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anni_swanilda's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
jennaniho's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is not just about self-discovery, is also about self-acceptance. And have the bravery to fight for what you want.
This book felt like a love letter to our planet Earth in the most magical way possible. Rachel’s writing style feels fresh and easygoing, but still capable of projecting deep emotions and thoughts through her characters. I identified with Clara in many ways and I loved how the author connected different areas of all the characters’ personalities with what their season represents, making you understand even some of the unlikeable ones. Yet, Clara’s self-isolation and insecurity were a bit of a stereotype. However, her overall nature is an archetype for women who are deemed too emotional, too much, or too dangerous. She represents those who are struggling with their personal power, but learn that the only way to be happy and free is to show and embrace all sides of themselves.
This leads us to Sang, Clara’s mentor and romantic interest. Sang was probably my favorite character in the book. His quiet and calming personality clashed against Clara’s stubbornness and self-loathing and he was the perfect mirror for her to look at herself and face her fears. Sang reminded me a lot of my grandfather and how his gentle love soothes my abuela’s fiery and passionate personality. And just like my grandparents, Clara and Sang’s romance was not rushed or forced, but it was very present from the beginning. Furthermore, I liked how the author gently treated Clara and Paige’s love story breakup without eliminating Paige from Clara’s life.
Though the details of the magical system in the book are a bit vague, it still shows you how it works and how it is deeply connected with everything in the story. So much so that one of the characters researches how to take out harmful plants without the witch or the plant feeling pain. Or how clouds have a mind of their own when manifesting rain and thunder. Likewise, I love how the author has the witches loyal to the Sun rather than the traditional Moon veneration without demonizing the latter; as well as, referencing the Sun as a she (probably honoring sun goddesses hardly mentioned in modern witchcraft and paganism).
Finally, my favorite element of this story is how it tackles climate change by cleverly linking it to the essence of a witch. Throughout history, witches have been deeply connected to the earth, acting as stewards of the planet and utilizing its resources for healing and sustainability. This said, the book also highlights the pressing issue of how human greed is deeply detrimental to our environment. The term "shaders" is used in the book to describe non-magical people; which, I think is fitting because it can symbolize how this greed has cast a dark cloud over our world's climate and our lives. Despite this, the book offers a sense of hope by emphasizing the importance of working together as the only way to make a positive difference in restoring balance to our environment and our lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
jenna_justi2004's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.0
So god damn cute
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death of parent
midnightmoon_dreamer's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It’s not necessarily bad but like the magic system didn’t fully make sense and the book was just so frustrating.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Death of parent
ctara2123's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
hello_lovely13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
karly_ackley's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
ka_ke's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent
art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Sadly, I found this incredibly boring. It wasn't "bad" which is why I'm giving it 3 stars but it wasn't exciting even though there was actual action. It felt like Griffin was going for the classic magic school trope without wanting to actually "build" a fictional school. There was no structure of the school, it was unclear what ages attended it (except that they graduate somewhere around 18 unless they came to do extra research from another school), or what classes they took other than group practical magic practice sessions. I'm also still confused what "off-season" witches do during their off-seasons. Do they not study for 3 quarters of the year? My point being: the world-building was less than ideal, especially for a standalone novel.
I did appreciate the main female character's growth over the book but she was the only truly fleshed out character, most of the teachers and other students were either non-existent or very shallow. The main supporting male character is better but still does not have super deep character development, we mainly know how much he loves plants. For me it just contributed to the lack of reality that was already created from the lack of world-building around the school. It is supposed to be somewhat contemporary however it just doesn't feel real.
If you want a simple witchy read, this could satisfy that requirement but it isn't a story that's going to stick with you forever.
I did appreciate the main female character's growth over the book but she was the only truly fleshed out character, most of the teachers and other students were either non-existent or very shallow. The main supporting male character is better but still does not have super deep character development, we mainly know how much he loves plants. For me it just contributed to the lack of reality that was already created from the lack of world-building around the school. It is supposed to be somewhat contemporary however it just doesn't feel real.
If you want a simple witchy read, this could satisfy that requirement but it isn't a story that's going to stick with you forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Blood, and Death of parent