purplepenning's Reviews (1.72k)

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

An excellent intro to a new middle grade fantasy series! Set in an interesting alt world with a steampunkish magic system, it never gets bogged down in the world building. Meticulous (Metty) Jones is an active main character with a fate to foil, a beloved father to find and rescue, and friends and enemies to make along the way. The blurbs and reviews get it right — Nevermoor meets The Swifts!

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Exceptional. Lovingly illustrated, drenched in greens and bursting with life — this was the perfect deep winter read. It's an accessible graphic adaptation of the life of trees and the life of one of their greatest champions, sustainable forester Peter Wohlleben. Simple enough for interested middle graders but serious and detailed enough for adults, it's an amazing accomplishment and a brilliant introduction to the intricate mysteries of trees and their communities. 

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

A fast-paced middle grade science-fantasy that combines the training and space battles of Ender's Game with the dragon lore and dragonriding of Eragon and Skandar. High stakes but dialed in to a personal level that a reader can really get their emotions around. It's a great book for reluctant readers (very short sentences and manageable chapters) and anyone who loves that blended sci-fi fantasy vibe. And dragons — there's some really cool dragon stuff here!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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dark emotional tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

I don't mind slow, character-driven stories but this felt repetitive and overall underdeveloped. I couldn't feel the tension and emotion like I was supposed to, and I never really felt like I got to know Rhys at all. I'll try another by this author, though.

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