saw any big demonstrations of it used. There were many parts of the book where I forgot there was magic at all. I did really like the parts that talked about how the island was alive and always watching, and it was cool to see how that impacted the story as a whole.

 

None of the characters felt really developed and it created a large disconnect between the reader and the story. August especially didnt have any character developments that set him apart from everyone else. I enjoyed the dynamics of the people on the island and the community was something that I could relate to, but besides that the individual people didnt have any real personality. They also talked a lot about how the four friends, Dutch, Lily, August, and Emery were all extremely close and loved eachother. However when we were shown memories from back then we never really saw any true connection between them. 

 

The relationship between Emery and August had a good build up, and it did seem like they really loved eachother. I think the buildup compared to when they actually got together however was unsatisfying. Emery seemed to go from having a deep mistrust of August to trusting him in just one night. 

 

I think that the overlapping murder mystery was intreguing, and left you guessing and second guessing what the answers were, which is what everyone would want from this type of story. However the ending and the reveal was definitely rushed and felt very lackluster. There were no real consequences for anyone responsible. The reveal made sense and fit well with what we had learned throughout the story but it was very unsatisfying to see the outcome. 

 

I think that overall this book was a fun and relaxing read, and good for a chilly fall day. But if you are looking for a more exciting and in depth read with more heart, it might not be for you.