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mcaliz's reviews
295 reviews
The Ash-Born Boy by V.E. Schwab
dark
emotional
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
content warning: self harm
This was interesting
This was interesting
The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This was interesting ... This felt really corny, had a very severe case of insta-love, and was just very underwhelming.
I did love to learn about the witch's in this world about their powers and the few witches that we meet, but they weren't enough to cary the story.
I did love to learn about the witch's in this world about their powers and the few witches that we meet, but they weren't enough to cary the story.
Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
All I can really say is that this was interesting? It was nice to see "the Damsel in Distress" be the one that saved herself instead of waiting for a Prince. But other than that this was just "okay."
I wasn't a big fan about what the author was trying to about gender roles, and what it means to be a "girl" or a "boy" or a "princess" or "prince" given what the story was about. I do think that Muir was trying to subvert stereotypical tropes about gender roles/characteristics, but I don't think it was executed well in this. And how one of the characters that we meet in here, Cobweb, who's a fairy (and we learn that fairies are gender fluid &/or trans) HAD to be a girl in Floralinda's eyes, when that's not how Cobweb saw themselves.
So I can see how some would love this, but I just think that this did not do the job that it was trying to do.
I wasn't a big fan about what the author was trying to about gender roles, and what it means to be a "girl" or a "boy" or a "princess" or "prince" given what the story was about. I do think that Muir was trying to subvert stereotypical tropes about gender roles/characteristics, but I don't think it was executed well in this. And how one of the characters that we meet in here, Cobweb, who's a fairy (and we learn that fairies are gender fluid &/or trans) HAD to be a girl in Floralinda's eyes, when that's not how Cobweb saw themselves.
So I can see how some would love this, but I just think that this did not do the job that it was trying to do.
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content warnings: emotional abuse, child abuse, whipping of a young child, girl on girl hate, mentions of the threat of rape, gaslighting
Rep: queer side characters, sapphic side relationship, male/male side relationship, nonbinary rep
Thoughts
Neutral thoughts:
I mainly read this as an audiobook (but I would have the book with me so that I could tab & reread sections when I would get confused about what was going on) & I would recommend to read it like that! The writing style that the author uses sometimes breaks the Fourth Wall when Vanja “talks” to the reader with snarky commentary. (This is gonna sound kind of odd, but I think if you like/liked/loved the new Cruella movie with Emma Stone, I really think you’ll like this!)
Outside of Vanja’s predicament that she finds herself in with trying to Right her Wrongs, there are other political plot lines that are happening that Vanja finds herself interwoven with (because of the identity that she’s stolen) that were going on in the background that is forced to the front of the book (if that makes sense) & it felt kind of oddly placed? Not that they weren’t interesting or compelling being that it was also tied to the magic system of this world, but it would just kind of drag me out of Vanja’s PERSONAL story/struggle(s) that when they popped up I would be like “what? Why are we paying attention to this?” And while it EVENTUALLY tied in with Vanja’s struggle, I still felt like we could have been dealing with something else than the predicament/issue that we deal with.
Pros:
1. I loved the lore, the gods/goddesses & where they get their magic from and how they were created , in a sense from people/societies/cultures
2. I liked how there were queer characters and even trans people! We never meet any trans characters (explicitly at least), but they aren’t shunned from society, or seen in a negative lite. Vanja isn’t queer, but two other people of our main cast are queer & it was good to see it
3. One of my absolutely favorite things about this book was seeing the messiness of human beings within themselves in relation to their upbringing, of being hurt, angry, taken advantage of, disregarded, or of wanting to be seen. And then we see how all of these things influenced character dynamics/relationships. Vanja was put thru some SERIOUS messed up situations, predicaments, toxic friendships and toxic family relationships & it really had negative affects on how Vanja sees herself, her self worth, trust, love, and friendship. It was a little heartbreaking to see/read what she went thru from the people around her or damage that she was bringing onto herself.
4. Ragne. She was my ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE CHARACTER.
Gripes:
I don’t think I have any?
The romance(s):
Vanja & Emeric had SUCH good banter between the two of them. They had the rivals-to-lovers dynamic that some of us all love. AND IT IS SUCH A SLOW BURN. Like literally. A slow burn.
There IS a sapphic relationship that blooms in this one, and while I’m usually one to state any and all relationships in my book reviews, I’ma keep a closed lip on this one. But I will say that it is between two VERY important characters in this AND IT WAS SO CUTE 😭
Characters: (that I think are worth mentioning)
Vanja: This girl can’t catch a BREAK. And I honestly felt so BAD for her but I was so happy for her in the end. But seriously be warned, she's a Hot Mess.
Emeric: I thought he was funny. Not that he was cracking jokes, but he really made everyone undermine him & then would pull some shit that stunned everyone with how smart he was
Gisele: This girl? I did NOT like her. I could KIND OF see her perspective, but she was one of those girls that had SO MANY DOUBLE STANDARDS that I could not like her at all for being so selfish, disrespectful & inconsiderate. So while she did redeem herself towards the end of the book, I still wasn’t a fan overall 🤷🏻♀️
Ragne: I LOVED her 😹 I thought she was hilarious & she honestly was one of the best parts of the book
Adalbrecht: Gisele’s fiance. He was f*cking gross to put it lightly.
Rep: queer side characters, sapphic side relationship, male/male side relationship, nonbinary rep
Thoughts
Neutral thoughts:
I mainly read this as an audiobook (but I would have the book with me so that I could tab & reread sections when I would get confused about what was going on) & I would recommend to read it like that! The writing style that the author uses sometimes breaks the Fourth Wall when Vanja “talks” to the reader with snarky commentary. (This is gonna sound kind of odd, but I think if you like/liked/loved the new Cruella movie with Emma Stone, I really think you’ll like this!)
Outside of Vanja’s predicament that she finds herself in with trying to Right her Wrongs, there are other political plot lines that are happening that Vanja finds herself interwoven with (because of the identity that she’s stolen) that were going on in the background that is forced to the front of the book (if that makes sense) & it felt kind of oddly placed? Not that they weren’t interesting or compelling being that it was also tied to the magic system of this world, but it would just kind of drag me out of Vanja’s PERSONAL story/struggle(s) that when they popped up I would be like “what? Why are we paying attention to this?” And while it EVENTUALLY tied in with Vanja’s struggle, I still felt like we could have been dealing with something else than the predicament/issue that we deal with.
Pros:
1. I loved the lore, the gods/goddesses & where they get their magic from and how they were created , in a sense from people/societies/cultures
2. I liked how there were queer characters and even trans people! We never meet any trans characters (explicitly at least), but they aren’t shunned from society, or seen in a negative lite. Vanja isn’t queer, but two other people of our main cast are queer & it was good to see it
3. One of my absolutely favorite things about this book was seeing the messiness of human beings within themselves in relation to their upbringing, of being hurt, angry, taken advantage of, disregarded, or of wanting to be seen. And then we see how all of these things influenced character dynamics/relationships. Vanja was put thru some SERIOUS messed up situations, predicaments, toxic friendships and toxic family relationships & it really had negative affects on how Vanja sees herself, her self worth, trust, love, and friendship. It was a little heartbreaking to see/read what she went thru from the people around her or damage that she was bringing onto herself.
4. Ragne. She was my ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE CHARACTER.
Gripes:
I don’t think I have any?
The romance(s):
Vanja & Emeric had SUCH good banter between the two of them. They had the rivals-to-lovers dynamic that some of us all love. AND IT IS SUCH A SLOW BURN. Like literally. A slow burn.
There IS a sapphic relationship that blooms in this one, and while I’m usually one to state any and all relationships in my book reviews, I’ma keep a closed lip on this one. But I will say that it is between two VERY important characters in this AND IT WAS SO CUTE 😭
Characters: (that I think are worth mentioning)
Vanja: This girl can’t catch a BREAK. And I honestly felt so BAD for her but I was so happy for her in the end. But seriously be warned, she's a Hot Mess.
Emeric: I thought he was funny. Not that he was cracking jokes, but he really made everyone undermine him & then would pull some shit that stunned everyone with how smart he was
Gisele: This girl? I did NOT like her. I could KIND OF see her perspective, but she was one of those girls that had SO MANY DOUBLE STANDARDS that I could not like her at all for being so selfish, disrespectful & inconsiderate. So while she did redeem herself towards the end of the book, I still wasn’t a fan overall 🤷🏻♀️
Ragne: I LOVED her 😹 I thought she was hilarious & she honestly was one of the best parts of the book
Adalbrecht: Gisele’s fiance. He was f*cking gross to put it lightly.
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content warnings: gore, use of the term “mongrel” for brown bodies,
Rep: a biracial female mc, nonconforming gender roles, reincarnation, sibling love, magical creatures, a character w/ albinism
Thoughts
Neutral thoughts:
I overall really enjoyed this book & would recommend others to give it a try!
~When you start the book, just know that you’re going to immediately be thrust into the action. I personally really liked it and it got me sucked into the story. But it MAY be a little confusing, but honestly by the 25 page mark I think you’re good to go.
~I honestly felt like I was watching a Pirates of the Caribbean & a LOTR’s movie mash up in a book format. Like if you plucked the characters (minus Jack Sparrow) of PoTC and put them in (movie) Gondor and (movie) Rivendell. Ever thought that I would every mash those two things together, but this seriously felt like those two things
~Also, there’s queer characters in this! Nothing is specifically about certain characters about them either identifying as bi, or pan, or gay, or asexual or demisexual or demiromantic, but there are hints that there are queer characters/people in this world. I have seen many reviews claim that Will is bi, but he doesn’t confirm that in the book. You definitely see that he feels attraction towards men and women, but there is honestly so much going on that he doesn’t pay much to it. (Okay, we DO see the kindlings of a enemies to lovers relationship be planted in this with between him and James & I AM SO HERE FOR IT)
Pros:
~Some of the quotes in this were so beautiful? Like, I’m usually not one to have a huge emphasis on them for my enjoyment, but the ones in here? I literally had to stop and re read them & let them sink in.
~I appreciated/liked Will’s and Violet’s friendship/bond. They were both THRUST into the battle/war that is going in the magical world that they discover that they’re a part of & they rely on one another because they don’t have anyone else to turn to. And it was nice to see a bond between two people of opposite genders just be purely platonic in their friendship without there being the potential to be romantic.
~I love reincarnation & this had it! And the way that it was in here was really interesting!
Gripes:
~We follow multiple perspectives, but it’s not clear until you get further into the chapter whose head you’re in. I would have liked for that to have been clear when we started a new chapter.
~Out of all of the perspectives, I disliked Katherine’s the most. It was just REALLY superficial & we would not have lost anything from NOT having her POV in the story. I understood AT THE VERY END why we got her perspective, but it still wouldn’t make a difference, in my opinion, if we didn’t get her POV. It honestly made me dislike this book a little bit when we would be in her head. Granted we only got her POV like 3 or 4 times, but that honestly 3 or 4 times too many.
~I wish everyone had been aged up. For the most part our main cast of characters are around the age of 16/17. I just felt like this would have had a much deeper character arc and exploration, especially since the book talks about “light” and “dark” and what makes up those two things in words and in actions, that I would have just liked to have seen these characters REALLY struggle with these things. I think that the ages of these characters and their comprehension of these huge philosophical things was a little stunted and lack luster. We do get to see in certain characters ,like Will and Violet, huge emotional growth, confidence and determination as the plot progresses, important plot points and information is revealed & I really liked that part of it. But with them being as young as they are, I had to suspend my disbelief about how QUICK their growth happened in the span of time that we cover in the book (which is like 4ish, maybe 5 months).
~OKAY, like I have noted up above, there is a biracial character in here! Our Biracial character is Violet; and we learn that her mother is/was Indian (not sure if her mom is dead or not, but Violet never said that she was so I’m not sure) & her dad is white. And the gripe that I have with Violet is how her character is USED. Being a biracial woman myself, I love seeing biracial characters, seeing them struggle with their identity being composed of different cultures, customs, religion and languages and we see the character having to navigate with these two different cultures. And usually when we see biracial characters we see them be outcasted, belittled, hated in some cases but generally just seen as an “other” when that character is with ONE of the groups of people that their parents are from. With Violet, we know that she has definitely been “othered” by her “step mom”, as we learn that Violet is a bastard child from an affair that her dad had while he was in India doing work for a man we learn about in the book named Simon. As we the story progresses, we learn that Violet has some powers, and her older half-brother, Tom, (who is just full on white) has these same powers as well (and we learn that their father has these same powers). And when we learn about these powers, we learn about WHY Violet was born & the PURPOSE she is supposed to serve and I did not like that at all. As essentially the only brown character, the only South Asian character, she is reduced to only being seen as “animal” or “creature” because of her powers and the name that those with her powers are called. They’re known as “Lions.” Not really sure why, but we just know that in the Old World, the Dark King and the people of the Light called people like Violet “Lions.” And her being half Indian easily could have been because her dad is an actual racists piece of shit, and their powers labeling them as “Lions” could just be COINCIDENTAL, but they EASILY could have been called something ELSE, not “Lions.” The light just so happens to claim that these “Lions” are these “horrible creatures” AND THEN THIS INNOCENT BROWN GIRL WHO HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA, is now constantly fearing for her life for powers that she born with because of her dad; constantly worried that people are going to turn on her because she a “Lion”. And while Violet does grow to embrace her powers and what she is and to embrace the “Lion” identity and use her gifts for the greater good, I just had some problems with it? Aside from Violet, there’s only one other POC, Grace (who I think is African? Or she may be from the Caribbean? It’s never specified, but she nonetheless is brown body) is a servant. So I expect, and I want, for Violet and Grace and any other BIPOC character that comes into the rest of the story to be treated better than these have been
The romance(s):
While there was no straight up romance in this one, we definitely see the potential of a romance to happen between Will and James. These two literally scream enemies to lovers & I cannot WAIT to see what happens between the two of them (ESPECIALLY after information we find out about the both of them at the end) AAAAAAAAAAH. I can’t wait!
This is KIND of spoilery, but I honestly wish I had seen in mentioned in someone’s review. This is about Will and his interactions with one of the female characters we meet. SO HERE WE GO When we meet Katherine, essentially every time we’re following her POV it’s cause she’s interacting with Will. And every time that they interact, Katherine feels like she has “feelings” for Will even though she doesnt know a thing about him (but she’s 16, so I guess we can let her immediate infatuation slide 🙄). But we also learn that Will is feeling/felt something for her as well??? And when see/read about it, I was COMPLETELY THROWN OFF. I was NOT HERE FOR IT. But thankfully it is VERY short lived, and things happen at the very end that indicate that nothing is going to happen between them, but I still didn’t like the little bit that there was. It felt weird.
Characters: (that I think are worth mentioning)
Will: Our main man. A boy on the run after a tragic night that puts him on the path of revenge. I liked him overall & the growth that he went thru. I am VERY interested in what he does in the next two books after the revelations we learn about at the end of the book.
James: MY FAVORITE CHARACTER OF THEM ALL. A boy with a lot of power & a VERY interesting past that we learn about. I honestly felt for him with all of the things that have happened to him & I just cannot wait for the next book!
Simon: Also known as: Lord Crenshaw, son of the Earl of Sinclair. HES 37 YEARS OLD YALL. A CREEP who’s trying to marry 16 year old. But he also is filled with secrets
Violet: Tom’s younger sister, biracial (Indian & British). I liked her. Violet uses she/her pronouns, but she does not stay in the expected gender roles/expectations/looks that women did in the 19th century in Europe. And as someone who HATED having to only buy/wear clothes that came from the girls section of clothing stores, opposed to wearing what I wanted to, REGARDLESS of what “section” of clothing I was in, I liked seeing Violet, a biracial woman (like myself) dress how she wanted to & not feeling ashamed of it. And I liked how gender fluid she was as well. And I honestly really felt for her. Her “step mom” ACTIVELY disliked her & was very vocal about her hatred for Violet. I did have some qualms about how her character was used, like I mentioned in my gripes section, but I have hope that her character is treated better in the next installment.
Tom: Violet’s older brother, one of Simon’s “men” Known as the “Lion” for the gifts that he has. I anticipate that we’re going to be seeing more of him in the next two books.
Justice: a Steward of the Light. He’s described as being asian, but we don’t know where he comes from. But I also liked him; he was like a mentor/older brother for Violet as she came into her powers and her identity
Katherine Kent: Simon’s fiancée, almost 17 years old. She was “okay”, very superficial, naive that I could NOT handle & WAY to quick to romanticize her interactions with Will or any man tbh. The biggest bimbo I’ve ever read up to date.
Cyprian: a Novitiate of the Stewards (and Stewards are essentially warriors). I found him very interesting; he has a lot of anger and grief that he carries, but he honestly is trying his best
Grace: a Janissary (which is like a servant for the Stewards, but they could also be craftsmen, or jewelers, or whatever work that they want to do that isn’t a warrior)
Devon: Has albinism, one of Simon’s men who is filled with secrets & has abilities of his own
Rep: a biracial female mc, nonconforming gender roles, reincarnation, sibling love, magical creatures, a character w/ albinism
Thoughts
Neutral thoughts:
I overall really enjoyed this book & would recommend others to give it a try!
~When you start the book, just know that you’re going to immediately be thrust into the action. I personally really liked it and it got me sucked into the story. But it MAY be a little confusing, but honestly by the 25 page mark I think you’re good to go.
~I honestly felt like I was watching a Pirates of the Caribbean & a LOTR’s movie mash up in a book format. Like if you plucked the characters (minus Jack Sparrow) of PoTC and put them in (movie) Gondor and (movie) Rivendell. Ever thought that I would every mash those two things together, but this seriously felt like those two things
~Also, there’s queer characters in this! Nothing is specifically about certain characters about them either identifying as bi, or pan, or gay, or asexual or demisexual or demiromantic, but there are hints that there are queer characters/people in this world. I have seen many reviews claim that Will is bi, but he doesn’t confirm that in the book. You definitely see that he feels attraction towards men and women, but there is honestly so much going on that he doesn’t pay much to it. (Okay, we DO see the kindlings of a enemies to lovers relationship be planted in this with between him and James & I AM SO HERE FOR IT)
Pros:
~Some of the quotes in this were so beautiful? Like, I’m usually not one to have a huge emphasis on them for my enjoyment, but the ones in here? I literally had to stop and re read them & let them sink in.
~I appreciated/liked Will’s and Violet’s friendship/bond. They were both THRUST into the battle/war that is going in the magical world that they discover that they’re a part of & they rely on one another because they don’t have anyone else to turn to. And it was nice to see a bond between two people of opposite genders just be purely platonic in their friendship without there being the potential to be romantic.
~I love reincarnation & this had it! And the way that it was in here was really interesting!
Gripes:
~We follow multiple perspectives, but it’s not clear until you get further into the chapter whose head you’re in. I would have liked for that to have been clear when we started a new chapter.
~Out of all of the perspectives, I disliked Katherine’s the most. It was just REALLY superficial & we would not have lost anything from NOT having her POV in the story. I understood AT THE VERY END why we got her perspective, but it still wouldn’t make a difference, in my opinion, if we didn’t get her POV. It honestly made me dislike this book a little bit when we would be in her head. Granted we only got her POV like 3 or 4 times, but that honestly 3 or 4 times too many.
~I wish everyone had been aged up. For the most part our main cast of characters are around the age of 16/17. I just felt like this would have had a much deeper character arc and exploration, especially since the book talks about “light” and “dark” and what makes up those two things in words and in actions, that I would have just liked to have seen these characters REALLY struggle with these things. I think that the ages of these characters and their comprehension of these huge philosophical things was a little stunted and lack luster. We do get to see in certain characters ,like Will and Violet, huge emotional growth, confidence and determination as the plot progresses, important plot points and information is revealed & I really liked that part of it. But with them being as young as they are, I had to suspend my disbelief about how QUICK their growth happened in the span of time that we cover in the book (which is like 4ish, maybe 5 months).
~OKAY, like I have noted up above, there is a biracial character in here! Our Biracial character is Violet; and we learn that her mother is/was Indian (not sure if her mom is dead or not, but Violet never said that she was so I’m not sure) & her dad is white. And the gripe that I have with Violet is how her character is USED. Being a biracial woman myself, I love seeing biracial characters, seeing them struggle with their identity being composed of different cultures, customs, religion and languages and we see the character having to navigate with these two different cultures. And usually when we see biracial characters we see them be outcasted, belittled, hated in some cases but generally just seen as an “other” when that character is with ONE of the groups of people that their parents are from. With Violet, we know that she has definitely been “othered” by her “step mom”, as we learn that Violet is a bastard child from an affair that her dad had while he was in India doing work for a man we learn about in the book named Simon. As we the story progresses, we learn that Violet has some powers, and her older half-brother, Tom, (who is just full on white) has these same powers as well (and we learn that their father has these same powers). And when we learn about these powers, we learn about WHY Violet was born & the PURPOSE she is supposed to serve and I did not like that at all. As essentially the only brown character, the only South Asian character, she is reduced to only being seen as “animal” or “creature” because of her powers and the name that those with her powers are called. They’re known as “Lions.” Not really sure why, but we just know that in the Old World, the Dark King and the people of the Light called people like Violet “Lions.” And her being half Indian easily could have been because her dad is an actual racists piece of shit, and their powers labeling them as “Lions” could just be COINCIDENTAL, but they EASILY could have been called something ELSE, not “Lions.” The light just so happens to claim that these “Lions” are these “horrible creatures” AND THEN THIS INNOCENT BROWN GIRL WHO HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA, is now constantly fearing for her life for powers that she born with because of her dad; constantly worried that people are going to turn on her because she a “Lion”. And while Violet does grow to embrace her powers and what she is and to embrace the “Lion” identity and use her gifts for the greater good, I just had some problems with it? Aside from Violet, there’s only one other POC, Grace (who I think is African? Or she may be from the Caribbean? It’s never specified, but she nonetheless is brown body) is a servant. So I expect, and I want, for Violet and Grace and any other BIPOC character that comes into the rest of the story to be treated better than these have been
The romance(s):
While there was no straight up romance in this one, we definitely see the potential of a romance to happen between Will and James. These two literally scream enemies to lovers & I cannot WAIT to see what happens between the two of them (ESPECIALLY after information we find out about the both of them at the end) AAAAAAAAAAH. I can’t wait!
This is KIND of spoilery, but I honestly wish I had seen in mentioned in someone’s review. This is about Will and his interactions with one of the female characters we meet. SO HERE WE GO
Characters: (that I think are worth mentioning)
Will: Our main man. A boy on the run after a tragic night that puts him on the path of revenge. I liked him overall & the growth that he went thru. I am VERY interested in what he does in the next two books after the revelations we learn about at the end of the book.
James: MY FAVORITE CHARACTER OF THEM ALL. A boy with a lot of power & a VERY interesting past that we learn about. I honestly felt for him with all of the things that have happened to him & I just cannot wait for the next book!
Simon: Also known as: Lord Crenshaw, son of the Earl of Sinclair. HES 37 YEARS OLD YALL. A CREEP who’s trying to marry 16 year old. But he also is filled with secrets
Violet: Tom’s younger sister, biracial (Indian & British). I liked her. Violet uses she/her pronouns, but she does not stay in the expected gender roles/expectations/looks that women did in the 19th century in Europe. And as someone who HATED having to only buy/wear clothes that came from the girls section of clothing stores, opposed to wearing what I wanted to, REGARDLESS of what “section” of clothing I was in, I liked seeing Violet, a biracial woman (like myself) dress how she wanted to & not feeling ashamed of it. And I liked how gender fluid she was as well. And I honestly really felt for her. Her “step mom” ACTIVELY disliked her & was very vocal about her hatred for Violet. I did have some qualms about how her character was used, like I mentioned in my gripes section, but I have hope that her character is treated better in the next installment.
Tom: Violet’s older brother, one of Simon’s “men” Known as the “Lion” for the gifts that he has. I anticipate that we’re going to be seeing more of him in the next two books.
Justice: a Steward of the Light. He’s described as being asian, but we don’t know where he comes from. But I also liked him; he was like a mentor/older brother for Violet as she came into her powers and her identity
Katherine Kent: Simon’s fiancée, almost 17 years old. She was “okay”, very superficial, naive that I could NOT handle & WAY to quick to romanticize her interactions with Will or any man tbh. The biggest bimbo I’ve ever read up to date.
Cyprian: a Novitiate of the Stewards (and Stewards are essentially warriors). I found him very interesting; he has a lot of anger and grief that he carries, but he honestly is trying his best
Grace: a Janissary (which is like a servant for the Stewards, but they could also be craftsmen, or jewelers, or whatever work that they want to do that isn’t a warrior)
Devon: Has albinism, one of Simon’s men who is filled with secrets & has abilities of his own