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mahiyirgeta's review against another edition
4.0
I received and ARC of this book in return for a review, so here goes!
I absolutely adored this book!! Lydia is such an adorable character and I found that I could relate to some of her thoughts and neuroses. I also love the fact that she swears all the time
I absolutely adored this book!! Lydia is such an adorable character and I found that I could relate to some of her thoughts and neuroses. I also love the fact that she swears all the time
moonweaver's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
silentandromeda's review against another edition
5.0
There's nothing quite like a life-adjacent magical fantasy to wile away a summer's afternoon, pleasantly lost in another world. And that's delivered in spades for us - but what's more - this is a fantasy where I feel seen. I wish there'd been more books with this kind of queer representation when I was a teenager, and I think There's Magic Between Us is the kind of magic that's perfect for queer and questioning young fans of such greats as Tamora Pierce and Diane Duane.
margaretadelle's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the last Jillian Maria book I read, so when she offered me a review copy of this one, I was happy to accept!
Overall, this is a fairly typical YA fantasy. Girl from the big city goes to visit a relative in a small town, and suddenly some magic stuff starts popping up. But in this case, the adorable romantic interest she meets in the woods is a girl she's immediately attracted to. This book does not beat around the bush when it comes to its wlw content. It is RIGHT THERE...and the plot is better for it.
The protagonist's personality is a great display of alternative without the "I'm not like other girls" aspect. Lydia is balls-to-the-wall reckless and a bit angry, but without the over the top angst. It makes her a refreshing protagonist. Eden is also a much more nuanced take on the careful planner A-type personality. They have clear personality differences without being cartoonish.
The worldbuilding was fairly small and utilitarian. The story showed what it needed to for the sake of the plot, with little built beyond. It's up to taste whether or not you like that kind of thing. If you're a deep lore fantasy series type, you'll likely feel it's too thin. But if you're looking for a simpler, easy writing style, this will probably be right up your alley.
The one reason I had to take away a star was the plot. Beyond one or two little surprises, it was a fairly predictable YA. Of course there's the argument to be made that diverse characters deserve their go at the standard tropes. But it removed a lot of the mystery when I knew right away who that hooded figure would turn out to be.
In general, it's feels like an updated version of a YA fantasy standard. A great pick for fans of the genre.
Overall, this is a fairly typical YA fantasy. Girl from the big city goes to visit a relative in a small town, and suddenly some magic stuff starts popping up. But in this case, the adorable romantic interest she meets in the woods is a girl she's immediately attracted to. This book does not beat around the bush when it comes to its wlw content. It is RIGHT THERE...and the plot is better for it.
The protagonist's personality is a great display of alternative without the "I'm not like other girls" aspect. Lydia is balls-to-the-wall reckless and a bit angry, but without the over the top angst. It makes her a refreshing protagonist. Eden is also a much more nuanced take on the careful planner A-type personality. They have clear personality differences without being cartoonish.
The worldbuilding was fairly small and utilitarian. The story showed what it needed to for the sake of the plot, with little built beyond. It's up to taste whether or not you like that kind of thing. If you're a deep lore fantasy series type, you'll likely feel it's too thin. But if you're looking for a simpler, easy writing style, this will probably be right up your alley.
The one reason I had to take away a star was the plot. Beyond one or two little surprises, it was a fairly predictable YA. Of course there's the argument to be made that diverse characters deserve their go at the standard tropes. But it removed a lot of the mystery when I knew right away who that hooded figure would turn out to be.
In general, it's feels like an updated version of a YA fantasy standard. A great pick for fans of the genre.
daniellem1's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
2.0
pepperpig's review against another edition
3.5
I misjudged the love interest's age at first (I thought she was a literal child) so that was Hella confusing but once I got over that it was pretty fun
rainonyourback's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fantastic read! I received an ARC from the author before it was published and as soon as I opened it I was hooked.
First off, this novel plays off the fae themes beautifully. Masks, gender, dangerous fae games, this book has it all in spades and makes for a beautiful adventure. The tone manages to dance between light-but-realistic teenage romance and serious, this-is-horrifying implications when it comes to the fae, their ways of "playing" with humans, and the consequences of the terrible choices made to survive them.
The characters also feel fresh and surprised me a lot of times. The things that oppose the two leads and bring them together feel realistic and grounded in their reality. It's also awesome to read open representation that doesn't shy away from being representation.
I found the whole novel refreshing, intriguing, and delightful. I wish I had this book way earlier in my life, and I'd recommend it to any library for their young adult section.
First off, this novel plays off the fae themes beautifully. Masks, gender, dangerous fae games, this book has it all in spades and makes for a beautiful adventure. The tone manages to dance between light-but-realistic teenage romance and serious, this-is-horrifying implications when it comes to the fae, their ways of "playing" with humans, and the consequences of the terrible choices made to survive them.
The characters also feel fresh and surprised me a lot of times. The things that oppose the two leads and bring them together feel realistic and grounded in their reality. It's also awesome to read open representation that doesn't shy away from being representation.
I found the whole novel refreshing, intriguing, and delightful. I wish I had this book way earlier in my life, and I'd recommend it to any library for their young adult section.
meldelizia's review against another edition
5.0
All the stars for this one, it has a magical forest, a queer grandma, a gender fluid fae, and some beautiful sapphic teen romance???? I loved every minute of this story.
aytac's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury