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A review by fafabookcorner
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Beware spoilers ahead!
Trigger warning(s): Bullying, grief, racism, racial slurs, kidnapping, hate crime, and classism.
Reading Challenge: #PondathonII
Rep: Amari and her family are Black-American. There are several POC side characters.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I had seen this book all over social media in December 2020. I had heard so many positive things about this book. What really sold me was the pitch (I love the Artemis Fowl series!) and the pictures of the gorgeous UK edition.
I am happy to say that I loved this book!
What I Liked: The magic system was so unique! I loved the mix of fantasy and sci-fi. And all the magical elements added in, like the talking elevators. Honestly who wouldn’t want an elevator that can talk?
The plot was so interesting! I was on the edge of my seat reading about the trials Amari was taking whilst her trying to find information about Quinton and Maria’s disappearance.
I really liked how Alston handled the racism in a fantasy setting. I usually don’t like reading about racism in fantasy because of the lack of nuance. Which was thankfully not the case with this novel. The racism was presented in a nuanced way which is a testament to Alston’s writing.
Amari’s relationship with Quinton was so sweet to read about! Quinton is 10 years older than Amari but they are still very close to one-another. Amari idolizes Quinton and has spent a lot of her childhood comparing herself to him. When she enters the Supernatural Bureau, Amari feels lost, and doesn’t think the she can bring her brother back home (she isn’t the sibling that is a genius after all). She is scared and confused in the beginning, but for the sake of her brother she decides to persevere and continue to fight for her spot in the Bureau.
Amari’s relationship with her mother is strained in the beginning. Her mother is trying to understand and sympathize with what Amari is going through, but she has a lot on her plate and it isn’t always easy. Amari misses the days when her mother would smile more and stress less. Which is another reason she wants to bring Quinton back home.
Amari’s relationships with Agent Magnus, Agent Fiona, and her roommate Elsie were a delight to read about! Agent Magnus and Agent Fiona were always encouraging Amari to try her best and ignore the people who wanted to see her fail. Elsie was a ball of sunshine! I fell in love with her from her first scene onwards. I loved how even before knowing Amari, Elsie offered to help her look for Quinton.
I loved reading about Amari’s character development! Her resilience, her confidence in her own abilities, relying on friends when needed, and so much more. I fell in love with Amari from the first page, and as I continued to read I loved her even more. She was sweet, and fierce. Amari never let anyone put her down, she always got back up.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
What I’m Looking Forward To: I was not expecting that reveal with Dylan. I probably should’ve seen it coming from that spell book scene but still. In part it’s because Maria is his older sister, but also narratively I can’t really see his character arc going any other way.
I still have so many questions about the magic system, especially with the League of Magicians being introduced. I am really excited for Amari and the Great Game! I want answers and I really need Quinton to wake up soon.
Conclusion: Overall I adored Amari and the Night Brothers! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a middle grade fantasy series.
Trigger warning(s): Bullying, grief, racism, racial slurs, kidnapping, hate crime, and classism.
Reading Challenge: #PondathonII
Rep: Amari and her family are Black-American. There are several POC side characters.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I had seen this book all over social media in December 2020. I had heard so many positive things about this book. What really sold me was the pitch (I love the Artemis Fowl series!) and the pictures of the gorgeous UK edition.
I am happy to say that I loved this book!
What I Liked: The magic system was so unique! I loved the mix of fantasy and sci-fi. And all the magical elements added in, like the talking elevators. Honestly who wouldn’t want an elevator that can talk?
The plot was so interesting! I was on the edge of my seat reading about the trials Amari was taking whilst her trying to find information about Quinton and Maria’s disappearance.
I really liked how Alston handled the racism in a fantasy setting. I usually don’t like reading about racism in fantasy because of the lack of nuance. Which was thankfully not the case with this novel. The racism was presented in a nuanced way which is a testament to Alston’s writing.
Amari’s relationship with Quinton was so sweet to read about! Quinton is 10 years older than Amari but they are still very close to one-another. Amari idolizes Quinton and has spent a lot of her childhood comparing herself to him. When she enters the Supernatural Bureau, Amari feels lost, and doesn’t think the she can bring her brother back home (she isn’t the sibling that is a genius after all). She is scared and confused in the beginning, but for the sake of her brother she decides to persevere and continue to fight for her spot in the Bureau.
Amari’s relationship with her mother is strained in the beginning. Her mother is trying to understand and sympathize with what Amari is going through, but she has a lot on her plate and it isn’t always easy. Amari misses the days when her mother would smile more and stress less. Which is another reason she wants to bring Quinton back home.
Amari’s relationships with Agent Magnus, Agent Fiona, and her roommate Elsie were a delight to read about! Agent Magnus and Agent Fiona were always encouraging Amari to try her best and ignore the people who wanted to see her fail. Elsie was a ball of sunshine! I fell in love with her from her first scene onwards. I loved how even before knowing Amari, Elsie offered to help her look for Quinton.
I loved reading about Amari’s character development! Her resilience, her confidence in her own abilities, relying on friends when needed, and so much more. I fell in love with Amari from the first page, and as I continued to read I loved her even more. She was sweet, and fierce. Amari never let anyone put her down, she always got back up.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
What I’m Looking Forward To: I was not expecting that reveal with Dylan. I probably should’ve seen it coming from that spell book scene but still. In part it’s because Maria is his older sister, but also narratively I can’t really see his character arc going any other way.
I still have so many questions about the magic system, especially with the League of Magicians being introduced. I am really excited for Amari and the Great Game! I want answers and I really need Quinton to wake up soon.
Conclusion: Overall I adored Amari and the Night Brothers! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a middle grade fantasy series.