Bryan Redeagle reviewed Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
Quality writing, a bit of a bummer story.
4 stars
The quality of the writing is good. The explanation and description of events, magic, and emotions are clear and well done. The explanation of the magic in this world felt like there was a logic to it, but it's hard to comprehend. Which is how you want it when the protagonist, Ivy, was never a part of this world. She's an outsider looking in.
The story itself was pretty good, but not a particularly positive one. It's a bit of a downer. Personally, I found most of the characters unlikable. They had a haughtiness to them that made me want to smack each one of them upside the head. The exceptions being one of the teachers and the school secretary. The main character, Ivy, while not a great person overall, gets a dollop of empathy from me, and her actions make sense within the context of her life. From the …
The quality of the writing is good. The explanation and description of events, magic, and emotions are clear and well done. The explanation of the magic in this world felt like there was a logic to it, but it's hard to comprehend. Which is how you want it when the protagonist, Ivy, was never a part of this world. She's an outsider looking in.
The story itself was pretty good, but not a particularly positive one. It's a bit of a downer. Personally, I found most of the characters unlikable. They had a haughtiness to them that made me want to smack each one of them upside the head. The exceptions being one of the teachers and the school secretary. The main character, Ivy, while not a great person overall, gets a dollop of empathy from me, and her actions make sense within the context of her life. From the start, she doesn't hide that she regrets a number of her choices in the story.
It's a good book, but I don't think I could read it more than once.