Magical Sapphic Academic Rivals to Lovers? Can it get better>
This book has so much potential to me that I am as stirred to have it in my hands as one of those beautiful sounding potions Shayna makes throughout the first few chapters we see in the look. Okay, while that was a bit corny, this book is definitely not. I adore the writing style — it is the perfect mix between YA highschool stories and the lovable magical fantasy style which has become more prevalent recently. The magic system is fascinating and I love how scientific potionswork seems. The hefty time we spend not only being told but seeing how much Shayna seems to put into her potions is lovely and really helped me see the value of the magic to the book's plot. In particular, I thought the Brockton Scholarship line about being "magically brilliant, academically perfect and chronically over-committed" is simply pure relatability. quintessential high school experience for any nerdy kid with something to prove capsized. I would also kill for a Face-Awake potion out of one of those cauldrons though.. these under-eye bags aren't going anywhere without one.
Aya Alvarez, I am obsessed with her. She is everything I want to be as a fellow brown sapphic and my god.. I am so! Put me in and let me have a chance of romance with her too! Talking of romance, the SAPPHIC ACADEMIC RIVALS TO LOVERS trope.... I AM EATING IT UP! E A T I N G IT UP! This is truly the dream romance scenario for me like come ON! Other representation which made me smile was the tough love POC parents. Me too Shayna, me too! The scene in which her parent's energy, magic and pride in her flood to her giving her power made me so genuinely happy. It is everything to me.
In terms of the book's dealing with racist bastards in it, I resonate with Shayna so incredibly much. There is something so deeply touching about the way she talks about success being the only way to prove the racists wrong and about how she doesn't want all of her success to be later chalked up to being a Black woman. Her conversation about the forced diversity act in the scholarship process and how she is willing to let go of the implications of it in order to get access to the resources and opportunities she wants was so similar to real life, it made my bones ache. Being forced into diversity positions to represent the "school's values" by powerful and inherently white academic institutions is something which I am intimately familiar with in my own life experience and I felt a connection to Shayna's story. I love that we, in this book, don't shy away from not only discussing the topic but also the associated and heavy guilt one feels while participating in such activities. Mr B is a shady ass and I can't wait to read on and see just how Shayna deals with him.
Aya Alvarez, I am obsessed with her. She is everything I want to be as a fellow brown sapphic and my god.. I am so! Put me in and let me have a chance of romance with her too! Talking of romance, the SAPPHIC ACADEMIC RIVALS TO LOVERS trope.... I AM EATING IT UP! E A T I N G IT UP! This is truly the dream romance scenario for me like come ON! Other representation which made me smile was the tough love POC parents. Me too Shayna, me too! The scene in which her parent's energy, magic and pride in her flood to her giving her power made me so genuinely happy. It is everything to me.
In terms of the book's dealing with racist bastards in it, I resonate with Shayna so incredibly much. There is something so deeply touching about the way she talks about success being the only way to prove the racists wrong and about how she doesn't want all of her success to be later chalked up to being a Black woman. Her conversation about the forced diversity act in the scholarship process and how she is willing to let go of the implications of it in order to get access to the resources and opportunities she wants was so similar to real life, it made my bones ache. Being forced into diversity positions to represent the "school's values" by powerful and inherently white academic institutions is something which I am intimately familiar with in my own life experience and I felt a connection to Shayna's story. I love that we, in this book, don't shy away from not only discussing the topic but also the associated and heavy guilt one feels while participating in such activities. Mr B is a shady ass and I can't wait to read on and see just how Shayna deals with him.