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A review by someonetookit
I'm a Gay Wizard by V.S. Santoni
1.0
I would warn any person who reads this novel that the language and behaviour of multiple characters within this novel will be triggering. It features homophobia, horrendous bullying, fat shaming, transphobia and child abuse among other things.
Having seen the whirlwind involving this novel prior to requesting, I was so excited to be able to read it. After around the first 5%, that excitement was extremely quickly dwindling. The frequent use of homophobic slurs and constant bullying of the main character began to really grate on me and started to make me extremely angry. So I put it down thinking maybe another day and a different mood would make me love it as much as so may had before.
Unfortunately, when I started reading it again, it continued to attract my ire. Within the first 10-15% of the novel, the MC had been called various homophobic slurs including 'faggot', there was constant taunting and abuse towards the MC and his best friend and there had also been a scene whereby the two had beaten to a pulp by some nasty teenagers. Had this been advertised as a contemporary, I could have understood but unfortunately it was not.
By the time the MC is kidnapped and taken to 'wizarding school' I had developed so a uncomfortable feeling towards the novel that I struggled to get any further. Usually one to take maybe a week or two to read a novel, this took me more than a month of reading small portions just to tamp down the rage that steadily built inside with every sitting.
So, I found the MC to be superficial and unlikable (usually I like unlikable characters - Lila Bard is the bomb but so not a 'nice' character). I found him to have very few redeeming features despite the fact that he has been abused which is extremely unfortunate as he should have been a person I could at least pity.
The writing was extremely simple. While it is a young adult novel and one would not expect a writing style similar to that which would win a Pulitzer, I at least expected some better than basic vocabulary.
The story line felt tedious and provided me endless frustration despite the fact the blurb makes it feel fantastical and wonderous. I also felt that there were so many similarities between I'm A Gay Wizard and many different popular franchises that I felt I was reading a poorly disguised fanfiction rather than an independent work.
I was extremely hopeful for this novel as it was own voices. Unfortunately the 'own voice' seemed more like the author hates his own identity rather than someone who I felt should be celebrating his own sexuality.
Overall I found this novel to be a disappointment. I find it extremely difficult to find a redeeming feature however I am sure many will find it an enjoyable novel - It simply was not for me.
I received an advanced reading copy of this novel from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Having seen the whirlwind involving this novel prior to requesting, I was so excited to be able to read it. After around the first 5%, that excitement was extremely quickly dwindling. The frequent use of homophobic slurs and constant bullying of the main character began to really grate on me and started to make me extremely angry. So I put it down thinking maybe another day and a different mood would make me love it as much as so may had before.
Unfortunately, when I started reading it again, it continued to attract my ire. Within the first 10-15% of the novel, the MC had been called various homophobic slurs including 'faggot', there was constant taunting and abuse towards the MC and his best friend and there had also been a scene whereby the two had beaten to a pulp by some nasty teenagers. Had this been advertised as a contemporary, I could have understood but unfortunately it was not.
By the time the MC is kidnapped and taken to 'wizarding school' I had developed so a uncomfortable feeling towards the novel that I struggled to get any further. Usually one to take maybe a week or two to read a novel, this took me more than a month of reading small portions just to tamp down the rage that steadily built inside with every sitting.
So, I found the MC to be superficial and unlikable (usually I like unlikable characters - Lila Bard is the bomb but so not a 'nice' character). I found him to have very few redeeming features despite the fact that he has been abused which is extremely unfortunate as he should have been a person I could at least pity.
The writing was extremely simple. While it is a young adult novel and one would not expect a writing style similar to that which would win a Pulitzer, I at least expected some better than basic vocabulary.
The story line felt tedious and provided me endless frustration despite the fact the blurb makes it feel fantastical and wonderous. I also felt that there were so many similarities between I'm A Gay Wizard and many different popular franchises that I felt I was reading a poorly disguised fanfiction rather than an independent work.
I was extremely hopeful for this novel as it was own voices. Unfortunately the 'own voice' seemed more like the author hates his own identity rather than someone who I felt should be celebrating his own sexuality.
Overall I found this novel to be a disappointment. I find it extremely difficult to find a redeeming feature however I am sure many will find it an enjoyable novel - It simply was not for me.
I received an advanced reading copy of this novel from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.