OYENTE

AzulDemon

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Disappointed

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 08-19-24

I was really excited for this book and had very high hopes but unfortunately, I almost ended up DNFing it. It all comes down to some personal preferences as well as some actual critiques of the book and writing.

Personal stuff: First and foremost I don’t really love magic that is basically boundless and can generally do anything which is the magic in this world. Time travel? Sure. Teleportation? Yup. Making something out of nothing? That too. Combine that with a very soft magic system that really didn’t feel like it had any rules, limits, or consequences and you’ve got a recipe for me being constantly annoyed. Like, it never actually feels like the characters (who are at a university for magic!) are learning magic because there doesn’t really seem to be a magic system. That might not be the point for this author but I just couldn’t get past it. Couple that with just how instantly the MC is able to do basically all the magic and it was almost too much for me.

The other personal taste thing is that the book reads like something out of the CW. I truly don’t mean that as a criticism. It’s just not my thing.

Critiques: Back to the magic system. Stop telling me magic has a cost but then never show me or explain said cost. Characters say it over and over and yet it seems pretty costless the whole book until it’s convenient for the plot and even then it’s vague. Also, there are continent-sized plotholes in the world-building…like there are some major things unexplained given that magic exists in the world we live in and has existed for hundreds of years, if not longer…So. Many. Plotholes.

The romance plot is very cringe. You mean to tell me our MC is in love with someone he met at 7, knew her for less than a year, was then separated from for ten years, but recognizes her immediately (I don’t know about you but I looked nothing like my seven-year-old self when I was seventeen), and is still madly in love? That’s a very hard sell even in a fantasy book (who is in love at 7!? the dude literally calls her his first love). To top it all off, he’s not just jealous (I can understand that to a degree) he’s downright possessive and borderline derogatory about it.

Other reviewers have commented on the use of AAVE but I don’t feel it’s my place to say if it was excessive or not. What I will say is that it was an adjustment at first but I adapted within a few chapters and was able to pretty easily infer the meaning of any terms I wasn’t familiar with. There was a heavy use of pop culture references (I’m pretty sure the Avengers was referenced at least 8 times) and that felt like it could either really date this book or detract from the experience for those unfamiliar with what is being referenced.

The good stuff: There’s a really awesome premise here both with plot and setting and the concept of an ancestral magic system. The action scenes were also great; they were very well-written and easy to follow. I also think a lot of my critiques can be attributed to this being someone’s first book and things that will likely improve in future books. Also, the narrator for the audiobook was excellent and I liked the use of sound effects in the audiobook version as well. Overall disappointing and I’m unlikely to continue with this series due to the above-listed personal preferences more than anything.

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Vivid and well defined characters

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 07-17-24

I’m not sure if this is the end of this series but if it is it’s a good ending but I get the feeling there may be more to come. Overall, I love the uniqueness of this setting and the focus on precolombinan South America. I also feel like the characters, their voices, their motives, and their decisions all make sense (even if they are infuriating at times lol). I honestly burned through this book and I was pleasantly surprised that there were moments of genuine tension for me and instances where the plot didn’t play out how I was expecting it (in a good way).

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Incredibly entertaining

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 06-28-24

I was skeptical when the high republic was first announced but so far, these books have been nothing but fun and enjoyable. The audio production always adds to the experience and I’m digging the plot and characters. Lots to love her.

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A decent debut

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 06-24-24

A decent story, if a bit predictable, with a great setting and different cultural lens.

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Fun and immersive historical fantasy

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 05-31-24

Super enjoyable overall with a gripping middle half. The atmosphere and sense of setting were excellent. I’d say my biggest gripes are that the characters (in terms of me liking and caring about them) and romance were mid.

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Fun story with likable characters

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 05-15-24

This was very enjoyable. There were definitely a couple of plot holes and there was not quite as much heist as I was hoping for but overall it really was super enjoyable.

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A character driven second installment

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-30-24

Where the first book was a pretty straight forward magic quest (complete with macguffin) this one is more focused on the characters and their relationship dynamics. That makes it less plot focused. I didn’t mind as character and their relationships are what I like most but if you’re a plot driven reader this might feel slow and purely like setup for the next installment to you. I thought I’d dislike the change in narrator but I was pleasantly surprised.

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Tragic, touching, and terrifying

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-13-24

This book is a tense and sometimes painful read but also an important one. There are ghosts and elements of the supernatural but that is the least terrifying thing in this novel. The juxtaposition of ghosts with the real life horrors of the Jim Crow south is brilliantly done and powerful.

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A Darker Shade of Magic Audiolibro Por V. E. Schwab arte de portada

Fun first entry

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
3 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-11-24

The concept for the world is very cool even if the magic system feels a bit generic. The characters were fun, flawed, and likable. Overall I enjoyed it and I am excited for the next book

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A love able monster

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-17-24

It’s been a while since a book made me tear up. This was really a fantastic book. My only gripe is I would’ve liked it to be just slightly longer and maybe gotten a little more from some of the earlier POV’s. But honestly, it’s a small critique. Horror at its most human and touching.

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