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reader_fictions's review
4.0
Con Quest is just super duper cute. It's a must-read for any young nerds in your life.
This book took me about an hour to read. It's pretty short, and it's also just generally fast-paced. Nerdy reluctant readers (and, yes, they can exist) could really take to this one. The plot's constant fun, as siblings Cat, Alex, and Fi work to complete an over the top scavenger hunt at a comic convention. I'm a sucker for a great tropey plot set up, and this totally delivers. For older readers, there's a cute f/f ship for the older sister (14), and for younger readers the twins are focused on the hunt.
Normally I don't like when authors swap the names of obvious franchises, but it worked well for me. Maggs put the work in and swapped so much stuff with such similar but hilarious names that it actually added to the experience.
A great read for younger readers but fun for nerdy adults like me too.
This book took me about an hour to read. It's pretty short, and it's also just generally fast-paced. Nerdy reluctant readers (and, yes, they can exist) could really take to this one. The plot's constant fun, as siblings Cat, Alex, and Fi work to complete an over the top scavenger hunt at a comic convention. I'm a sucker for a great tropey plot set up, and this totally delivers. For older readers, there's a cute f/f ship for the older sister (14), and for younger readers the twins are focused on the hunt.
Normally I don't like when authors swap the names of obvious franchises, but it worked well for me. Maggs put the work in and swapped so much stuff with such similar but hilarious names that it actually added to the experience.
A great read for younger readers but fun for nerdy adults like me too.
mellasmusings's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a lighthearted and fun read about the joy of comic book conventions and the people that enjoy them. Since most cons have gone virtual or digital this year, I especially appreciated reading about the chaotic energy of fandom and the happiness that can be found in your favorite series or show.
fairytamer's review
4.0
I won an ARC of Con Quest! by Sam Maggs in a GoodReads giveaway after being intrigued by its setting at a comic convention. As someone who loves cons but unable to attend one in awhile I was excited to live vicariously through the characters.
The book itself was a pretty fun read and I highly recommend it to ANYONE (kid, teen, adult) who loves going to cons. Sam Maggs was amazing with her references to real fandoms. When you read this book, I challenge you to keep a list like I did. She references fandoms in anime, comics, tv series, movies. Thinks kids will know & those only adults will. My list counted THIRTY-ONE different references and I KNOW I missed some. The number of references alone is a good reason to pick up this book.
The story focuses on three siblings, Cat, her twin brother Alex and their older sister Fi. Con Quest! Is told by alternating between their point of views as they experience GeekiCon and participate in the legendary Quest scavenger hunt. The POVs offer different outlooks on conventions and the people who attend. Cat loves Geekicon and the Quest. She cosplays, loves to people watch, is determined to win the Quest no matter what. She's a girl of action and usually quick with a plan on how to make things happen. However, she's also impatient and overly assertive to the point of being rude to the other characters. She took me a few chapters to warm up to but eventually I liked her. My personal favorite perspective was Alex's. Alex also loves attending the convention but has trouble with the crowds because of his autism. He is also a pretty awesome artist, and his chapters tended to notice more of the surroundings and details of the con. He its assertive like his sister so his chapters didn't have the constant feeling of being rushed but is just as clever with plans as Cat. Finally, there's Fi, Fi is an outsiders point of view. She's a jock and is more concerned about seeming cool to the "popular kids". She hates conventions and views this as a chance to show her parents that she's responsible. Her chapters were actually pretty funny. She says and thinks a lot of details that both people in and out of fandoms notice and watching her scramble around was pretty entertaining. All three siblings have character development arcs and discover new things about themselves that are immensely satisfying at the end.
My last thought, and if you've made it this far on my review I thank you, was the portrayal of the con itself was pretty dead on. The mentions of the "con funk" triggered long buried memories of body odor and grease. The amazing artists in Artist Alley and how you easily can start massive events like group singings was true too. I've seen an impromptu line dance go down an entire hall before you'd be surprise how open con goers are. But Sam Maggs also protrayed the dark side of fandoms too: trolls, "real fan" gatekeepers, sexists, etc. But it was done in a way to where you feel like they can be overcome and defeated. As they should be nerdom is for all.
The book itself was a pretty fun read and I highly recommend it to ANYONE (kid, teen, adult) who loves going to cons. Sam Maggs was amazing with her references to real fandoms. When you read this book, I challenge you to keep a list like I did. She references fandoms in anime, comics, tv series, movies. Thinks kids will know & those only adults will. My list counted THIRTY-ONE different references and I KNOW I missed some. The number of references alone is a good reason to pick up this book.
The story focuses on three siblings, Cat, her twin brother Alex and their older sister Fi. Con Quest! Is told by alternating between their point of views as they experience GeekiCon and participate in the legendary Quest scavenger hunt. The POVs offer different outlooks on conventions and the people who attend. Cat loves Geekicon and the Quest. She cosplays, loves to people watch, is determined to win the Quest no matter what. She's a girl of action and usually quick with a plan on how to make things happen. However, she's also impatient and overly assertive to the point of being rude to the other characters. She took me a few chapters to warm up to but eventually I liked her. My personal favorite perspective was Alex's. Alex also loves attending the convention but has trouble with the crowds because of his autism. He is also a pretty awesome artist, and his chapters tended to notice more of the surroundings and details of the con. He its assertive like his sister so his chapters didn't have the constant feeling of being rushed but is just as clever with plans as Cat. Finally, there's Fi, Fi is an outsiders point of view. She's a jock and is more concerned about seeming cool to the "popular kids". She hates conventions and views this as a chance to show her parents that she's responsible. Her chapters were actually pretty funny. She says and thinks a lot of details that both people in and out of fandoms notice and watching her scramble around was pretty entertaining. All three siblings have character development arcs and discover new things about themselves that are immensely satisfying at the end.
My last thought, and if you've made it this far on my review I thank you, was the portrayal of the con itself was pretty dead on. The mentions of the "con funk" triggered long buried memories of body odor and grease. The amazing artists in Artist Alley and how you easily can start massive events like group singings was true too. I've seen an impromptu line dance go down an entire hall before you'd be surprise how open con goers are. But Sam Maggs also protrayed the dark side of fandoms too: trolls, "real fan" gatekeepers, sexists, etc. But it was done in a way to where you feel like they can be overcome and defeated. As they should be nerdom is for all.
remembermenever's review
5.0
I'm a geek. A major geek. I've been to cons since I was fifteen years old.
This book managed to capture every aspect of the convention experience, from the con-spanning quest (EXP Con in 2009/10) to overbearing security members wanting things to go back to the days of old. I felt like I was back on the convention floor, getting ready to see my favorite voice actors and spend my allowance at that one particular stall that's there every year (even if you could buy everything online for a much cheaper price). You know the one. It's at every convention. Not the same one, but there's always one. [/rant]
Anyway! Every character leapt off the page in a believable fashion. I felt that both Cat and Alex had very strong voices, and Fi's was just as powerful. I blasted through this book today, and I am now in love. This is definitely going on my top books of 2020 list this year, without fail!
This book managed to capture every aspect of the convention experience, from the con-spanning quest (EXP Con in 2009/10) to overbearing security members wanting things to go back to the days of old. I felt like I was back on the convention floor, getting ready to see my favorite voice actors and spend my allowance at that one particular stall that's there every year (even if you could buy everything online for a much cheaper price). You know the one. It's at every convention. Not the same one, but there's always one. [/rant]
Anyway! Every character leapt off the page in a believable fashion. I felt that both Cat and Alex had very strong voices, and Fi's was just as powerful. I blasted through this book today, and I am now in love. This is definitely going on my top books of 2020 list this year, without fail!
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