This was dark and deeply original, but it also dragged a little for me. I’m also a little unsatisfied on the lore - I wanted more about book eaters and how the balance in their species is mind eaters!

My toxic trait is starting paperback mystery series in the middle. I didn’t care much about most of these characters, but again I think it’s because I started with book 7. That said, the Scottish emporium was a charming little store and the mystery was well crafted. I couldn’t guess the killer immediately, but some of the obvious reveals were in there. It also has depressingly little to do with treacle scones.

Read out loud to kids:

Elly (age 8): 4 stars. I liked how there were natural elements and they used the word “puffling” into Gryphling. My fav character was the Roc, Ria.

Max (age 11): 3 stars. I liked the cloud castle. I would’ve rated it higher if their first quest hadn’t seemed so short and easy. My favorite character was Bay, because he seemed like a nice guy. That’s who I’d hang out with.

I really disliked the main character for the first third of this and then … I guess she grew on me? I was sympathetic to her, but also found her incredibly irritating. The twist was meh. The love story was… also meh. I may read another if it’s on her sisters. They struck me as significantly more likable and interesting.

The romance is very “YA” vibes but the storyline, plot, and metaphors are fun scifi! Really enjoyed this second segment. Reading these at the same time as my son and discussing them, which has been really meaningful.

Finished reading ALL of Potter to Max! Over 3,000 pages together over 5 years (with other books mixed in between). This final installment is so bleak in the middle and was a little tough for him I think - not to mention the losses at the end.

Love this art and cemetery vibes.

Gorgeous. I grabbed this because the cover quote suggested it is a blend of Miyazaki and del Toro which intrigued me. I can see both references in the whimsy and dark tone, though I never would’ve come up with them on my own. The art is simply stunning and the story is original and interesting. We’ve also been binge watching “our flag means death” so pirates are welcome genre.

I’m so deeply behind the times on this series that I didn’t know the big spoiler ending, and then about 5-6 chapters before it happens I saw the signs and thought, “oh damnnn.” Was it as nuanced as it could’ve been? No. But, one thing I never lost sight of with this series is that it is through the eyes of a 16 and later a 18 year old. Sure they had been through a lot, but their perspective wasn’t nuanced because they didn’t have the years of hindsight. In reading the extras at the end, she mentions that we don’t really have the backstory on most of the adults, besides some of the parents, nor do we know if they’re in relationships. Was Johanna married? The scar? Jeanine? Tori? Roth explains that we don’t know because Tris wasn’t paying attention to the adult dynamics. I think, from that perspective, Roth’s telling was pretty masterful. We got the perspective of hopeful, brave, teens who want to change the world for the better. And honestly, that’s pretty inspiring.