thestorydragon's reviews
32 reviews

Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

Pros:
✨Atmosphere
✨Character Development and Relationships
✨Interwoven Plots
✨Pacing
✨Heavy Topics Handled with Care
✨ Prose and Craft

Cons:
✨Extremely Ambiguous Ending (Could be frustrating for some)
 

If you loathe ambiguous or open-ended novels, this one will drive you mad. I, for one, enjoy the insanity of such storytelling and thought this was a brilliant piece centered on grief, mental illness, and the ways we embrace darkness. The intensity of this book held until the very end, and I inhaled all of it it in a single day. Not only was the storyline immersive, but the characters captured my heart. This book made me pause and think. Difficult topics of loss, mental disorders, identity, and more we tackled in an eloquent manner that didn’t shy away from the gritty, messy side of such a discourse. The use of stories, art, and folklore to create even more separation between the logical and the fantastical drove the atmosphere into a surreal, gothic imagining. These characters are hooked in my mind, just the way they were intended to be. Consider me an unequivocal fan of C.G. Drews and their craft.

SEE FULL REVIEW: https://www.thestorydragon.org/ya-reviews/dont-let-the-forest-in 

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted tense 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? Yes

3.75

Pros:
✨Easy Read
✨Loveable Characters
✨Magic System

Cons:
✨Flat Characters/Cast
✨Lack of Chemistry

This was a fast, cute read with low stakes and a whimsical feel. Though the pacing leans toward a slower, more winding venture, that fits well with our rambling protagonist. Most of what makes Leo’s personality work is the fact that readers can anticipate a happy outcome in a cozy fantasy. That being said, I could see some people getting irritated by Leo’s questionable decision making. What absolutely made this book for me was the magic system. I thought it was absolutely fascinating, especially considering the simplicity. Truly, a genius way of creating an immersive magical world that depends upon a push-and-pull structure. Though I was expecting more romance here, I wasn’t disappointed in the lack of it. Especially since more romance would have slipped into coercive territories with

the control curse being more love spell than anything.

Still, I hope we get a more fleshed out cast in future installments, with an authentic connection between Leo and Grimm. In this novel, the chemistry was certainly lacking. I’m excited for the rest of the trilogy!

SEE FULL REVIEW: https://www.thestorydragon.org/adult-reviews/sorcery-and-small-magics