A review by molang_madrigal
Willow Moss and the Lost Day by Dominique Valente

Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
I’ve read this book before in the middle of a few other books that I really liked, so I didn’t like everything about it but I kind of gave it the benefit of the doubt. Revisiting it a while later, I find the story quite dense and hard to follow. It creates a whole new universe with its own history about magic previously being more powerful in the past but being vanquished by some anti-magic monks or something, and different kingdoms that all have completely different views of magic and different fantasy creatures living there and not many defining characteristics so you remember which one you’re in. And it doesn’t help that the magical characters don’t follow established stereotypes of that particular magical creature. For instance, most witches only have one power. If it’s not amazing enough you’re really looked down upon, even though you’re surrounded by plenty of completely non-magical people. A thousand years ago (!?!) witches had many powers at one time before they were somehow defeated by the non-magic monks, and the general consensus seems to be that things are just rubbish and monotonous compared to then. Witches use their special skill to help their community and people pay them for their services, but also seem to despise them as well. They seem to have quite depressing lives and communities and most things described are all weird shades of green, even though it’s clear nobody really seems to like this. Witches are only allowed to live in certain areas, and don’t fly on broomsticks unless absolutely necessary because it’s a stereotype. And then there’s one witch who seems to be super powerful for some reason, and is also really notorious for some unknown reason. So there’s all that to remember just about witches, and half the characters encountered aren’t even witches and are other humans/magical creatures also coming from really intricate rigid societies you have to remember about! It doesn’t feel like escapism, it actually makes me feel really glad to be human and not living in this magical but depressing world.

Also, the ending is totally sad and unexpected. When I was looking at this book in the bookshop, everything from the doodly style of illustration to the Encanto-esque concept of being the least magical in a family and the idea of something as crazy as last Tuesday being missing all seemed to point to it being a really funny book. And there are some funny moments (mostly from Oswin, Willow’s pet who is totally grumpy and pessimistic and actually doesn’t seem to like her much but stays with her anyway, and is a magical creature called a kobold, which is most similar to a cat but IS DEFINITELY NOT A CAT, but they also have the ability to detect lies and explode when they’re angry, and for some reason Oswin’s the last one in existence, something to do with his aunt Osbertrude who he always curses. See how much there is to learn just about one character?!?) But the ending is definitely not funny at all and I feel like the style of the book really misleads you.
It turns out that Willow’s gran died last Tuesday so when she brings last Tuesday back, the memory of it and the grief all comes back.
There should really be more warning for something triggering like this. Plus, the fact that last Tuesday was missing meant anything that happened that day had just gone, meaning two dragons who had had a baby that day were left with just an empty eggshell and broke up over it! I feel like that’s too much too.
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