of newer characters who were being treated like something the readers should care about when we’re not actually given any reason to care about them. Foremost among these is Lissa who had a number of bit scenes but didn’t really do anything. It’s possible that the scene were she tells Nita she’s asexual might have been part of some greater theme Duane was working with in regards to the whole Nita/Kit thing? It’s hard for me to tell – full confession, I didn’t want them to become girlfriend/boyfriend. Also, when I heard there was going to be an asexual character, I was sort of assuming that they’d be relevant to the book? What I got was way less exciting. Anyway, I saw Duane say on tumblr that Lissa would be important “later” so I’m guessing that was the primary reason for her inclusion. It’s possible that I will like her once she becomes plot relevant.
Given that I spent the last three paragraphs talking about everything I didn’t like about the book, I should point out that I still enjoyed reading it, despite my problems with the ending. I still love all the central characters, there some humorous moments, and the magic remains inventive. I ended up reading this six hundred page book in less than twenty-four hours.
While I can’t shake the feeling that Games Wizards Play is set up for things to come, I am glad that I read it.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
Games Wizards Play centers around the Invitational, a planet wide event where young wizards compete in what’s essentially a magical science fair. Nita, Kit, and Dairine are all invited to be mentors to students in the competition. Nita and Kit are given Penn Shao-Feng, who’s working on a solar spell and who’s also a complete jerk. Dairine is assigned Mehrnaz Farrahi, a shy fourteen year old Iranian girl with a plan to stop earthquakes in their tracks and a whole heap of problems from her wizardly family. The book shifts between the perspectives of Nita, Kit, and Dairine.
My largest problem with Games Wizards Play is that it felt anti-climatic. There were essentially four sources of tension in the book: Nita and Kit dealing with that sexist jerk Penn, Dairine trying to figure out what was going on with Mehrnaz, Nita having creepy prophetic dreams, and this underlying thread of awkwardness and confusion about the change in Nita and Kit’s relationship status. None of them were pulled off in an entirely satisfactory manner, although the Mehrnaz subplot came the closest. The resolution to the Penn plot line was definitely unsatisfactory, and I don’t feel like he had the character growth I was expecting or really saw any sort of consequences for his behavior.
It felt like Games Wizards Play was relying on the prophetic dreams for a large source of its tension, but I don’t think they actually had anything to do with the climax (or if they did, I don’t get how). This is what makes me think that it’s setting up for a future book.
Something else that might play into the “future book” syndrome is that there were a number of newer characters who were being treated like something the readers should care about when we’re not actually given any reason to care about them. Foremost among these is Lissa who had a number of bit scenes but didn’t really do anything. It’s possible that the scene were she tells Nita she’s asexual might have been part of some greater theme Duane was working with in regards to the whole Nita/Kit thing? It’s hard for me to tell – full confession, I didn’t want them to become girlfriend/boyfriend. Also, when I heard there was going to be an asexual character, I was sort of assuming that they’d be relevant to the book? What I got was way less exciting. Anyway, I saw Duane say on tumblr that Lissa would be important “later” so I’m guessing that was the primary reason for her inclusion. It’s possible that I will like her once she becomes plot relevant.
Given that I spent the last three paragraphs talking about everything I didn’t like about the book, I should point out that I still enjoyed reading it, despite my problems with the ending. I still love all the central characters, there some humorous moments, and the magic remains inventive. I ended up reading this six hundred page book in less than twenty-four hours.
While I can’t shake the feeling that Games Wizards Play is set up for things to come, I am glad that I read it.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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
EDIT: Yay an expected release date! February 2nd 2016?!?!??!
*breathe*
*breathe*
I mean, what's a year?! IT'S ONLY A YEAR!
Original:
I wish she didn't take FOREVER to come out with each new book. Honestly, it's painful to wait. And I never want to read all the books over again until I know when the next books is coming out. That would be absolutely wonderful to have a release date. Really. Please.
*breathe*
*breathe*
I mean, what's a year?! IT'S ONLY A YEAR!
Original:
I wish she didn't take FOREVER to come out with each new book. Honestly, it's painful to wait. And I never want to read all the books over again until I know when the next books is coming out. That would be absolutely wonderful to have a release date. Really. Please.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated