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Emily May nailed it with her review- an incredibly strong start just turns into magickal nonsense outta nowhere. I’m not opposed to supernatural elements if they’re well done, if they make sense, etc, but this book just kinda - spoiler- glosses over 80% of the world dying just to rush through the intro of fairies, shapeshifters, etc. None of it is explained or makes particular sense, the disease comes with magic and some people turn good, some turn bad. That’s it. I get that further books might explain more, but there’s a lack of immersion, here, for me- it’s just done incredibly quickly and without much art or wonder, it’s simply not a thing and then is. May also notes the odd writing style- a huge lack of details with the plot driven by heavy dialogue that is often unclear. Meanwhile there are so many bland characters that I don’t really care who it is speaking- it’s like it doesn’t even matter, the speech is just there to move the story forwards.
Blah, just a very disappointing book- I love Harry Potter, I love dystopian, I love apocalypse fiction- this shoulda/coulda been the perfect meeting of those sub genres, but instead it just feels like a rushed version of “The Stand” for teenagers. It ultimately didn’t feel organic or real, but instead like someone knew what would sell/be a cool idea, but with no real commitment to the world they built. I likely won’t read the next book in the series, and that’s a shame. Whole thing feels forced and unexplained, “magick!” just the cool idea and explanation given for the whole thing.
Blah, just a very disappointing book- I love Harry Potter, I love dystopian, I love apocalypse fiction- this shoulda/coulda been the perfect meeting of those sub genres, but instead it just feels like a rushed version of “The Stand” for teenagers. It ultimately didn’t feel organic or real, but instead like someone knew what would sell/be a cool idea, but with no real commitment to the world they built. I likely won’t read the next book in the series, and that’s a shame. Whole thing feels forced and unexplained, “magick!” just the cool idea and explanation given for the whole thing.