It is so rare to find a trilogy that is three solid, evenly-delivered, progressive Punches To The Face. Super intense and I loved all the technology.

This book was FUN. There was never one second where Genie behaved like a typical dumb YA heroine. She's tough, she's smart, she's brave, she's loyal, and she deals with her shit. I didn't know anything about the Monkey King so I really enjoyed learning about the mythology. My big complaints are spoilers, but I still highly recommend.

Spoiler

I wanted more with Yunie, and I was not happy about the romance. I much preferred the boy from her school.

Genie's romance is solid enough in this one that I don't hate it as much as I did in the first book, and there is a lot more Yunie which is great because I love her. I loved seeing Genie struggle with whether to go to college (and how to pay for it) while also trying to save the entire world, because when you're a teenager sometimes those feel like the same level of importance. Overall, just as good as the first.

I enjoyed this book enough to give it four stars, but settled on three because there was too much weak plotting. I also expect a bigger cast when the entire story takes place in a castle.

I actually liked the relationship between Lark and Tiras because I felt like they deserved each other (both being temper-tantrum-throwing children) and so I could enjoy it without being too annoyed. I also felt like they meant well.

I really loved the world, and all the powers, and Lark's poetry added a measure of loveliness that I really enjoyed.

I did not see it coming that Zoltev was actually the bad guy, and that was awesome.

But it made no sense that after decades of this country killing anyone with powers, that there would be dozens and dozens and dozens of them still alive and working magic (including most of the actual royalty who was clamoring for their deaths). A few I expected, but those numbers were absurd.

I also think Kjell was a weak character, and I can only assume that's so he can grow in the sequel, but he was disappointing. Boojohni was a treat and I really enjoyed him.

I don't know if I didn't like this because it doesn't translate well to audio, or if it's just so old and weird and creepy. Probably the latter.

Spoiler

What kind of psycho teacher encourages her fifteen year old student to sleep with a married man, solely because she loves him and doesn't want to sleep with a married man herself????

I was never sure if you were supposed to find Brodie sympathetic, or psychotic, or caring, or desperate, or fascist, or what. So, so weird.

My introduction to Geralt was through the tv show, which I unexpectedly fell head over heels in love with. (I was worried he would be another gruff annoying Mandalorian type, but he proved to be a hilarious, mature, impressive protagonist.)

I loved this book just as much. The bard is as annoying as ever, the world as fascinating as ever, and Geralt as stubborn and witty as ever.

This was so compelling and exciting that I was going to give it four stars. I loved the mystery (a teacher at a high school for magic students is found split in half, and Ivy must figure out if it was a magic spell gone wrong or if it was murder). I loved the dynamics of the school, and Ivy's perspective on high schoolers versus adults. She was a pitiful sadsack and I never felt like I understood her (she had no friends, no hobbies, was basically a mid thirties caricature of a real person), but I was rooting for her anyway.

Unfortunately the ending left a bad taste in my mouth.

Spoiler

The surgical/magical abortion thing was interesting, and I liked how gross the magic was, but it all unraveled too fast compared to the rest of the story's pacing. I was also so furious that she literally let her sister get away with murder. The reader is treated to an entire book about how Ivy feels like she doesn't know her sister and they aren't close, and I'm supposed to believe she just lets her get away with torturing a student and accidentally killing her lover? FUCK THAT. I also didn't like that it ends with her sitting on the stoop waiting for Rahul. She was a crazy bitch who pretended to be magical just to make herself feel good, and I don't like that she is hopeful about getting back together with him.

And I thought learning to dive in water was scary! This was such a cool concept, but it felt like the beginning of a story, not a whole one.

Spoiler

I especially wanted to know what happened to Danvar, and why everyone was so intent on finding it if they couldn't get down there.

Boring boring boring
Gross twincest
No thank you