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A review by moonlitemuseum
Uncommon Charm by Emily Bergslien, Kat Weaver
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Full disclosure: I am a friend of the authors!
Uncommon Charm is a sizeable chunk scored out of a universe rich with its own history, its own favoured families, and its own sense of magic, but it never over-burdens the reader with exposition—nor does it linger too long on any one topic. Narrator Julia is a delight, flighty and funny and filled with teenage importance, and her relationship with the novella's deuteragonist Simon was my favorite thing about the experience.
The topics in the book are heavy, but Julia's voice does an impeccable job in lightening the tone. It feels so intimate to be part of her conversation, close-to-the-knuckle jokes and all, and when she /is/ shaken it has all the more effect.
I could spend paragraphs and paragraphs gushing about the world, the characters and the magic—the magic! Is it religion, is it superstition, is it social responsibility, is it art? Is it all of that, granted greater strength by a deftly woven narrative? Whatever its rules and logic, it's so much fun—but the important thing to stress here is that Uncommon Charm is deliciously brisk and thoughtful in all the right ways.
I can't wait to hear more tales from this world.
Uncommon Charm is a sizeable chunk scored out of a universe rich with its own history, its own favoured families, and its own sense of magic, but it never over-burdens the reader with exposition—nor does it linger too long on any one topic. Narrator Julia is a delight, flighty and funny and filled with teenage importance, and her relationship with the novella's deuteragonist Simon was my favorite thing about the experience.
The topics in the book are heavy, but Julia's voice does an impeccable job in lightening the tone. It feels so intimate to be part of her conversation, close-to-the-knuckle jokes and all, and when she /is/ shaken it has all the more effect.
I could spend paragraphs and paragraphs gushing about the world, the characters and the magic—the magic! Is it religion, is it superstition, is it social responsibility, is it art? Is it all of that, granted greater strength by a deftly woven narrative? Whatever its rules and logic, it's so much fun—but the important thing to stress here is that Uncommon Charm is deliciously brisk and thoughtful in all the right ways.
I can't wait to hear more tales from this world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia