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palmkd's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The concept and general framework for the story was so promising. Compared to Caraval and Hotel Magnifique, I was expecting whimsical wonder, some dark twists and interesting magic. There was definitely hints of that but unfortunately it did not deliver for me.
The murder mystery and magical inheritance game in a massive estate was a fun setting. There were many different points of view but the two main characters were easily Mullory Prudence and Lyric Stoutmire. When Xavier Stoutmire is found dead, it sets into motion a game to determine who will inherit both his magic and estate.
Mullory was warned to "run if the strange finds you" but when she's out of options and money, she decides to risk it and play this game to change her fate. An outsider who didn't even know magic existed before she got her invitation, she finds herself in competition with several others, mainly Stoutmires, for the chance of winning the massive inheritance.
The magic in this world passes down between family members, but each parent can only pass their magic down to one child. As the third child in the family, the family expected Lyric to inherit from Xavier who had no children of his own. No one, especially Lyric, was expecting there to be a challenge for Xavier's magic.
I felt the story read like a very young YA. Emotions are high and everything is a bit of a crisis. The audiobook added an extra layer of melodrama which for me only took away from the story, so I do wish I had read the text for this one instead of listened.
I feel with more editing and workshopping this story could have been amazing, but it was not a great fit for me unfortunately.
The murder mystery and magical inheritance game in a massive estate was a fun setting. There were many different points of view but the two main characters were easily Mullory Prudence and Lyric Stoutmire. When Xavier Stoutmire is found dead, it sets into motion a game to determine who will inherit both his magic and estate.
Mullory was warned to "run if the strange finds you" but when she's out of options and money, she decides to risk it and play this game to change her fate. An outsider who didn't even know magic existed before she got her invitation, she finds herself in competition with several others, mainly Stoutmires, for the chance of winning the massive inheritance.
The magic in this world passes down between family members, but each parent can only pass their magic down to one child. As the third child in the family, the family expected Lyric to inherit from Xavier who had no children of his own. No one, especially Lyric, was expecting there to be a challenge for Xavier's magic.
I felt the story read like a very young YA. Emotions are high and everything is a bit of a crisis. The audiobook added an extra layer of melodrama which for me only took away from the story, so I do wish I had read the text for this one instead of listened.
I feel with more editing and workshopping this story could have been amazing, but it was not a great fit for me unfortunately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence