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erni's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
capyval's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Excellent characters, interesting plot, and the correct amount of fantasy in an historical set.
Perhaps it is important to check the trigger warnings before reading this book, although know that there's no homophobia included, which I agree with the author, was the correct choice for this story.
Perhaps it is important to check the trigger warnings before reading this book, although know that there's no homophobia included, which I agree with the author, was the correct choice for this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Misogyny and Racism
spacey_ghost's review against another edition
Really tried my best to sit through and still had to put this down. I don't know why this was such a hard read for me but I just couldn't seem to care about anything going on, even when one of the characters has the whole "actual magic and has been kidnapped" thing going on
tori1771's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Vomit, and Kidnapping
bug_lightyear's review
Stopped reading at 68% (took me 23 hours at 70% speed)
I enjoyed the budding romance between magician assistants but couldn't stand the child abuse anymore.
Interesting side character, the "sister" of one of the narrators, is a disabled girl using a cane to walk and is an engineer.
Best friend of the narrator is a black lesbian woman.
I enjoyed the budding romance between magician assistants but couldn't stand the child abuse anymore.
Interesting side character, the "sister" of one of the narrators, is a disabled girl using a cane to walk and is an engineer.
Best friend of the narrator is a black lesbian woman.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
ildze's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
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? No
4.0
pantsreads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
A very entertaining look into the world behind the (illusionist) curtains, with an added bit of actual magic.
Check out my full review of Forever Young Adult.
A very entertaining look into the world behind the (illusionist) curtains, with an added bit of actual magic.
Check out my full review of Forever Young Adult.
jennifergallo's review
3.0
Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson
A queer historical fantasy romance about two star-crossed assistants of two well-known magicians who fall in love amidst a bitter & dangerous rivalry that threatens to tear them apart. Jack and Wilhelm have an instant connection, and as the rivalry between the magicians intensifies, so does Jack and Wilhelm’s love.
Jack is an assistant to the Enchantress, one of the most well-known stage magicians at Seattle’s 1908 Alaska–Yukon–Pacific World’s Fair Exposition. Wilhelm - a boy that can seemingly perform real magic -- is assistant to Laszlo, The Enchantress' rival magician at the expo. Laszlo's tricks outshine the Enchantress with his otherworldly illusions that defy logic & the imagination.
Wilhelm and Jack are navigating new love and toxic relationships. Both are members of abusive households. Not only are they struggling to escape their abusive parental relationships but they must also learn to love themselves and each other.
A standalone tale about the magic of first love. I recommend this book to those seeking out queer representation and romance. This is the first novel I have read by the author but I will definitely be reading more.
Check out Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson and be sure to get this queer historical fantasy romance wherever you buy books!
✦ Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/3tRa81J
✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/3Ev2Bud
✦ Apple ➜ https://apple.co/3hJvc5u
✦ Google ➜ https://bit.ly/3tTlYYX
✦ Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/3CuFFJE
✦ Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/3lCvfkG
TAGS: fiction, romance, historical romance, LGBTQIA, gay, queer, mm romance, young adult romance, first love
MY RATING: 3.5/5 stars
MY RATING SYSTEM:
1 star = I don't recommend the book
2 stars = I would not read the book again
3 stars = I enjoyed the book
4 stars = I liked the book and would recommend to others
5 stars = Everyone should read the book; I would read the book again & again
*Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books & Shaun David Hutchinson for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #BeforeWeDisappear #NetGalley @NetGalley @HarperChildrens #HarperChildrens @harperkids #harperkids #ShaunDavidHutchinson @shauniedarko
A queer historical fantasy romance about two star-crossed assistants of two well-known magicians who fall in love amidst a bitter & dangerous rivalry that threatens to tear them apart. Jack and Wilhelm have an instant connection, and as the rivalry between the magicians intensifies, so does Jack and Wilhelm’s love.
Jack is an assistant to the Enchantress, one of the most well-known stage magicians at Seattle’s 1908 Alaska–Yukon–Pacific World’s Fair Exposition. Wilhelm - a boy that can seemingly perform real magic -- is assistant to Laszlo, The Enchantress' rival magician at the expo. Laszlo's tricks outshine the Enchantress with his otherworldly illusions that defy logic & the imagination.
Wilhelm and Jack are navigating new love and toxic relationships. Both are members of abusive households. Not only are they struggling to escape their abusive parental relationships but they must also learn to love themselves and each other.
A standalone tale about the magic of first love. I recommend this book to those seeking out queer representation and romance. This is the first novel I have read by the author but I will definitely be reading more.
Check out Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson and be sure to get this queer historical fantasy romance wherever you buy books!
✦ Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/3tRa81J
✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/3Ev2Bud
✦ Apple ➜ https://apple.co/3hJvc5u
✦ Google ➜ https://bit.ly/3tTlYYX
✦ Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/3CuFFJE
✦ Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/3lCvfkG
TAGS: fiction, romance, historical romance, LGBTQIA, gay, queer, mm romance, young adult romance, first love
MY RATING: 3.5/5 stars
MY RATING SYSTEM:
1 star = I don't recommend the book
2 stars = I would not read the book again
3 stars = I enjoyed the book
4 stars = I liked the book and would recommend to others
5 stars = Everyone should read the book; I would read the book again & again
*Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books & Shaun David Hutchinson for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #BeforeWeDisappear #NetGalley @NetGalley @HarperChildrens #HarperChildrens @harperkids #harperkids #ShaunDavidHutchinson @shauniedarko
thespellboundlibraries's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5