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samrushingbooks's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I wanted to LOVE this book, but overall I simply like it. There's more I'll say when the full review comes to my blog in another week or two, but this was a decent YA story that bounces between in game and out of game storylines and both have similar story beats and arcs. And I read this in only a couple hours so it definitely was a nice quick read.
I wanted to LOVE this book, but overall I simply like it. There's more I'll say when the full review comes to my blog in another week or two, but this was a decent YA story that bounces between in game and out of game storylines and both have similar story beats and arcs. And I read this in only a couple hours so it definitely was a nice quick read.
mrsclappreads's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
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? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Hate crime
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
spazgirl76's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
spidervan's review
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I had high hopes for this book, but it really fell short for me. I mean, it was a bit like Mythic Quest meets YA but with worse execution. The pacing was very inconsistent with some parts dragged out and others feeling incredibly rushed. The chapters that were from their DND characters’ POV felt dropped in randomly without any thought put in. Honestly, the way that was executed took away from the story instead of adding anything for me and felt like it bogged things down.
Also, the events and obstacles were all very repetitive in a frustrating, boring, and predictable way. And most characters fell short for me too. Both main characters annoyed me and I actively disliked Art by the end. Honestly, I wish that Dawn was the main character. I liked her much more than the main characters and would have preferred a story from her POV.
Also, the events and obstacles were all very repetitive in a frustrating, boring, and predictable way. And most characters fell short for me too. Both main characters annoyed me and I actively disliked Art by the end. Honestly, I wish that Dawn was the main character. I liked her much more than the main characters and would have preferred a story from her POV.
bookwyrms_shelf's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was highly unexpected and wonderful. It was heartwarming, real, and just so relevant to what it's like to be in the position of these main characters. Darcy has moved to a very small town with her two moms for one of their jobs, and the difference between here and the city is stark. Art is a geeky kid, totally into Dungeons & Dragons and content with his friend group. Until he meets Darcy...
There are a lot of hard topics discussed in this book, but I feel like the author did an excellent job of addressing them in a real world situation. Abusive relationships, sexuality, safety in school, attacks and damage to property because of sexual inclination, and standing up for what's right, despite the possible and very personal barriers.
I loved this. It was sweet and romantic, creative, and really hit some bigotry head on. The dangers of not supporting students with something like a SQA or SGA, and the importance of educating allies and helping people learn about how they can become an ally.
If you're in need of resources, The Trevor project website is a great place to start.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/a-guide-to-being-an-ally-to-transgender-and-nonbinary-youth/
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
There are a lot of hard topics discussed in this book, but I feel like the author did an excellent job of addressing them in a real world situation. Abusive relationships, sexuality, safety in school, attacks and damage to property because of sexual inclination, and standing up for what's right, despite the possible and very personal barriers.
I loved this. It was sweet and romantic, creative, and really hit some bigotry head on. The dangers of not supporting students with something like a SQA or SGA, and the importance of educating allies and helping people learn about how they can become an ally.
If you're in need of resources, The Trevor project website is a great place to start.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/a-guide-to-being-an-ally-to-transgender-and-nonbinary-youth/
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
library_kb's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I'm very impressed with what the author was able to accomplish in such a short amount of pages--this is a really successful YA romance with nerdy characters and a diverse cast. The characters face some hard stuff--an abusive relationship, homophobia, but are also realistic to what teenagers are actually able to do and accomplish and how they might react in real life (not with perfect first responses all the time). The one part I didn't love was the narrated D&D parts--I didn't feel like they fully served the story and I ended up skimming them, which means that this book is even more impressive because it successfully accomplished a great story in even fewer pages! Will definitely recommend for 7th grade and up!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
salinafloye's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
4.5
ARC provided by Netgalley and House of Anansi Press Inc., Groundwood Books, thank you!!
I am not a big YA reader, as someone still actively trying to suppress my own high school experience more than a decade later, but as a fellow Saskatchewanian I couldn't resist giving this a shot, and I'm thrilled I did!
I'm a big ol nerd currently obsessed with Baldur's Gate 3 and this was a nice way to get more RPG in my life. I will also say that the fantasy breaking up the high school IRL life was great and made the high school stuff more effective to me. It's an important story about LGBTQIA+ acceptance that could have easily been bogged down with the minutiae of high school drama but it was more adult and with the parallels between the IRL story and the RPG story it provided a nice balance. I also liked the ending with the "Don't ask, don't tell" line because people are complex and it wouldn't have made sense for complete change of heart, even if we wish that were the case more often.
I am not a big YA reader, as someone still actively trying to suppress my own high school experience more than a decade later, but as a fellow Saskatchewanian I couldn't resist giving this a shot, and I'm thrilled I did!
I'm a big ol nerd currently obsessed with Baldur's Gate 3 and this was a nice way to get more RPG in my life. I will also say that the fantasy breaking up the high school IRL life was great and made the high school stuff more effective to me. It's an important story about LGBTQIA+ acceptance that could have easily been bogged down with the minutiae of high school drama but it was more adult and with the parallels between the IRL story and the RPG story it provided a nice balance. I also liked the ending with the "Don't ask, don't tell" line because people are complex and it wouldn't have made sense for complete change of heart, even if we wish that were the case more often.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Death
jessicake1's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.5