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A review by elliel_nook
Three Meant To Be by M.N. Bennet
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Disclaimer: I requested and received this book free from Book Sirens. The cover and description really pulled me in I just had to read it. My review is voluntary.
Three Meant to Be by M.N. Bennet is the queer magic school book I've always wanted. It has similarities with other magic/superhero school media. But in my opinion it is also incredibly unique and complex. The world and magic system M.N. Bennet has crafted is fascinating. I don't like rereading books but I want to reread this one. I want to take notes on the magic system and be a total nerd about it. I want to do a deep dive into the world and how well the classism (and more) is written into the story. However, I won't say that I didn't struggle to read this book. I did struggle, it took me a month to read it. It probably wasn't my best idea to read a book with a grieving main character after suffering my own loss. I found Dorian Frost (the main character) painfully relatable. I saw a lot of myself in Dorian Frost and I don't like myself (I'm working on it). So, it was a bit hard to read at times. But I was so invested in the characters and the story.
I recommend this book if you're into superheros, magic, interesting world building, the bullshit bureaucracy that comes with them. However, if you read it be prepared to have your stepped on. There are some very dark moments in this book abuse, death, graphic injury, and more. There are also some truly heinous characters. But if I get into that I will spoil the book. However I do want to and think its fair to say that chapters 27-34 dragged me by my heartstrings all the way through turmoil to a very satisfying ending.
Overall I truly loved Three Meant to Be it made me emotional, it made me think, and it creatively inspired me. I want to get better at drawing people so I can make fan art of these characters. I loved the characters Dorian included and I loved their queerness. As I said above this is the queer magic school book I've always wanted. And it is very queer, it feels almost queernormative if not for characters I want to kick in the head and sweet under the rug. There are so many queer characters including a transgender student whose dead name never appears in the pages of this book. As a trans person I greatly appreciated this and Dorian's commentary about the school roster and outdated policies. I also loved the way Milo and Dorian's texts were included in the book, even Milo's sexts and failed attempts at flirting. Dorian and Milo's relationship is complicated there is a pain between them that needs to heal, and that doesn't get resolved in this book. Three Meant to Be is only the first book in the Branches of Past and Future. There are two more books as of right now. That I am mildly afraid of because of their titles and M.N. Bennet's ability to rip my heart out with his writing and lovable characters.
Final Note: If you were an emo kid and are now a goth adult you too might see yourself in Dorian. Also there are two sassy cats in this book which is just another reason to read it.
Three Meant to Be by M.N. Bennet is the queer magic school book I've always wanted. It has similarities with other magic/superhero school media. But in my opinion it is also incredibly unique and complex. The world and magic system M.N. Bennet has crafted is fascinating. I don't like rereading books but I want to reread this one. I want to take notes on the magic system and be a total nerd about it. I want to do a deep dive into the world and how well the classism (and more) is written into the story. However, I won't say that I didn't struggle to read this book. I did struggle, it took me a month to read it. It probably wasn't my best idea to read a book with a grieving main character after suffering my own loss. I found Dorian Frost (the main character) painfully relatable. I saw a lot of myself in Dorian Frost and I don't like myself (I'm working on it). So, it was a bit hard to read at times. But I was so invested in the characters and the story.
I recommend this book if you're into superheros, magic, interesting world building, the bullshit bureaucracy that comes with them. However, if you read it be prepared to have your stepped on. There are some very dark moments in this book abuse, death, graphic injury, and more. There are also some truly heinous characters. But if I get into that I will spoil the book. However I do want to and think its fair to say that chapters 27-34 dragged me by my heartstrings all the way through turmoil to a very satisfying ending.
Overall I truly loved Three Meant to Be it made me emotional, it made me think, and it creatively inspired me. I want to get better at drawing people so I can make fan art of these characters. I loved the characters Dorian included and I loved their queerness. As I said above this is the queer magic school book I've always wanted. And it is very queer, it feels almost queernormative if not for characters I want to kick in the head and sweet under the rug. There are so many queer characters including a transgender student whose dead name never appears in the pages of this book. As a trans person I greatly appreciated this and Dorian's commentary about the school roster and outdated policies. I also loved the way Milo and Dorian's texts were included in the book, even Milo's sexts and failed attempts at flirting. Dorian and Milo's relationship is complicated there is a pain between them that needs to heal, and that doesn't get resolved in this book. Three Meant to Be is only the first book in the Branches of Past and Future. There are two more books as of right now. That I am mildly afraid of because of their titles and M.N. Bennet's ability to rip my heart out with his writing and lovable characters.
Final Note: If you were an emo kid and are now a goth adult you too might see yourself in Dorian. Also there are two sassy cats in this book which is just another reason to read it.