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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
funny
hopeful
Ugh this book. I was reading it so long that I keep reaching for it only to remember that I finished it! It was a good book, but not perfect. However, it didn't do the typical Diane Duane Weird Philosophical Ending That I'm too Stupid on Unlearned in Religious Things to Understand (TM) thing this time, which I swear is the first time since the first book, and I am Soooooo Soooo grateful for that!
I loved the premise of this book and how it was a light-hearted, very character driven read. The world Duane has set up for Young Wizards is awesome and I want more, even after 10 books, many of which I was only 'meh' about for the above reason. Yet it'll be at least a year, likely 2 or 3 before that happens. The characters are great in this series and I love that certain favourite characters come back for more screen time. Also Duane does a great job of making me want to know more about what is going on and what will happen next.
That all being said, there were some issues I had with the book. For starters, it needed some editing. I love long books and this one was great, but there were many cases were it was Nita going around talking to someone. Then someone else. Then another person. Rinse and repeat. Some of that was interesting and I could see it was trying to set up some stuff but it really needed to be pared down.
Also, while I love the characters in this, many of them seemed to have different personalities. I know it's hard to have been writing a series for literal decades and through what they have been through to keep things constant, and let characters grow, but all of a sudden many of the characters became super judgemental and started using different slang. Then there is the fact that the book and the characters are suddenly all about romance and dating and mentions of sex. None of this is bad, but Nita goes from 100% not thinking about any of that to suddenly it's all over the place. Sure its part of growing up but it just takes over the novel and is very eye-rolly. And while it's hard to pinpoint ages since there have been adjustments over time, I have a feeling they are like 14/15 right now and taking everything way to serious for that age. Part of what could have/should have been edited was these sections of endless romance talk. Finally, I do love the ace representation but it went down really weirdly to the point it almost read as lip service. And it was also not the character I expected based on all the history in the book.
Finally, I LOVED that one scene, the one between Kit and Penn that you will know if you have read the book. It was so cool and interesting, though I really hated what caused it to happen; it was eye-roll worthy and cliche.
4/5 stars, would recommend and will continue on with the series.
I loved the premise of this book and how it was a light-hearted, very character driven read. The world Duane has set up for Young Wizards is awesome and I want more, even after 10 books, many of which I was only 'meh' about for the above reason. Yet it'll be at least a year, likely 2 or 3 before that happens. The characters are great in this series and I love that certain favourite characters come back for more screen time. Also Duane does a great job of making me want to know more about what is going on and what will happen next.
That all being said, there were some issues I had with the book. For starters, it needed some editing. I love long books and this one was great, but there were many cases were it was Nita going around talking to someone. Then someone else. Then another person. Rinse and repeat. Some of that was interesting and I could see it was trying to set up some stuff but it really needed to be pared down.
Also, while I love the characters in this, many of them seemed to have different personalities. I know it's hard to have been writing a series for literal decades and through what they have been through to keep things constant, and let characters grow, but all of a sudden many of the characters became super judgemental and started using different slang. Then there is the fact that the book and the characters are suddenly all about romance and dating and mentions of sex. None of this is bad, but Nita goes from 100% not thinking about any of that to suddenly it's all over the place. Sure its part of growing up but it just takes over the novel and is very eye-rolly. And while it's hard to pinpoint ages since there have been adjustments over time, I have a feeling they are like 14/15 right now and taking everything way to serious for that age. Part of what could have/should have been edited was these sections of endless romance talk. Finally, I do love the ace representation but it went down really weirdly to the point it almost read as lip service. And it was also not the character I expected based on all the history in the book.
Finally, I LOVED that one scene, the one between Kit and Penn that you will know if you have read the book. It was so cool and interesting, though I really hated what caused it to happen; it was eye-roll worthy and cliche.
4/5 stars, would recommend and will continue on with the series.
(I really wanted to tag this with "sex", but wasn't sure it would successfully come off as tongue-in-cheek and wow that sentence was double entendre-y)
One day there are going to be no more Young Wizards books and I am going to cry, but this is not that day. Our children are finally growing up.
One day there are going to be no more Young Wizards books and I am going to cry, but this is not that day. Our children are finally growing up.
Diane Duane's tenth young wizards novel, Games Wizards Play, is just as wonderful as the earlier books (and shorter pieces) in the series. Yes, I am a huge fan.
On the surface, it's a step back from the high-stakes save the universe stories in many of the earlier books. This time around, the mission for Nita, Kit, Dairine and her wizard-computer Spot is hardly the stuff of life or death: they are mentoring young wizards competing in the Invitational - a "science fair" held every 11 years where wizards with a flair for creating new spells present their work for judging, with the prize being a year's apprenticeship with Earth's Planetary wizard.
But of course it's more than that. The novel is full of encounters, coincidences, and prophetic dreams that warn us to read carefully, because what is happening around this seemingly low-risk assignment will have an affect on whatever is coming. Some plot-threads from earlier books are happily furthered, or resolved, as well.
And it's also a treat for fans, because we get to see wizards - lots of wizards - interacting, and we learn a lot about how wizardly society works around the world.
Lots of fun for long-time fans, probably not a book for a new reader to start with.
On the surface, it's a step back from the high-stakes save the universe stories in many of the earlier books. This time around, the mission for Nita, Kit, Dairine and her wizard-computer Spot is hardly the stuff of life or death: they are mentoring young wizards competing in the Invitational - a "science fair" held every 11 years where wizards with a flair for creating new spells present their work for judging, with the prize being a year's apprenticeship with Earth's Planetary wizard.
But of course it's more than that. The novel is full of encounters, coincidences, and prophetic dreams that warn us to read carefully, because what is happening around this seemingly low-risk assignment will have an affect on whatever is coming. Some plot-threads from earlier books are happily furthered, or resolved, as well.
And it's also a treat for fans, because we get to see wizards - lots of wizards - interacting, and we learn a lot about how wizardly society works around the world.
Lots of fun for long-time fans, probably not a book for a new reader to start with.
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Grief
Really, if you've read this far into the series, how could you not automatically pick up Book 10?
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Perhaps not my personal favorite of the series, it still gave me another great experience into this world where magic pairs seamlessly with science and the power of youth and imagination are nearly limitless. Now I'm itching to reread the whole series, just to stay in this world a little longer. Oh, and I agree, Pluto will always be a planet to me.
Approximate Reading Time: 10 Hours
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Perhaps not my personal favorite of the series, it still gave me another great experience into this world where magic pairs seamlessly with science and the power of youth and imagination are nearly limitless. Now I'm itching to reread the whole series, just to stay in this world a little longer. Oh, and I agree, Pluto will always be a planet to me.
Approximate Reading Time: 10 Hours
Waited six years, finished in two days. It was worth it.
I am happy for so many different reasons right now.
More more more, Diane Duane.
I am happy for so many different reasons right now.
More more more, Diane Duane.
So good. Emotionally, imaginatively, narratively very very good latest installment in the Young Wizards. I really love seeing how the characters have grown over time, shaped by events of previous stories, in relationship to each other, to their powers, to past triumphs and heartbreaks. Want to reread the whole series, this book inclusive, immediately.
Also: having finished this, I need a pint, and a hug.
Ancillary: Diane Duane is lovely on Twitter, and patient with a fan live-tweeting bits of the story while reading.
Also: having finished this, I need a pint, and a hug.
Ancillary: Diane Duane is lovely on Twitter, and patient with a fan live-tweeting bits of the story while reading.