Scan barcode
A review by komicat
Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 53%.
DNF 53%
Ok I thought cool a book about Stage Magicians and two boys. Well why not. It's hard to find books with stage magicians. So of course I had to read it. But... well... the characters are interesting. I like the Enchantress and her unapproachable manner. She's also menacing. Cold. But in her own way caring. Contrary to Teddy. He's dangerous, fickle, and he's an abuser... who also "cares" in his own way but it's much more bitter and evil. In comparison that is. At first it was let's say ok how he treated Wilhelm and the description of his feelings caused by the abuse. But then it went over the top and got more stressful. The main character Jack is helpless and well he could do something but I think he won't because he still isn't sure what he wants and where to go. And most of all how to solve this situation without anyone getting harmed.
There is also racism mentioned in the book. But I guess they solved it with a strong black female character who is likeable and interesting.
There is also Lucia who is a fascinating Character. I'd have loved to read more about her. The Enchantress was more in the background and so unapproachable that she seemed distant. Almost shallow. Her whole Character. While Teddy was like a psychopath abusing Wilhelm as he saw fit.
I admit I thought it would be an adventurous story about two magicians or something like that because I think in the book description nothing of the abuse was mentioned. I mean why? Wilhelm is so tormented... he's an Interesting character but it's so overshadowed by the negative emotions he has to endure. There's no room for character growth as long as he's captured. Jack is the only one who can grow.
I'm half way through this book and I don't know if I can take it anymore. I don't know if the boys will Progress Wilhelms Situation. Not even in their relationship since there's no room for it! I'm tempted to skip to the end or skim through the pages to see if it's getting better or if it's wasted time... I just wish they could work out Wilhelms situation as soon as possible and even better with magic! Well I guess I hope for too much.
So this book became a DNF at 53%. I just can't take it anymore. The abuse got worse. Jack decided to help Wil and there was this interesting part where they tried to find out Wils hometown via hypnosis but the whole part didn't lead to anything and I finally lost my interest. Besides this there's so much tell instead of show. One of them (can't remember who) mentioned how clever the other one is because he read a lot of books and so on but it was never shown through action or conversation. The only thing Jack and Wil did was spending time together and eating. Honestly I can't remember anything else. I mean I get it both are young, one of them has a hard life... it's the same with Jack. He is so unbothered by his life situation in contrary to all the people around him. He even doesn't know what he wants. Maybe for the plot line so he has to figure this out while figuring out how to free Wil or I don't know. Or maybe I'm not the right audience for this book. I mean yeah he's only 16 or so and so on but... it gave me the feeling the whole story is leading to nowhere and is repeating itself over and over again until Jack finds out what he wants or someone or something is pushing him in this direction. It was hard to read. Someone mentioned in some review that Wils ability never gets explained and that also is a let down because it's such a important thing and you also want to know how it fits in this world and why he is able to do this as it seems he is the only one known of. You can't build a realistic world with stage magic and than put some one if a kind magical character in it without explaining how it works.
Ok I thought cool a book about Stage Magicians and two boys. Well why not. It's hard to find books with stage magicians. So of course I had to read it. But... well... the characters are interesting. I like the Enchantress and her unapproachable manner. She's also menacing. Cold. But in her own way caring. Contrary to Teddy. He's dangerous, fickle, and he's an abuser... who also "cares" in his own way but it's much more bitter and evil. In comparison that is. At first it was let's say ok how he treated Wilhelm and the description of his feelings caused by the abuse. But then it went over the top and got more stressful. The main character Jack is helpless and well he could do something but I think he won't because he still isn't sure what he wants and where to go. And most of all how to solve this situation without anyone getting harmed.
There is also racism mentioned in the book. But I guess they solved it with a strong black female character who is likeable and interesting.
There is also Lucia who is a fascinating Character. I'd have loved to read more about her. The Enchantress was more in the background and so unapproachable that she seemed distant. Almost shallow. Her whole Character. While Teddy was like a psychopath abusing Wilhelm as he saw fit.
I admit I thought it would be an adventurous story about two magicians or something like that because I think in the book description nothing of the abuse was mentioned. I mean why? Wilhelm is so tormented... he's an Interesting character but it's so overshadowed by the negative emotions he has to endure. There's no room for character growth as long as he's captured. Jack is the only one who can grow.
I'm half way through this book and I don't know if I can take it anymore. I don't know if the boys will Progress Wilhelms Situation. Not even in their relationship since there's no room for it! I'm tempted to skip to the end or skim through the pages to see if it's getting better or if it's wasted time... I just wish they could work out Wilhelms situation as soon as possible and even better with magic! Well I guess I hope for too much.
So this book became a DNF at 53%. I just can't take it anymore. The abuse got worse. Jack decided to help Wil and there was this interesting part where they tried to find out Wils hometown via hypnosis but the whole part didn't lead to anything and I finally lost my interest. Besides this there's so much tell instead of show. One of them (can't remember who) mentioned how clever the other one is because he read a lot of books and so on but it was never shown through action or conversation. The only thing Jack and Wil did was spending time together and eating. Honestly I can't remember anything else. I mean I get it both are young, one of them has a hard life... it's the same with Jack. He is so unbothered by his life situation in contrary to all the people around him. He even doesn't know what he wants. Maybe for the plot line so he has to figure this out while figuring out how to free Wil or I don't know. Or maybe I'm not the right audience for this book. I mean yeah he's only 16 or so and so on but... it gave me the feeling the whole story is leading to nowhere and is repeating itself over and over again until Jack finds out what he wants or someone or something is pushing him in this direction. It was hard to read. Someone mentioned in some review that Wils ability never gets explained and that also is a let down because it's such a important thing and you also want to know how it fits in this world and why he is able to do this as it seems he is the only one known of. You can't build a realistic world with stage magic and than put some one if a kind magical character in it without explaining how it works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Racism