wordswitwonder 's review for:

Doughnuts and Doom by Balazs Lorinczi

2.5

funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Doughnuts and Doom is a magical realism story about learning to trust yourself, building new relationships, and standing up to people who abuse their power.

Pros:
- The worldbuilding of this story was really nice. I appreciate the way the author wove together a modern setting with magical elements.
- The message of trusting your own abilities is helpful, especially for teenage readers.
- The side characters offered good comedic moments and depth to the world - the felt like they had their own lives outside of their relationships to the main cast of characters.
- The art style was fun and a bit "edgy."

Cons:
- I found the main character to be quite abrasive. She starts off the story by lashing out at a customer service worker and destroying a bakery because they're out of the item she wants. While she does apologize for this, it felt more like an attempt to keep herself out of trouble rather than because she actually grew as a character.
- The pacing of the story felt incredibly rushed, especially when it came to the developing romance between the two main characters. I wish the author would have spent a bit more time fleshing out the dynamic between those two.

Who I Think Should Read This Book:
- fans of witchy stories, those looking for a quick read, and anyone who needs a reminder to trust in themselves.