Characters: 6, I mostly got a sense of Talia (but through the crush-eyes of the MC); everyone else felt more one-dimensional and their reactions to things didn’t tell me much about them.  Atmosphere: 7, contemporary setting with magic felt real and engaging; references to Chicago also felt spot-on. Writing: 8, Easy to read, style was engaging. Plot: 8, magical competition meets taking down the arrogant rich golden boy, so it was fun to read and not too deep. Intrigue: 7, I liked the atmosphere of the families and the mythology of Thistle Grove more than the competition itself. Logic: […]