A review by billyjepma
The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz

adventurous inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

I’ve had this book on my shelf for years, and while I can’t say that it floored me—it doesn’t quite have enough depth to stick with you, I don’t think—it has such a heart of gold that I couldn’t help but be won over by the end. The tone is all over the place, admittedly, and the first half of the book is laid out in a way I found hard to get into. But once things came together around that halfway point, I was quickly and thoroughly swept up in the unique brand of whimsy, history, and commentary that Gidwitz’s tender storytelling has to offer. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Racism, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent