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A review by paperprivateer
The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Oh, I loved this!
I wish this book had been around when I was about 12, waiting for the next Harry Potter book and devouring every kind of magic, especially magic school, book I could get my hands on.
The book has a lot of cozy elements and things that are familiar yet entirely its own. It has elements of things I love from other books and some clear inspiration from things such as Harry Potter, Howl’s Moving Castle, X-Men, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and I’m sure others. The result is something that feels like a familiar hug but still brings its own charm to add to the mix.
The found family aspect is done well, with the cast of characters bringing color and interest to the world. The side characters have their own struggles and even different magical abilities, making nearly every moment an opportunity to discover something new about the world, the magic system or the characters. I particularly loved the fire sprite character, and fans of Calcifer will likely be as delighted as I was.
The world-building was well done. I loved the magic system and how it was divided into categories. The background of why the school exists and why it’s at the center of the current events makes a lot of sense. The school setting feels a little bit like Hogwarts, but the magic and the school itself is distinct enough that it feels like its own thing.
While the story was somewhat predictable, I didn’t think it was predictable to the point where it would ruin the enjoyment of the book (particularly for the target audience). Even with the predictability, there were some elements that surprised me. Overall, the plot was well thought through and engaging throughout.
This is the most fun I’ve had in reading for a while, and I hope there is a sequel soon. I wish I was a kid going to the Last Hope School For Magical Delinquents! The best I can do is recommend this to other people who would like to go to this school too.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions are my own and were not influenced by receiving a copy.
I wish this book had been around when I was about 12, waiting for the next Harry Potter book and devouring every kind of magic, especially magic school, book I could get my hands on.
The book has a lot of cozy elements and things that are familiar yet entirely its own. It has elements of things I love from other books and some clear inspiration from things such as Harry Potter, Howl’s Moving Castle, X-Men, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and I’m sure others. The result is something that feels like a familiar hug but still brings its own charm to add to the mix.
The found family aspect is done well, with the cast of characters bringing color and interest to the world. The side characters have their own struggles and even different magical abilities, making nearly every moment an opportunity to discover something new about the world, the magic system or the characters. I particularly loved the fire sprite character, and fans of Calcifer will likely be as delighted as I was.
The world-building was well done. I loved the magic system and how it was divided into categories. The background of why the school exists and why it’s at the center of the current events makes a lot of sense. The school setting feels a little bit like Hogwarts, but the magic and the school itself is distinct enough that it feels like its own thing.
While the story was somewhat predictable, I didn’t think it was predictable to the point where it would ruin the enjoyment of the book (particularly for the target audience). Even with the predictability, there were some elements that surprised me. Overall, the plot was well thought through and engaging throughout.
This is the most fun I’ve had in reading for a while, and I hope there is a sequel soon. I wish I was a kid going to the Last Hope School For Magical Delinquents! The best I can do is recommend this to other people who would like to go to this school too.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions are my own and were not influenced by receiving a copy.