4 stars *may change

Whenever a book describes itself as “Fullmetal Alchemist-esque” I am immediately weary.
One: having alchemy does not make you anything like FMA.
Two: nothing has ever come close to replicating FMA.

Honestly, though, I can see it in here?

The alchemy itself is actually pretty underdeveloped, which surprised me. I thought it was going to be much heavier, but while it’s mentioned a few times, the hard rules aren’t concrete as far as I could tell and it didn’t really delve into how it works or how it affects the world they live in. Personally I’m fine with that, if only because I’m tired from other media trying to explain it in ways that are far inferior to the god Hiromu Arakawa.

Everything else about it, on the other hand, I see the FMA-esque. Maybe I read too much into it, but I kept relating Maggie and Wes to Riza and Roy (something I would vehemently deny if anyone else said but because nobody else did I’m going to allow myself to say it instead) in that ‘grumpy girl with obsessed alchemist parent and the sort-of-apprentice boy who is kind of sarcastic and also lives with her’ way. I have no idea if this was intentional, but Royai is one of my favorite couples of all time, so points. Also the whole shit government thing. That too.

One thing I will say is that I’m not big on the made-up words in what is supposed to be historical fantasy-ish? Like, we’re clearly in a victorian time-period here, as is stated, why not call these places what they actually are? There’s no need to use made-up human races when you can…use actual ones, yeah? Do they have to live in New Albion? Can’t you just say New York? I don’t know.

It was a pretty decent book considering I don’t really gravitate toward YA. My real criticism is spoiler based, so look away!!!!!!!!

Spoiler

I really don’t get what’s up with Maggie at the end. She trusts Wes, then she doesn’t, then she does, then she points a gun at him? Oh my God? Chill? I get you have mommy issues but what does he have to do with that? She was really annoying me for a while.

GOD speaking of her mom, thank heavens they didn’t make up. I’m so tired of stories where children make up with their abusive parents. Don’t wanna see it, don’t wanna read it. Piss off. Gave this book massive points that she leaves her mom in the end.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy.