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fruitbatwoman's reviews
567 reviews
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
The last book of the Scholomance trilogy is very different from the previous ones: our beloved anti-heroes are not inside the school anymore, but let loose in the magical politics and injustice of the real world. I can see how the change in setting and tone put some readers off, but to me it was a strong conclusion to an excellent urban fantasy series.
What I liked:
+ Great urban fantasy mixed with real world locations
+ Multilayered bad guys with believable motivations
+ Social commentary on inequality, privilege, capitalism
+ El's incredible spells
+ Queer representation
What could have been better:
- Characters felt a bit flat compared to previous books, especially El's mother was more like a plot device than an actual person
- The ending was both satisfying and not satisfying - it wraps up all loose ends, but felt a bit rushed and unfinished
What I liked:
+ Great urban fantasy mixed with real world locations
+ Multilayered bad guys with believable motivations
+ Social commentary on inequality, privilege, capitalism
+ El's incredible spells
+ Queer representation
What could have been better:
- Characters felt a bit flat compared to previous books, especially El's mother was more like a plot device than an actual person
- The ending was both satisfying and not satisfying - it wraps up all loose ends, but felt a bit rushed and unfinished
Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins: Beauregard Lionett by Marisha Ray, Matthew Mercer, Mae Catt
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
After the cliffhanger in A Deadly Education, I was happy that I could read the second book of the Scholomance trilogy right away. It starts immediately after the first book, and continues the story of El, Orion, and the other poor budding magicians in the monster-infested school.
What I liked:
+ El's character arc, going from recluse anti-villain to selfless heroine
+ The romance arc between El and Orion
+ Like in the first book, the superb world building all around
+ The subtle sentience of the school
+ The ending was gripping and had be turning pages
What could have been better:
- The school politics got a bit tiring towards the middle
What I liked:
+ El's character arc, going from recluse anti-villain to selfless heroine
+ The romance arc between El and Orion
+ Like in the first book, the superb world building all around
+ The subtle sentience of the school
+ The ending was gripping and had be turning pages
What could have been better:
- The school politics got a bit tiring towards the middle