A review by ellereadsbookslike
All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue

dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

~Short Synopsis~

When Maeve finds an old tarot deck while cleaning out a cupboard during detention, she discovers that she has a natural talent for readings. Maeve finally starts to feel like she’s found her ‘thing’, that is until she does a reading for her ex-best friend Lily. When Lily doesn’t turn up at school on Monday, Maeve knows that this isn’t a case that the police can solve. 

~Review~

This story has absolutely everything that I love in a book; witches, realistic and flawed characters, queer rep, folklore, witty dialogue, I could go on…

I absolutely loved Maeve as a protagonist. I thought she was incredibly believable as a character I understood why she made the choices she did, even if I didn’t think they were the right ones. There’s also a lovely found family that is starting to develop and I’m hoping that will be explored more in the second book. 

The queer rep in this book is beautifully done. I loved how Roe’s journey with his gender identity is blended throughout the story and doesn’t feel like it’s just been shoved in as an afterthought. 

I would say this is a [urban] fantasy book but it felt so real: the characters and their choices, the relationships, and probably most interesting of all, the villain. In my opinion, there is nothing scary than I villain that posses no magic (Gaston from Beauty and the Beast is he scariest Disney villain because he is just a man and people like him actually exist). The villain in this book feels very much like that, his backwards and harmful views are views that people actually hold and they are dangerous and scary. 

I loved the writing style and couldn’t put the us book down. It’s a perfect balanced and witty, intense, and beautiful and I can’t wait to the sequel. 
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