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manaledi's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I almost put this book down when the beginning was slow but it really grew on me. I mean magic books! But also the characters and the mysteries were well done
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
thoughtsontomes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
For a book about magical books, I found this so unique while still grounded in some sense of stories that I’ve heard before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror and Torture
shubka's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
A wonderful story of family, queer love, friendship,& adventure glued together with magic! A perfect book for any bibliophile!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
mabechel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment
alexgo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book starts off slow, but don’t let that stop you. I tore through the last half the fastest I’ve ever read. Some of my favorite parts are the flaws in characters’ logic and failures to recognize patterns that frustrated me, reminding me that the reader sees more than any individual character can. This book is an excellent mystery, and includes rosebuds of romance without sidelining the plot or causing a toothache, including a very realistic queer tirade. The world building in pieces and parts from different perspectives causes the start to seem slow, but many details of the build up get a later callback. I was especially taken by the descriptions of how spells physically impact the body of the reader, the writer, and the spelled. An absolute delight I will gladly recommend to all of my fantasy lovers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror and Abandonment
Deaths are somewhat gruesome, but not in an excessive way. The queer storyline includes a sort of suspiciousness that is common in many relationships, not just where magic is concerned.clairelisebella's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
gnarly_cinnamonroll's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The plot of this is beautiful and the premise of magical books is fantastic. The complex family dynamics felt real- the sisters navigating the strain of what their parents imparted with them creates a tense atmosphere where you question what the sisters know as well as how their emotions will impact their choices.
Pearl & Esther’s relationship is refreshing and opening with queer characters is fantastic and heart warming.I could have done without Collins & Joanna’s relationship at the end of the book. It felt rushed to me and I would have loved more build up between the two. Similarly, I wish that there had been deeper nuance and consequence to Esther’s decision to leave Antarctica
I think overall there should have been more consequences for the characters as they go through the book.I feel as though none of them had any real repercussions to the decisions they made. The author did a could job creating a consistent tense/mysterious atmosphere that left me invested even though nothing negative ultimately happens to any of the characters. Towards the end of the novel I feel like the individual perspectives homogenized and the unique character voice was lost.
I really enjoyed all the characters in the book, but I feel like all of them had limited character growth- except perhaps Nicholas. There were some cool plot twists in the book as well.
Pearl & Esther’s relationship is refreshing and opening with queer characters is fantastic and heart warming.
I think overall there should have been more consequences for the characters as they go through the book.
I really enjoyed all the characters in the book, but I feel like all of them had limited character growth- except perhaps Nicholas. There were some cool plot twists in the book as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent
wordsmithreads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Genocide, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
fronk10's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
A fantastic magical thriller that I couldn’t put down! More twists and turns than a twisty turny thing, and it all came together so beautifully at the end. Despite all that, it’s also a cozy story about family and connection. Delightful!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, and Death of parent
seasidedaisy's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
The first novel I read after a long time, I became really intrigued at the middle of the book. The beginning was rather slow but when the plot starts to roll it was hard to put the book down. I already predicted some of the twists but still sat there in awe at how beautifully every question got answered in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death of parent
Moderate: Death and Medical content