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ashleyraye 's review for:
The Other Side of Magic
by Ester Manzini
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have struggled to read this book for a long time now. I picked it up and read the first chapter, but then my interest started to wane. I have finally been able to force myself to read it. I mostly did it just so I could get it done and over with. I will say that some parts of the book were interesting and those helped me to get through it, I did manage to read it though.
There was a lot to be desired about this book. The worldbuilding was almost nonexistent, which is a shame because there was a great concept behind it. I didn't really grasp the whole magic system they had going. It also didn't make sense how someone all powerful didn't just end the story from the very beginning. The book could have been over almost as soon as it started, but I will overlook that. I can explain it away, even though it is a bit unbelievable and doesn't make total sense.
The characters were...how do I put this? Annoying. I didn't like most of them at all. There also seemed to not be a lot of development, or if there was they just suddenly changed. We didn't get to see them slowly change and turn into a better version of themselves. Since I didn't care about the characters, I also didn't care about their struggles and relationships. Even the relationships didn't have much development. It honestly seemed like some of them were thrown together just because there needed to be a romance angle to the story.
The storyline was okay if you can get over the fact that not a lot happens and it honestly doesn't make a lot of sense why they were in that situation to begin with. Maybe with a little bit more backstory mixed in we could understand the princess's motives and thinking. She did kind of come across as an idiot who didn't understand the world at all, but yet she still had a lot of knowledge surrounding things and had schooling. She should have been able to think things through and understand what truly was going to happen. Of course, the one thing she didn't have planned and that made things much harder, had to do with the poorly explained magic system.
Now, it wasn't all bad. It was written okay style-wise, just all the elements needed a bit of work. I didn't hate what I was reading, it was only when I thought about all the specifics that I really saw all the issues with the story overall.
Is it possible that someone may enjoy this book? Yes, I do think it is possible. They just have to be in the mood for something that isn't the greatest and that you just kind of have to accept, flaws and all. The concept sounded really good to me, and had a ton of potential. I don't think much about this book will stick with me, but it's not the worst thing I have ever read.
There was a lot to be desired about this book. The worldbuilding was almost nonexistent, which is a shame because there was a great concept behind it. I didn't really grasp the whole magic system they had going. It also didn't make sense how someone all powerful didn't just end the story from the very beginning. The book could have been over almost as soon as it started, but I will overlook that. I can explain it away, even though it is a bit unbelievable and doesn't make total sense.
The characters were...how do I put this? Annoying. I didn't like most of them at all. There also seemed to not be a lot of development, or if there was they just suddenly changed. We didn't get to see them slowly change and turn into a better version of themselves. Since I didn't care about the characters, I also didn't care about their struggles and relationships. Even the relationships didn't have much development. It honestly seemed like some of them were thrown together just because there needed to be a romance angle to the story.
The storyline was okay if you can get over the fact that not a lot happens and it honestly doesn't make a lot of sense why they were in that situation to begin with. Maybe with a little bit more backstory mixed in we could understand the princess's motives and thinking. She did kind of come across as an idiot who didn't understand the world at all, but yet she still had a lot of knowledge surrounding things and had schooling. She should have been able to think things through and understand what truly was going to happen. Of course, the one thing she didn't have planned and that made things much harder, had to do with the poorly explained magic system.
Now, it wasn't all bad. It was written okay style-wise, just all the elements needed a bit of work. I didn't hate what I was reading, it was only when I thought about all the specifics that I really saw all the issues with the story overall.
Is it possible that someone may enjoy this book? Yes, I do think it is possible. They just have to be in the mood for something that isn't the greatest and that you just kind of have to accept, flaws and all. The concept sounded really good to me, and had a ton of potential. I don't think much about this book will stick with me, but it's not the worst thing I have ever read.