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wasauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advance reader copy of Amulet of Wishes for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
With all the high fantasy stories in the world, you'd be forgiven for thinking there are no original worlds left. This is a fallacy, evidenced by the world of Aloseria, the setting of the Chronicles of the Guardians and this first entry, Amulet of Wishes. While it includes many of the genre's hallmarks, the author has crafted a wonderful new world that puts a unique spin on these tropes. And in doing so, she has created a world that draws the reader into it and ensures they won’t want to leave.
No matter how enticing a fantasy world is, it doesn’t mean much if the story being told doesn’t follow through. Telling the story of Derek Draco, Amulet of Wishes certainly follows through. Upon finding a fragment of the titular amulet, Derek and his friends embark upon a quest to seek out the remaining fragments. The story is filled with twists and turns, and peppered with plenty of action and character moments.
If you're a reader who dislikes prologues and epilogues, Amulet of Wishes has both. I’m of the firm belief that if they serve the story, these should be both included, and both indeed serve Amulet of Wishes' story. The prologue packs a punch that grabs the reader’s attention; the epilogue serves as a reminder to the reader that there’s plenty more to come down the track.
As the story moves past the prologue, it quickly becomes apparent that it's also a YA novel and coming of age tale. While the book offers a number of content warnings, the subject matter is handled with a light touch. While it’s best to avoid the book if any of its themes are likely to trigger you, it's presented in a way that's suitable for teens without glorifying the subject matter. The novel features a largely queer cast of characters, and presents all these as perfectly natural, as it should. The author doesn’t touch upon any queer experiences; she simply presents these sexualities as perfectly normal. I also appreciated the novel touching upon discrimination faced by the elves within the world.
Amulet of Wishes is a brisk read; light enough to read quickly, and won’t provide many issues for its target audience. The pacing helps this, moving through events quickly without getting lost in unnecessary details. The plot moves along nicely, and while I feel that the first two chapters following the prologue could have been truncated, the story flows together well.
The author's style is inviting, filled with amusing asides that brought a smile to my face. As it does this, it provides all the information readers need, including background information and exploring its world. However, the prose doesn’t flow as nicely as I’d like. Likewise, the dialogue doesn’t sound particularly natural, and the character voices often sound similar to one another.
While the dialogue doesn’t ring true, it’s just one component of the characters, all of whom are wonderful to read. Operating in shades of grey, they making morally ambiguous decisions throughout. While the reader won’t necessarily agree with them, they will understand their reasoning, and will still root for them. Derek is thoroughly engaging and the other POV characters are fun to follow. While the book features the teen angst you expect from YA read, it doesn't feel melodramatic. Character interactions shine brightly and the theme of found family comes through beautifully.
While the book features an epilogue promising more adventures, it works feels like a complete experience. While the story will be continued in Lady Night, it isn’t required reading to enjoy Amulet of Wishes.
Despite some reservations about some of its prose and dialogue, Amulet of Wishes is a joy: a unique fantasy tale in a wonderful world, populated by a beautiful cast of characters. Its themes are resonant, and it provides a wonderful—and natural—cast of queer characters.
My full review will be available on my website from 12 October 2022. To read it - and a host of other reviews - click here.
With all the high fantasy stories in the world, you'd be forgiven for thinking there are no original worlds left. This is a fallacy, evidenced by the world of Aloseria, the setting of the Chronicles of the Guardians and this first entry, Amulet of Wishes. While it includes many of the genre's hallmarks, the author has crafted a wonderful new world that puts a unique spin on these tropes. And in doing so, she has created a world that draws the reader into it and ensures they won’t want to leave.
No matter how enticing a fantasy world is, it doesn’t mean much if the story being told doesn’t follow through. Telling the story of Derek Draco, Amulet of Wishes certainly follows through. Upon finding a fragment of the titular amulet, Derek and his friends embark upon a quest to seek out the remaining fragments. The story is filled with twists and turns, and peppered with plenty of action and character moments.
If you're a reader who dislikes prologues and epilogues, Amulet of Wishes has both. I’m of the firm belief that if they serve the story, these should be both included, and both indeed serve Amulet of Wishes' story. The prologue packs a punch that grabs the reader’s attention; the epilogue serves as a reminder to the reader that there’s plenty more to come down the track.
As the story moves past the prologue, it quickly becomes apparent that it's also a YA novel and coming of age tale. While the book offers a number of content warnings, the subject matter is handled with a light touch. While it’s best to avoid the book if any of its themes are likely to trigger you, it's presented in a way that's suitable for teens without glorifying the subject matter. The novel features a largely queer cast of characters, and presents all these as perfectly natural, as it should. The author doesn’t touch upon any queer experiences; she simply presents these sexualities as perfectly normal. I also appreciated the novel touching upon discrimination faced by the elves within the world.
Amulet of Wishes is a brisk read; light enough to read quickly, and won’t provide many issues for its target audience. The pacing helps this, moving through events quickly without getting lost in unnecessary details. The plot moves along nicely, and while I feel that the first two chapters following the prologue could have been truncated, the story flows together well.
The author's style is inviting, filled with amusing asides that brought a smile to my face. As it does this, it provides all the information readers need, including background information and exploring its world. However, the prose doesn’t flow as nicely as I’d like. Likewise, the dialogue doesn’t sound particularly natural, and the character voices often sound similar to one another.
While the dialogue doesn’t ring true, it’s just one component of the characters, all of whom are wonderful to read. Operating in shades of grey, they making morally ambiguous decisions throughout. While the reader won’t necessarily agree with them, they will understand their reasoning, and will still root for them. Derek is thoroughly engaging and the other POV characters are fun to follow. While the book features the teen angst you expect from YA read, it doesn't feel melodramatic. Character interactions shine brightly and the theme of found family comes through beautifully.
While the book features an epilogue promising more adventures, it works feels like a complete experience. While the story will be continued in Lady Night, it isn’t required reading to enjoy Amulet of Wishes.
Despite some reservations about some of its prose and dialogue, Amulet of Wishes is a joy: a unique fantasy tale in a wonderful world, populated by a beautiful cast of characters. Its themes are resonant, and it provides a wonderful—and natural—cast of queer characters.
My full review will be available on my website from 12 October 2022. To read it - and a host of other reviews - click here.
helynalc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This was lovely! A nice little read. The world of the book was familiar, but still new enough that I wanted to learn about it - it's a realm with warring countries, humans, elves of different kind of elements, orcs, mages, and dragon shapeshifter Guardians who keep the peace. You immediately sort of know what to expect, but the elements can be shuffled around enough so that it stays interesting. But none of it would really matter if the characters and the story didn't work. And they did.
The story itself is quite simple: a quest for a powerful artifact with its own dangers, secrets, and mysteries. Who is questing? Well, the main character is undeniably Derek, a half-human half-elf dragon shapeshifter teenager with a tragic past who just wants his parents back. With him goes Jared, a prince, his best friend, and Arabelle, Jared's cousin, with her own tragic past involving parents. You see, this amulet is said to fulfill any wish. Who wouldn't want something like that? But there are things none of them know, things in the background, and bandits and other shady figures who seem to want the same amulet. And then what if the amulet is even more than what it appears to be?
I really liked the kids instantly, their dynamic is great, and their motivations and decisions can be empathized with. My favourite was probably Darus; it was great to see a foster father figure appear in a story like this. I wished his journey was more intertwined with the main quest, but it was great anyway. I also liked Aurelia, although her thread was even more separated from the main characters' and even by the end I wasn't sure exactly what was going on there.Something demonic, I'm sure. Hope she'll live! The bandit character, Durbash, and his gang were probably my least favourite parts...partly, of course because they were the antagonists.
All in all, in a way the book felt like a tasting session for a bigger story, but in itself was a good occasion to introduce the characters and the world. I did not envy poor Derek by the end. I really felt for him. And I'll be sure to return to the sequel to get to know what happens to him!
The story itself is quite simple: a quest for a powerful artifact with its own dangers, secrets, and mysteries. Who is questing? Well, the main character is undeniably Derek, a half-human half-elf dragon shapeshifter teenager with a tragic past who just wants his parents back. With him goes Jared, a prince, his best friend, and Arabelle, Jared's cousin, with her own tragic past involving parents. You see, this amulet is said to fulfill any wish. Who wouldn't want something like that? But there are things none of them know, things in the background, and bandits and other shady figures who seem to want the same amulet. And then what if the amulet is even more than what it appears to be?
I really liked the kids instantly, their dynamic is great, and their motivations and decisions can be empathized with. My favourite was probably Darus; it was great to see a foster father figure appear in a story like this. I wished his journey was more intertwined with the main quest, but it was great anyway. I also liked Aurelia, although her thread was even more separated from the main characters' and even by the end I wasn't sure exactly what was going on there.
All in all, in a way the book felt like a tasting session for a bigger story, but in itself was a good occasion to introduce the characters and the world. I did not envy poor Derek by the end. I really felt for him. And I'll be sure to return to the sequel to get to know what happens to him!
aria_'s review
3.0
Amulet of Wishes, by Rita A. Rubin follows Derek Draco, an ambitious young Guardian. The book follows him as he goes on a perilous journey in search of the pieces of an amulet that would allow him to grant wishes.
Overall, the characters were vibrant and creative, and had such unique personalities! Amulet of Wishes is the sort of book you can emerge from feeling like you really know the characters, and I loved that.
Characters –
Derek was an interesting protagonist. He wasn’t always the most likable, and many of his actions were frustrating. This meant that reading a whole novel centered around him was challenging, but in a good way. He is complex, and has a lot of internal struggles that are shown through his actions, and the ways he interacts with other characters.
Reading a book with a frustrating main character can feel frustrating to the reader, but it also leaves so much room for improvement, and so much space for more powerful character arcs.
I also liked the range of relationships that were shown and written about in the book.
Jared and Arabelle, royal cousins and two of Derek’s best friends, are very different people, but also balance each other out very well. The two are family, and that shows.
Derek’s relationship with Darus, his adoptive father, was also written well. Derek had a challenging and traumatic past, but Darus has given him a center to his life. Their relationship isn’t perfect, but through the book we see both characters grow as people.
Someone I would have liked to see even more of was Aurelia. I found her to be a really interesting character, and I loved the parts that included her, and details of her past. I know that Amulet of Wishes is the first in a series, so I do hope that her character is explored more in future books.
I also felt that some of the characters were a bit limited at times – romantic interest in Derek was often used as a plot device, meant to be used as a lead in to other scenes, and I wish that those sections could have been more fully fleshed out.
In general, while Darek had many layers and good depth, it would have been nice to see more complexity in some of the side characters as well. There are a lot of really interesting side characters, but some of them do feel a bit one dimensional.
This doesn’t take away from the plot, however – like I said before, the relationships between the characters was one my highlights of the book.
Writing & Worldbuilding –
The writing in Amulet of Wishes is very good. The imagery is amazing, and I felt like I could really visualize all the different places the characters went. Forests, villages, caves… Rubin builds such an amazing world in Amulet of Wishes, one that you don’t want to leave.
I also liked learning about the different countries and groups in the world, cultural tensions and political conflict.
I also love reading high fantasy set in a queer-normative society. Fantasy worlds often have many problems, but there’s no need for homophobia. Casual representation is so important, and is so refreshing to read about.
In Amulet of Wishes, there are plenty of queer characters, and that’s just seen as normal and is fully accepted.
Plot –
I really liked the plot of Amulet of Wishes. There are definitely some cliches, but I wasn’t bothered by that. There were still many things that made the world and the story unique, and those aspects of the book mixed nicely with the cliches.
In general the pacing was alright, but in individual scenes the action seemed to happen so fast! There wasn’t a huge amount of follow through with some of the scenes, though the action sections were fantastic!!
I have become very thoroughly intrigued in the world of the Guardians – Rubin left me curious to find out more of what happens next, in the sequel. I’m especially desperate to know about the secrets of the Guardians!!
Amulet of Wishes is a magical book, and I found the world and the characters very compelling. While there were some places where I would have liked to see some more depth, that came from a genuine curiosity towards wanting to know more about the characters and the story. Overall, I give it a solid 3 stars, and I recommend it to fans of YA fantasy looking for a fun, fast paced read!
Amulet of Wishes is a magical book, and I found the world and the characters very compelling. While there were some places where I would have liked to see some more depth, that came from a genuine curiosity towards wanting to know more about the characters and the story. Overall, I give it a solid 3 stars, and I recommend it to fans of YA fantasy looking for a fun, fast paced read!
thetomatowriter's review against another edition
4.0
This is a good classic fantasy adventure romp, with a group of friends off on a quest, some diabolical bandits, epic fights, and betrayals. It's easy to fall in love with the characters and even feel for them when you see them making messy decisions. The end felt a little quickly resolved at one point, but the intriguing epilogue, and the fact that there's more to come in the next books, leaves you feeling that's because it ISN'T quite resolved, and I'm excited to see what happens next.
amymarsdenauthor's review against another edition
4.0
A great debut!
Fantasy is one of my favourite genres, so I was excited to pick this up, which I knew had really good LGBTQ rep and dragons! What a good twist with the dragons btw, I really liked the whole shapeshifting aspect of the story. In fact, I liked all of the magic in of the world. The amulet was especially great too.
Derek was a nice MC to follow, and I was invested in his and his friends story. Good world building too.
The only negative for me was some of the writing. I thought it could have used more editing, but it is a debut. So yeah! Looking forward to the next book!
Fantasy is one of my favourite genres, so I was excited to pick this up, which I knew had really good LGBTQ rep and dragons! What a good twist with the dragons btw, I really liked the whole shapeshifting aspect of the story. In fact, I liked all of the magic in of the world. The amulet was especially great too.
Derek was a nice MC to follow, and I was invested in his and his friends story. Good world building too.
The only negative for me was some of the writing. I thought it could have used more editing, but it is a debut. So yeah! Looking forward to the next book!
goblinsstolemybrain's review against another edition
4.0
I've posted a full review on my YouTube channel, but here are the main points.
What's it about?
Three friends go on a quest to find the three pieces of a magical amulet that grants wishes.
What I liked:
- Gnarly/Shocking opening!
- Aside from the opening, it's a cosy YA read;
- There's a quest!
- Wonderful friendships;
- People that can turn into dragons;
- Found family;
- Elves, ogres, and spider creatures, oh my!
- I loved the history between the humans and wood elves.
What I didn't like:
I enjoyed the story and I loved the characters, but there were a few typos/errors. These didn't really bother me, but they may bother others. That said, I think the story is well worth reading even with them. I think the author has succeeded in being able to tell the story and that's the main thing.
Final thoughts:
"Amulet of Wishes" is a compelling story, regardless of the odd typo. I was hooked from beginning to end. I started reading it late at night intended to read a chapter before bed, but after that humdinger of an opening, I had to keep going and continue well past my bedtime.
This is the beginning of a new series and I will definitely be picking up the other books as and when they come out. I'm looking forward to seeing if there will be more conflict between the humans and the wood elves.
What's it about?
Three friends go on a quest to find the three pieces of a magical amulet that grants wishes.
What I liked:
- Gnarly/Shocking opening!
- Aside from the opening, it's a cosy YA read;
- There's a quest!
- Wonderful friendships;
- People that can turn into dragons;
- Found family;
- Elves, ogres, and spider creatures, oh my!
- I loved the history between the humans and wood elves.
What I didn't like:
I enjoyed the story and I loved the characters, but there were a few typos/errors. These didn't really bother me, but they may bother others. That said, I think the story is well worth reading even with them. I think the author has succeeded in being able to tell the story and that's the main thing.
Final thoughts:
"Amulet of Wishes" is a compelling story, regardless of the odd typo. I was hooked from beginning to end. I started reading it late at night intended to read a chapter before bed, but after that humdinger of an opening, I had to keep going and continue well past my bedtime.
This is the beginning of a new series and I will definitely be picking up the other books as and when they come out. I'm looking forward to seeing if there will be more conflict between the humans and the wood elves.
jamielikestoread's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Child abuse, Suicide, and Sexual violence
caranox's review against another edition
5.0
AMULET OF WISHES is a fun, refreshing, breezy read that spirits you away to an adventure of dragon-shifters, dangerous magic, and found family in all the best ways. If you're interested in a fast-paced YA fantasy, you'll enjoy this book!
redlaire's review
adventurous
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
4.5
Overall, very solid as a read!
I loved how the characters were introduced and adored their relationships! The main characters all had very unique voices and the backstory was laid out in an easy to understand way. I loved all the lore we got and hope that future books will explore the earth elf ruins more.
I found the last third of the book a bit of a slog to get through, but it picked up again in the last few chapters for a finish that was fulfilling and sweet(with an exciting last chapter that hinted toward future installments!)
I did notice a few typos, but by and large they didn't detract from the experience.
I loved how the characters were introduced and adored their relationships! The main characters all had very unique voices and the backstory was laid out in an easy to understand way. I loved all the lore we got and hope that future books will explore the earth elf ruins more.
I found the last third of the book a bit of a slog to get through, but it picked up again in the last few chapters for a finish that was fulfilling and sweet(with an exciting last chapter that hinted toward future installments!)
I did notice a few typos, but by and large they didn't detract from the experience.
_tomeraider's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
3.5