ebook_em's Reviews (960)

This book is not without its flaws, but I still have to give it 5 stars based on the incredible character work for the POV characters, the elemental magic system, and whatever alchemy M.L. Wang used to pull off 100 pages worth of action scenes that felt vivid and perfectly paced. Also, “The Duel” is one of the best chapters of any book I’ve ever read. Given those strengths, any complaints I have about the exposition and the side characters feel unimportant. Such a great read!

I’ll read anything Amber McBride writes. I actually thought about DNFing this multiple times in the first half because the dystopian elements felt heavy handed and disjointed. Around the midpoint of the novel, there’s a twist and everything makes more sense. After that, we get more of McBride’s signature mix of reflective poetry and dialogue, which I enjoyed much more. I think this book offers a unique entry point for middle grade kids to learn more about Black history from slavery through the Covid-19 pandemic.