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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was so poorly written. I don't understand why the author would write a main character who is supposed to be magical but has no intuition and needs everything to hit her like a ton of bricks before she can comprehend.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Golden Age of Magic had such a promising premise: fairy godmothers, or Fées Gardiennes, still working their magic in the 1920s, though the conventions have changed. The shift from a European setting to the glamor and illusion of Hollywood was a refreshing change from the usual medieval fantasy backdrop, and I appreciated the book’s attempt to explore the idea of making dreams come true in a modernizing world.
Unfortunately, while the concept was intriguing and the prose was polished enough to keep me going, the execution fell short. The protagonist, Celeste, felt flat and underdeveloped, and none of the supporting characters had much depth or emotional pull either. It was hard to get invested in their stories, even when the stakes were meant to be high.
I was prepared to give this a solid three stars just for the originality and atmosphere, but then the twist near the end completely lost me. It came with a deluge of exposition and last-minute reveals that felt rushed and unearned. It dragged down what was already a lukewarm read and left a disappointing final impression.
If you’re drawn to magical realism or historical fantasy with a unique setting, this may still be worth a try, but temper your expectations. For me, this one didn’t quite deliver on its magical promise.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, while the concept was intriguing and the prose was polished enough to keep me going, the execution fell short. The protagonist, Celeste, felt flat and underdeveloped, and none of the supporting characters had much depth or emotional pull either. It was hard to get invested in their stories, even when the stakes were meant to be high.
I was prepared to give this a solid three stars just for the originality and atmosphere, but then the twist near the end completely lost me. It came with a deluge of exposition and last-minute reveals that felt rushed and unearned. It dragged down what was already a lukewarm read and left a disappointing final impression.
If you’re drawn to magical realism or historical fantasy with a unique setting, this may still be worth a try, but temper your expectations. For me, this one didn’t quite deliver on its magical promise.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
It was cute. Interesting premise but I felt like too many things were going on and I couldn’t really connect with the characters. The side animals were adorable. Narrator was good.
I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.