Flowerheart

14/03: I have read a short excerpt of this book on epicreads.com and I am excited to read it.

22/03: I got all hyped, but I am not into it anymore. Premise is cool and I still like the story, but characters are flat, story lacks tension, and romance lacks chemistry. The thoughts of the main character are too repetitive.
She thinks of 3 things: how much she misses her relationship with Xavier when they were kids, how bad is her magic, and her guilt for cursing her father.

I should have honestly just dropped this.

I enjoyed this book, it just totally threw me when the narrative said they were 15 and 16. I kept double-checking after reading that. Xavier and Clara read like 25 and 26 to me, and I think I'm going to keep it that way in my head because there wasn't much about their characters that made me believe they were teenagers. Otherwise, a delightfully cozy fantasy romance.

Definitely more of a light hearted read. Atmospheric cottage-core setting. Victorian time period is always a draw for me. Since it is a teen book, I figured it was more tame and not many intense things happen. I do like how the magic is tied to emotions. I saw it as her anxiety and depression. As someone who has struggled with those things, it was really cool to see it portrayed in this way. A great way to start the conversation.
The focus of the plot is on Clara as she learns to deal with her magic which is anxiety & depression personified. I think it is a cool way to connect with teens and teach them how to work through those feeling and experiences.
Yes there could be more character development for other people and world building, but that wasn't the focus of this book. It is mental health and how to more forward with it.

I enjoyed this!

what a terribly lackluster ending to a book that cold have been amazing....

ok let me break it down.

i found this book on a whim and got it and read it quickly after release. i knew little to nothing about the story or author once i began (my preferred way of reading). i read it and was left thinking “why?”.
it's never good for a reader to be left asking that question but ESPECIALLY when a book has as much promise as flowerheart.

highlights/pros:
-LOVE the flowery magic
-love how the magic had a voice/personality
-the romance had its moments (especially considering childhood friends to lovers is my weakness)
-the relationship between clara and her father was heart-touching and amazing

questions i still have:
-why did the magic have a voice but no one else's apparently did??
-why is the council so “”"”bad””””??
-why is the mom in it for like a hot minute but then not mentioned again or brought back up again?
-why did xavier have to lose his magic??
-why??????

im so disappointed. i hope this doesn't put me in a reading slump !!