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elinublar's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
eliadn's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jackiemclean20's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this. I loved the mix of magic in a world very much like ours. Great world building. Amy alward can do a lot in this universe. I especially liked that it had adventures like climbing mountains.
lynkera's review
4.0
The story left some to be desired and did, at times, fall into the trap of "I'm just an ordinary girl, how could I possibly save the day?" But, as a whole, the book did not disappoint. "Madly" offers a word of magic and possibility and was able to avoid some stereotypes that riddle the genre. 4/5 would definitely read again.
alicorn_feathers's review
4.0
These are the reasons I gave it only 3.75 stars:
1) Emilia never felt like a real threat, she was easily defeated.
2) Zain and the romance was unrealistic, plus, I never liked him. At all. He was fake and Sam fell for him too quickly. Thankfully the main focus of the book was not the romance, and I therefore didn't feel it ruined the whole book - just the parts when they talked about their unrequited love. Hopefully their relationship will be more developed in the next book.
3) Zain used magic to fix his appearance. And so when he takes it off of course that means he loves Sam. Obviously.
4) Zain.
5) In the potion drinking scene at the beginning, Zain acts completely different than he does any other time in the book. The whole time I was convinced he was evil because of this. Though I also knew he was the love interest. So I thought maybe he'd turn good, not that he and his dad were frauds. Seriously. I might have liked him if he was evil.
6) An incredibly minor point: why did Sam let her dad help her with the mix if he was so bad at alchemy? Her grandad wasn't allowed to help. (I bet it was because of Zain.)
Things I liked (though there are some negative thoughts here too because I apparently can't help myself):
1) I liked the world, I loved the mix of modern times and the magic/mythology/apothecaryness. I'm sure this has been done before, but this was my first time reading it.
2) I liked Sam's family and I liked the backstory/history of her family. It wasn't 100% necessary for the story but it made it more real. And it isn't like there was a lot of it.
3) I loved that almost all the characters did something helpful, Sam was not the only person who saved the princess. Of course her grandfather, Kirsty, and (sadly) Zain helped, but also more minor characters like Molly with the unicorn and Anita with the flower. Even Dan helped defeat Emilia. Though I felt Arjun was hardly important, I can't recall any helpful things he did. Maybe I just missed them?
4) I loved the scavenger hunt aspect, though I do wish there'd have been a way for me to try and guess what the ingredients would be. Maybe it was just me, but I didn't guess that unicorn purity would be in the potion.
5) There were some clever things that happened that I appreciated. To name a few, the thing with the color of the potion was laid out well. And come on, the whole plot of the story is based off the fact that a princess drinks a love potion intended for another and falls in love with herself. And while some of Princess Evelyn's chapters seemed unnecessary, most of them helped me understand why she was acting the way she was. It didn't feel stupid and that's why it was good.
I have more reasons I can't put into words, so I'll just say that overall it was a good story and I'm excited to see what Amy Alward writes next.
1) Emilia never felt like a real threat, she was easily defeated.
2) Zain and the romance was unrealistic, plus, I never liked him. At all. He was fake and Sam fell for him too quickly. Thankfully the main focus of the book was not the romance, and I therefore didn't feel it ruined the whole book - just the parts when they talked about their unrequited love. Hopefully their relationship will be more developed in the next book.
3) Zain used magic to fix his appearance. And so when he takes it off of course that means he loves Sam. Obviously.
4) Zain.
5) In the potion drinking scene at the beginning, Zain acts completely different than he does any other time in the book. The whole time I was convinced he was evil because of this. Though I also knew he was the love interest. So I thought maybe he'd turn good, not that he and his dad were frauds. Seriously. I might have liked him if he was evil.
6) An incredibly minor point: why did Sam let her dad help her with the mix if he was so bad at alchemy? Her grandad wasn't allowed to help. (I bet it was because of Zain.)
Things I liked (though there are some negative thoughts here too because I apparently can't help myself):
1) I liked the world, I loved the mix of modern times and the magic/mythology/apothecaryness. I'm sure this has been done before, but this was my first time reading it.
2) I liked Sam's family and I liked the backstory/history of her family. It wasn't 100% necessary for the story but it made it more real. And it isn't like there was a lot of it.
3) I loved that almost all the characters did something helpful, Sam was not the only person who saved the princess. Of course her grandfather, Kirsty, and (sadly) Zain helped, but also more minor characters like Molly with the unicorn and Anita with the flower. Even Dan helped defeat Emilia. Though I felt Arjun was hardly important, I can't recall any helpful things he did. Maybe I just missed them?
4) I loved the scavenger hunt aspect, though I do wish there'd have been a way for me to try and guess what the ingredients would be. Maybe it was just me, but I didn't guess that unicorn purity would be in the potion.
5) There were some clever things that happened that I appreciated. To name a few, the thing with the color of the potion was laid out well. And come on, the whole plot of the story is based off the fact that a princess drinks a love potion intended for another and falls in love with herself. And while some of Princess Evelyn's chapters seemed unnecessary, most of them helped me understand why she was acting the way she was. It didn't feel stupid and that's why it was good.
I have more reasons I can't put into words, so I'll just say that overall it was a good story and I'm excited to see what Amy Alward writes next.
becki's review
3.0
2.5 stars
Well this was definitely not what I was expecting at all... and not in a good way
Review to come.
Well this was definitely not what I was expecting at all... and not in a good way
Review to come.
alexalovesbooks's review
4.0
4.25 stars. I really enjoyed this novel! It's a little more on the lighter side of fantasy, just so you know. Part adventure and part puzzle, it was fun to try and put things together right alongside Samantha. While I do feel like the characters could have done with a touch more development (and I still don't understand my attraction to Zain), overall, I thought this was a really fun read.
fafabookcorner's review
1.0
Fafa's Book Corner (Wordpress)
Fafa's Book Corner (Blogger)
DNF
When I saw this book I was fairly excited to read it. I love the light and fluffy books and add in magic I was sold! Sometime before this book arrived from the library I had gone to check out the reviews. The first two that came up were not appealing reviews. I read both of them. I started having second thoughts. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this. But I decided to give this book the benefit of the doubt. After all books are subjective. Unfortunately I did not enjoy this.
The book is narrated in first and third person point of view. Think The Young Elites by Marie Lu. Sam's point of view is first person, whereas Evelyn's point of view is third person. I'm not sure why this is. Maybe if I read the whole book I would've known. If someone could explain that to me that would be great.
The book begins with Evelyn mixing the love potion and mentioning that she excepted it to be a different color. Readers are then taken to Sam as she is cleaning around the shop. She explains us that her family were once very respected. In fact that they used work alongside the Kings and Queens. Ever since pharmacies (Sam calls it a megapharmacy) came into play and ZoroAster Corp. they haven't been doing so well.
Her and her best friend are planning to attend the Princesses birthday party. The two talk about who the possible date is for the princess. Anita (her best friend) believes it'll be Zain Aster son of the man in charge of ZoroAster Corp. While Sam thinks it'll be some celebrity/famous person.
Meanwhile with the Evelyn it is her birthday party and she has prepared the love potion. Zain enters and greets her wishing her a happy birthday. The two are best friends. Well at least on Zain's end. It is then revealed that Evelyn plans on giving him the love potion. She pours them drinks, pouring the love potion in Zain's glass. Do they some cheers and they drink. While the glass is still in her hand and her head is dipped, she opens her eyes and sees them reflected in the glass. Thus falling in love with herself.
While Sam and Anita are on the bus on the way to the princesses castle, Sam is summoned by the King to come immediately while Anita is summoned by her father. The two part ways panicked. Sam reaches the castle to find that she is not alone. There are other people that have been summoned. Her Grandfather among them.
The King's worker announces that they have all been summoned because the princess has been poisoned. He says that her life is in danger. The people are surprised and one of them asks what happened. He answers that he has no idea but a Wilde Hunt is being called to find a cure. Sam asks whether they can see the princess.
When they reach her room they see Zain standing off to the side looking pale and in shock. There is some talking in the background when Sam says that the princess had a love potion. They all turn to notice that Evelyn is looking at her reflection lovingly and talking to herself.
The Kings worker goes on to mention that the competitors will get a clue to one of the ingredients she used. After that they are left to their own devices. The worker explains that the princess used natural materials so they can't just manufacture the cure in a lab. He also mentions that the winner will be given a certain amount of Crowns (money) and have access the royal's lab for a day.
Zain and his father step in to enter first. While touching the horn (it allows them to enter) a woman appears. The King is outraged as this mysterious woman announces that she to is participating in the hunt. It is revealed that this woman is the Kings exiled sister. She steps in to enter then vanishes. Sam's grandfather says that they will not be participating and the two leave.
This book was quite odd. It was a contemporary and a fantasy. The humans acknowledged that there are people that can do magic and mix potions, but rather than using them or killing them, they coincide with them. Which was actually nice and unique.
Some of the wordings in this book were weird. For example 'Megapharmicies'. While I was reading it I kept off thinking of ways to word the sentences better. I felt that this book was stupid. And I didn't really like the writing style.
Sam is a very high case of the special snowflake syndrome. She figure's everything out before all the other characters do. Especially when she noticed Evelyn lusting at her reflection. I was surprised that no one else noticed. It took awhile for me to grasp why the Hunt was being called. Apparently because the princess was poisoned she was a danger to her kingdom and herself. While she enters the competition late and she is up against some fairly talented people, she still wins. I don't know how. The only reason I know this is because I skimmed the end of the book.
I was also surprised that her family didn't close their potion shop down. Her mother is not at all good at business. She keeps on letting the same woman get away without paying her. The woman claims to leave her purse home every time. I think the only reason they haven't closed it is because Sam loves it and her grandfather won't allow it. I'm not really sure why her grandfather refused to enter considering the prize. Maybe it was because of pride?
I don't have anything to say about the rest of the characters because I didn't really read about them. Sam would've been more likable had she not been a special snowflake. I couldn't really bring myself to finish the book because of the wordings and the writing style.
The only nice thing I have to say is I commend the author for trying to be unique by writing of the setting in a contemporary and fantasy world. I've never read about a book as such. It just didn't work for me.
Overall this was not a good read. I would recommend to people who are interested in reading about the world and people looking for a lighthearted fantasy series.
Fafa's Book Corner (Blogger)
DNF
When I saw this book I was fairly excited to read it. I love the light and fluffy books and add in magic I was sold! Sometime before this book arrived from the library I had gone to check out the reviews. The first two that came up were not appealing reviews. I read both of them. I started having second thoughts. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this. But I decided to give this book the benefit of the doubt. After all books are subjective. Unfortunately I did not enjoy this.
The book is narrated in first and third person point of view. Think The Young Elites by Marie Lu. Sam's point of view is first person, whereas Evelyn's point of view is third person. I'm not sure why this is. Maybe if I read the whole book I would've known. If someone could explain that to me that would be great.
The book begins with Evelyn mixing the love potion and mentioning that she excepted it to be a different color. Readers are then taken to Sam as she is cleaning around the shop. She explains us that her family were once very respected. In fact that they used work alongside the Kings and Queens. Ever since pharmacies (Sam calls it a megapharmacy) came into play and ZoroAster Corp. they haven't been doing so well.
Her and her best friend are planning to attend the Princesses birthday party. The two talk about who the possible date is for the princess. Anita (her best friend) believes it'll be Zain Aster son of the man in charge of ZoroAster Corp. While Sam thinks it'll be some celebrity/famous person.
Meanwhile with the Evelyn it is her birthday party and she has prepared the love potion. Zain enters and greets her wishing her a happy birthday. The two are best friends. Well at least on Zain's end. It is then revealed that Evelyn plans on giving him the love potion. She pours them drinks, pouring the love potion in Zain's glass. Do they some cheers and they drink. While the glass is still in her hand and her head is dipped, she opens her eyes and sees them reflected in the glass. Thus falling in love with herself.
While Sam and Anita are on the bus on the way to the princesses castle, Sam is summoned by the King to come immediately while Anita is summoned by her father. The two part ways panicked. Sam reaches the castle to find that she is not alone. There are other people that have been summoned. Her Grandfather among them.
The King's worker announces that they have all been summoned because the princess has been poisoned. He says that her life is in danger. The people are surprised and one of them asks what happened. He answers that he has no idea but a Wilde Hunt is being called to find a cure. Sam asks whether they can see the princess.
When they reach her room they see Zain standing off to the side looking pale and in shock. There is some talking in the background when Sam says that the princess had a love potion. They all turn to notice that Evelyn is looking at her reflection lovingly and talking to herself.
The Kings worker goes on to mention that the competitors will get a clue to one of the ingredients she used. After that they are left to their own devices. The worker explains that the princess used natural materials so they can't just manufacture the cure in a lab. He also mentions that the winner will be given a certain amount of Crowns (money) and have access the royal's lab for a day.
Zain and his father step in to enter first. While touching the horn (it allows them to enter) a woman appears. The King is outraged as this mysterious woman announces that she to is participating in the hunt. It is revealed that this woman is the Kings exiled sister. She steps in to enter then vanishes. Sam's grandfather says that they will not be participating and the two leave.
This book was quite odd. It was a contemporary and a fantasy. The humans acknowledged that there are people that can do magic and mix potions, but rather than using them or killing them, they coincide with them. Which was actually nice and unique.
Some of the wordings in this book were weird. For example 'Megapharmicies'. While I was reading it I kept off thinking of ways to word the sentences better. I felt that this book was stupid. And I didn't really like the writing style.
Sam is a very high case of the special snowflake syndrome. She figure's everything out before all the other characters do. Especially when she noticed Evelyn lusting at her reflection. I was surprised that no one else noticed. It took awhile for me to grasp why the Hunt was being called. Apparently because the princess was poisoned she was a danger to her kingdom and herself. While she enters the competition late and she is up against some fairly talented people, she still wins. I don't know how. The only reason I know this is because I skimmed the end of the book.
I was also surprised that her family didn't close their potion shop down. Her mother is not at all good at business. She keeps on letting the same woman get away without paying her. The woman claims to leave her purse home every time. I think the only reason they haven't closed it is because Sam loves it and her grandfather won't allow it. I'm not really sure why her grandfather refused to enter considering the prize. Maybe it was because of pride?
I don't have anything to say about the rest of the characters because I didn't really read about them. Sam would've been more likable had she not been a special snowflake. I couldn't really bring myself to finish the book because of the wordings and the writing style.
The only nice thing I have to say is I commend the author for trying to be unique by writing of the setting in a contemporary and fantasy world. I've never read about a book as such. It just didn't work for me.
Overall this was not a good read. I would recommend to people who are interested in reading about the world and people looking for a lighthearted fantasy series.