This novel also conveys many messages throughout. The take on how magical communities in chosen one mythos/books tend to position themselves as superior to non-magical folks is exemplary. This superiority is detrimental to both groups, creating a wide divide (as seen especially between Ivy and her sister continuously misunderstanding each other). There is also quite a lot of loss in this novel, loss that perpetuates the narrative and is the main chasm between the sisters. Family plays a key part in both Ivy's life, or her lack of familial connection, and in the mystery (with two teenager half siblings seeming to lead the investigation). Family is brutal, cruel, broken, but in the end you try your best to help and to mend the fractures. The mean girl group illustrates the brutality of high school, while also highlighting that these young women have no idea who they are or who they will become and often use bullying as a defense mechanism. It is not right, but fear makes all of us act opposite to who we are. It is often these formative years that shape our character, that build our personalities and show us as villain, victim, or something entirely different. It is normal to slot someone into a box, but once you see their inner workings, their hidden turmoil, you begin to reconsider why it is so easy to see the worst in a person and not the rest. Ivy is a very flawed character, but I was able to empathize with her character easily. Her feelings of rejection are palpable and her desire to fit in to this school and this magical world she knows nothing about is relatable. She wants to prove her worth, show she can be just as powerful, even without magic. She embraces her anger at her sister, bemoaning the loss of her mother to cancer (desperate to blame someone for something unpreventable). She is also a functioning alcoholic, which adds depth and sadness to her character. Several times I was angry at her, I wanted to shake her and ask her to snap out of it, but it was in those moments I saw how well written this character was. I could understand why she was so self deprecating, she never really had anyone to help her, guide her, or truly love her. The only real flaw I found in this novel was the repetitive imagery/metaphors, which happened immediately and continued throughout. One example is the description of sunlight streaming into the library of the school. The image created was beautiful, do not get me wrong, but when the same subject is repeated in different metaphors/imagery within several chapters, it became a bit grating and took away from the novel. Otherwise, I absolutely enjoyed this take on the noir/fantasy hybrid.
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