Scan barcode
A review by highladyofdelulu
A Familiar Magic by E.M. Rinaldi
4.0
My song for A Familiar Magic: Product of My Own Design by Artio
“Why do your eyes remain dull even after you’ve rested? Why do they only burn when you’re fighting(…)?”
A Familiar Magic is a NA novel and is rated and reviewed as such.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest rating.
This book was for the angry, unhealed inner teenager in me.
Let me elaborate.
Our FMC spent most of her teenage years in solitude and on the run. She is stubborn and brazen, impulsive and secretive, and maybe even immature – and I am surprised to say I liked it. Why? Because it was well written and made sense!
“I cried for the little girl forced from her home with nowhere else to go.”
Kaya, in my opinion, is a thought through, relatable character. She is all the teenage girls that are not heard, that feel abandoned and not worthy of love. All the young adults that still cary these wounds.
Reading about her does not feel like reading about an adult, especially not in contrast to the MMC Auden, and that, in my opinion, is exactly how it should feel! Because while everyone learned, evolved, grew up, she was busy surviving.
“I’d never been held like this before. Like it mattered.”
It took me off-guard that Kaya really is that hurt teenager I still have tugged away inside myself, the one that still has a lot of healing to do but can’t. Because she still feels like she has to stand up against the whole world and survive. On her own.
“Do you think I’m selfish?”
Of course, as someone who spent vital teenager years on the run only to return as an outcast and with a huge amount of guilt, she doesn't think she deserves love. Of course she can’t accept it. Not even if it holds out a hand to her every single day. Not even when it's Auden.
Beautiful, sophisticated, gentle, cheeky, making-me-giggle-cause-he’s-so-cute Auden.
And while I enjoyed that arc, too, I appreciated it even more for not overpowering Kaya’s story. For not nullifying and being the magical solution to her wounds and scars and all the pain that she still has to go through.
“I want all your kisses and all your other firsts. I want to help you see yourself as I see you.”
E.M. Rinaldi did an amazing job of implementing not one but two tropes that I usually avoid at all costs and not only made them make sense - I, to my absolute surprise, enjoyed them.
I enjoyed watching Kaya fuck up, say things she should not say and honestly, let’s face it, be a snarky bitch. I enjoyed watching her grow, slowly and almost imperceptible, and evolve. And I will continue to do so in the second book.
Talking about that: I am sure that cliffhanger is actually illegal and I cannot wait to see how it all plays out for our incredibly strong FMC. (Oh and Bast? Protect him at all costs)
“My future was my own and I refused to allow it to be taken from me.”
The writing style was colloquial and felt attuned to the NA nature of the book – which was so much more fitting than a forcefully sophisticated high fantasy tone would have been – It worked, it made sense, I liked it!
(Although admittedly it took me a while to get accustomed but only because I am not used to it :D )
“What do you say? Want to run away again for old time’s sake?”
It’s a very fast-paced book and while I didn’t mind that, I personally found myself wishing for more detailed elaborations at some points, if only for a chance to slow down some situations and savour them fully.
This has nothing to do with writing quality and is just an individual preference and my personal reason for 4 stars.
And E.M. Rinaldi, I cannot end this review without saying: Thank you so much for “Did I fart?” because this must have been the realest question anyone has ever asked in a book and boy did I relate!
“Why do your eyes remain dull even after you’ve rested? Why do they only burn when you’re fighting(…)?”
A Familiar Magic is a NA novel and is rated and reviewed as such.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest rating.
This book was for the angry, unhealed inner teenager in me.
Let me elaborate.
Our FMC spent most of her teenage years in solitude and on the run. She is stubborn and brazen, impulsive and secretive, and maybe even immature – and I am surprised to say I liked it. Why? Because it was well written and made sense!
“I cried for the little girl forced from her home with nowhere else to go.”
Kaya, in my opinion, is a thought through, relatable character. She is all the teenage girls that are not heard, that feel abandoned and not worthy of love. All the young adults that still cary these wounds.
Reading about her does not feel like reading about an adult, especially not in contrast to the MMC Auden, and that, in my opinion, is exactly how it should feel! Because while everyone learned, evolved, grew up, she was busy surviving.
“I’d never been held like this before. Like it mattered.”
It took me off-guard that Kaya really is that hurt teenager I still have tugged away inside myself, the one that still has a lot of healing to do but can’t. Because she still feels like she has to stand up against the whole world and survive. On her own.
“Do you think I’m selfish?”
Of course, as someone who spent vital teenager years on the run only to return as an outcast and with a huge amount of guilt, she doesn't think she deserves love. Of course she can’t accept it. Not even if it holds out a hand to her every single day. Not even when it's Auden.
Beautiful, sophisticated, gentle, cheeky, making-me-giggle-cause-he’s-so-cute Auden.
And while I enjoyed that arc, too, I appreciated it even more for not overpowering Kaya’s story. For not nullifying and being the magical solution to her wounds and scars and all the pain that she still has to go through.
“I want all your kisses and all your other firsts. I want to help you see yourself as I see you.”
E.M. Rinaldi did an amazing job of implementing not one but two tropes that I usually avoid at all costs and not only made them make sense - I, to my absolute surprise, enjoyed them.
I enjoyed watching Kaya fuck up, say things she should not say and honestly, let’s face it, be a snarky bitch. I enjoyed watching her grow, slowly and almost imperceptible, and evolve. And I will continue to do so in the second book.
Talking about that: I am sure that cliffhanger is actually illegal and I cannot wait to see how it all plays out for our incredibly strong FMC. (Oh and Bast? Protect him at all costs)
“My future was my own and I refused to allow it to be taken from me.”
The writing style was colloquial and felt attuned to the NA nature of the book – which was so much more fitting than a forcefully sophisticated high fantasy tone would have been – It worked, it made sense, I liked it!
(Although admittedly it took me a while to get accustomed but only because I am not used to it :D )
“What do you say? Want to run away again for old time’s sake?”
It’s a very fast-paced book and while I didn’t mind that, I personally found myself wishing for more detailed elaborations at some points, if only for a chance to slow down some situations and savour them fully.
This has nothing to do with writing quality and is just an individual preference and my personal reason for 4 stars.
And E.M. Rinaldi, I cannot end this review without saying: Thank you so much for “Did I fart?” because this must have been the realest question anyone has ever asked in a book and boy did I relate!