While I enjoyed this decently intriguing paranormal mystery, I felt a little let down due to unfulfilled expectations, mainly that I expected much more of a fantasy than what I got in this book. Additionally, even though no love triangle explicitly exists, Dennard littered the narrative with plenty of hints. (I found that odd considering that this is a standalone although I may be confusing some of the details with another book, The Glittering Edge.)
In the end, the narrative lacks distinctive details that would stand out and make this any more than an average read. I do still plan to continue to read from Dennard.
While I sincerely appreciate the fact that the audiobook narrator is also a person with Down Syndrome like the main character, the cadence did affect my consumption of the book. Setting that aside, I love the character, Mizzy, that Hatcher-Smith showcased in this mystery. The mystery, however, felt a bit more high stakes and close to home for the setting. I might pick up more in the series – if this becomes one – but will likely not seek them out.
Although I do not understand the origin of the title, I enjoyed this heartwarming middle grade urban fantasy novel. The main character, Gwen, has terrible parents 0 who thankfully do not make any appearances on page – who prioritize themselves rather than her. She has gotten used to this so when she ends up shipped off to her great-uncle’s home in Boston, she does not expect much. After arrival, she ends up discovering a while new
world of fae-like creatures, new responsibilities, and a potential new family. I really like how Birdsall developed the plot and left it open, potentially, for more books in this world.
This book took me far too long to read. Having read Daas’ first book in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, It Waits in the Forest, I knew not to expect a fantasy but rather a thriller with the hint of the fantastical or paranormal which is exactly what I got here. I struggled to engage with the narrative for several reasons. One, the friends of the main character felt far too interchangeable. Two, the insertion of scary stories in the first third disrupted the narrative. Three, i figured out the twist almost as soon as it happened. I should have DNF’d. Alas, I did not.
Anthologies are not for me. I definitely prefer longer stories. For the ones that I enjoyed the most, they ended too soon. Others in the collection just weren’t for me.
Wan-Long Shang created a compelling main character who discovers a lot about herself and her relationships both familial and platonic over the summer. While I think that the plot made sense, the insertion of the blatant prejudice from the mom (although it
makes unfortunate complete sentence) at the end of the narrative left the resolution hanging at least if one wanted a realistic, satisfying resolution. I appreciate that Wan-Long Shang tackled it although I think it deserved a few more pages.