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addy_starfish_berkeley 's review for:
The Phoenix Keeper
by S.A. MacLean
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The highlight of this book is that all the animals in this otherwise normal, current day, world are mythological creatures. It’s a really big, fun highlight and the main character’s relationship with her best friend is wonderful.
Ayla’s personal development increasing her insight into the ways her anxiety causes her to behave in ways that are hurtful to others and push them away was well-depicted. I wish we saw growth like this more often in characters.
The exclamatory phrases (i.e., “skies and seas!”) were cute the first several times but they were repeated so frequently I found them irritating by the end of the book. Who! exclaims! that! much!
The way the characters interacted with Connor sometimes felt like they came out of left field or like their feelings about him changed more suddenly than made sense.
The romantic storylines and the big mystery twist felt like high-stakes busy work so the characters would have something to do in between the scenes about the animals.
Ayla’s personal development increasing her insight into the ways her anxiety causes her to behave in ways that are hurtful to others and push them away was well-depicted. I wish we saw growth like this more often in characters.
The exclamatory phrases (i.e., “skies and seas!”) were cute the first several times but they were repeated so frequently I found them irritating by the end of the book. Who! exclaims! that! much!
The way the characters interacted with Connor sometimes felt like they came out of left field or like their feelings about him changed more suddenly than made sense.
The romantic storylines and the big mystery twist felt like high-stakes busy work so the characters would have something to do in between the scenes about the animals.