3.5*
I want to go to Paris. And you will too after reading this, just saying. Anyway, this is a really enjoyable book with a really clever magic system in an amazing setting. And now I shall break it down a bit for you!
The Things I Liked:
- •The characters, especially Anouk. The characters were really enjoyable- they are kind of like a family, with the same quirky relationships of a family of origin. I loved the dynamic between Anouk and Cricket (female friendships for the win!) and I loved watching the whole gang work together. Especially when they were also at each other's throats hah. But Anouk was just so very down to earth- she was really not trying to be a fighter, you know? She was meek, and she was just kind of forced to step up and try to save herself and her family, and it was nice to see for a change!
- •The magic system was really well done and interesting. Usually, I can take or leave the actual magic-building (is that a word? Should be), but in this case I was actually really into it. And while there were definitely questions answered, I feel like there's a lot that is still left to be uncovered about it.
- •Paris! I mean, obviously it's going to be a great setting no matter what, but it's so fun to think about witches and beasties and such running around the city too. And I loved that Anouk, who'd been basically trapped inside since she became "human", was as wide-eyed and eager to see Paris as the reader would be.
- •The stakes were very high. I mean, if Anouk and her friends didn't extend/amend/redo the spell that made them human to begin with, they'd revert back to their animal form. And from the way Anouk describes life in her animal body, it sounds like it's barely a life at all. So you could absolutely feel the tension and desperation of the situation. Plus, there's a literal countdown, which makes everything feel really urgent!
The Things I Didn't:
- •Ugh, the romance. I am honestly hoping that we're not supposed to ship it because there's going to be a better one that comes along? Because it isn't just that I didn't care about it- it actually made me cringe. First, Beau is my least favorite of the secondary characters. By a long shot. He just seemed really controlling, or patronizing, I don't know. And... it high key felt like a brother-sister dynamic which, ew.
- •Sometimes I got a little bored with the political stuff. There's some messy business going on between the witches and the other magical... dudes? Okay fine they aren't called the "dudes" but I don't remember what they are called. They're like, magic royalty. And then they were fighting with goblins or something, and look, I started to get a little iffy okay?
Bottom Line: Pretty good series start! Loved the unique magic-building (I am calling it, new word), incredible setting, and the family-feel of the characters. Anouk's character development was really good too. Aside from some minor issues, an enjoyable read!