essjay's Reviews (635)

Not quite five stars, but so close.

Honestly really minor nit-picks, like not having physical descriptions for the majority of the characters, so that I feel like I only really know what a few look like. This makes it harder to play the movie in my head, y'know? Also, one of my biggest writing pet peeves is the misuse of "unphased" when "unfazed" is the word that's meant. Lots of tradpub books get that wrong, though, so I'm not really going to hold it against Mx Whitby. 

Anyway, I really truly loved all the rest, even being someone not at all into supes or teen romances, which I think really speaks to just how fun Mutant Pride was. So much queer representation in a way that did not at all feel contrived. 


I wish I was starting the second book rn, but I'm waiting for my kid to catch up so we can start together. 

I'm constantly irritated that anything with a younger protagonist is listed as YA. This is NOT Young Adult fiction. I would also discard comparisons to The Magicians, though I can see why the Institute might be considered a dark mirror of Brakebills. 

If you liked Pontypool Changes Everything and The Flame Alphabet, you will likely also enjoy Vita Nostra.  

I read this for the first time almost 10 years ago and it still haunts me in the best possible way.  I think the publisher did a poor job of marketing this, it is definitely NOT the psychological thriller that the blurb makes it out to be. And that's too bad bc I think it has really kept it from finding its audience. 

I have been reading Duane's Young Wizards series for 30y, and somehow had never picked this up. I did NOT expect where it went, and in a lot of ways, this reminded me the most of Wizards at War. IYKYK, you know?

I think Middlegame was far stronger overall. This was too handhold-y for much of it (and so repetitive), but then other things that could have used elaboration were just glossed over. 

I will still read any further Alchemical Journeys books, but feel no need to re-read this one any time soon. 

[eta] I keep lowering my rating because the more I think about it, the more annoyed I am with how there was little to no climax and that the antagonist(s) received zero development.