What if the urban legends you’ve always heard about were real? It starts with a class in an old movie theatre. Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real.
3.5/5 stars – mystery, magic, and murder – what more do you need?
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Overall I enjoyed the story and how everything fit together. It felt like a real social deduction game at times, and even I’m not sure who Holland can really trust after the resolution.
There were a few pacing issues and it took me awhile to get hooked. The author spends A LOT of time describing every scenary, every character’s outfit (to the pinstripe matching the buttons), etc. at points I wanted to (and did) scream “I DON’T CARE” but I also appreciateed the level of detail because I could clearly envision what she was trying to convey. I would love to see it played out in a movie.
Holland was also a little too boy crazy for my liking, it just felt juvenile how much she fawned over how hot the various men were. Her relationships never got too far though, so I wouldn’t say the book was very character driven – when you start to get interested in a character they were suddenly gone and we’ve moved on to the next.
The ending was well done and left me wanting to know more. Lots of lingering questions and ways the story could continue. I’ll more than likely pick up Alchemy of Secrets #2 when it releases. I’d love to learn more about her parent’s story and what truly happened to them. And also WHERE THE HELL IS JANUARY??
Not a critique of the book but I have the Fairyloot copy and it’s absolutely stunning.