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Caster #1
Caster
Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Fight Club in this action-packed fantasy about a secret, underground magic fighting tournament.
If the magic doesn't kill her, the truth just might.
Aza Wu knows that real magic is dangerous and illegal. After all, casting killed her sister, Shire. As with all magic, everything comes at a price. For Aza, it feels like everything in her life has some kind of cost attached to it. Her sister had been casting for money to pay off Saint Willow, the gang leader that oversees her sector of Lotusland. If you want to operate a business there, you have to pay your tribute. And now with Shire dead, Aza must step in to save the legacy of Wu Teas, the teahouse that has been in her family for centuries.
When Aza comes across a secret invitation, she decides she doesn't have much else to lose. She quickly realizes that she's entered herself into an underground casting tournament, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Real magic, real consequences. As she competes, Aza fights for her life against some very strong and devious competitors.
When the facts about Shire's death don't add up, the police start to investigate. When the tributes to Saint Willow aren't paid, the gang comes to collect. When Aza is caught sneaking around with fresh casting wounds, her parents are alarmed. As Aza's dangerous web of lies continues to grow, she is caught between trying to find a way out and trapping herself permanently.
If the magic doesn't kill her, the truth just might.
Aza Wu knows that real magic is dangerous and illegal. After all, casting killed her sister, Shire. As with all magic, everything comes at a price. For Aza, it feels like everything in her life has some kind of cost attached to it. Her sister had been casting for money to pay off Saint Willow, the gang leader that oversees her sector of Lotusland. If you want to operate a business there, you have to pay your tribute. And now with Shire dead, Aza must step in to save the legacy of Wu Teas, the teahouse that has been in her family for centuries.
When Aza comes across a secret invitation, she decides she doesn't have much else to lose. She quickly realizes that she's entered herself into an underground casting tournament, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Real magic, real consequences. As she competes, Aza fights for her life against some very strong and devious competitors.
When the facts about Shire's death don't add up, the police start to investigate. When the tributes to Saint Willow aren't paid, the gang comes to collect. When Aza is caught sneaking around with fresh casting wounds, her parents are alarmed. As Aza's dangerous web of lies continues to grow, she is caught between trying to find a way out and trapping herself permanently.
329 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2019
44 people are currently reading
3043 people want to read
About the author
Elsie Chapman
13 books354 followersHi there, Goodreads! I don't check messages or friend requests here. If you'd like to contact me, please find me at my website or on twitter. Thank you!
Elsie Chapman grew up in Prince George, Canada, and has a degree in English literature from the University of British Columbia. She is the author of the YA novels Dualed, Divided, Along the Indigo, and Caster as well as the MG novel All the Ways Home, and co-editor of A Thousand Beginnings and Endings and Hungry Hearts. She currently lives in Tokyo, Japan, with her family.
Elsie Chapman grew up in Prince George, Canada, and has a degree in English literature from the University of British Columbia. She is the author of the YA novels Dualed, Divided, Along the Indigo, and Caster as well as the MG novel All the Ways Home, and co-editor of A Thousand Beginnings and Endings and Hungry Hearts. She currently lives in Tokyo, Japan, with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
June 23, 2020
CHINESE-INSPIRED FIGHT CLUB. AND MAGIC.
I admit, I wasn't sure what to make of Caster at first, but I ended up really liking it.
So, the magic system, wow. It's so inventive and vividly realised. There are constraints set and conditions to be met, and there are prices to be paid—whether as physical pain for the person or as larger, cataclysmic (and legit, earth-shattering) damage to the ecology. It's a world twisted awry, made shadowy and distorted—a world of gloomy smog and crumbling curbs, of pungent pollution and weirdly blighted growth. There's more than a hint of social commentary, and it creates for a story of many shades and layers.
Now I won't say the writing blew me away, but it's incredibly serviceable—and it doesn't miss a beat. And the plot. Oh, the plot. I mean, lightning-fast pacing, gripping tension and seriously epic fight scenes—what's not to love? Plus, plenty of turns to give you that good, solid gut-punching.
Seriously, it's a travesty this novel does not have more reviews—it's a fast, easy and effortless read, and I highly, highly recommend.
4.0/5
I admit, I wasn't sure what to make of Caster at first, but I ended up really liking it.
So, the magic system, wow. It's so inventive and vividly realised. There are constraints set and conditions to be met, and there are prices to be paid—whether as physical pain for the person or as larger, cataclysmic (and legit, earth-shattering) damage to the ecology. It's a world twisted awry, made shadowy and distorted—a world of gloomy smog and crumbling curbs, of pungent pollution and weirdly blighted growth. There's more than a hint of social commentary, and it creates for a story of many shades and layers.
Now I won't say the writing blew me away, but it's incredibly serviceable—and it doesn't miss a beat. And the plot. Oh, the plot. I mean, lightning-fast pacing, gripping tension and seriously epic fight scenes—what's not to love? Plus, plenty of turns to give you that good, solid gut-punching.
Seriously, it's a travesty this novel does not have more reviews—it's a fast, easy and effortless read, and I highly, highly recommend.
4.0/5
January 15, 2020
THE LOVE CHILD OF FIGHT CLUB, AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER AND, FULL METAL ALCHEMIST Yeah, I know it's a mouthful but Caster does execute well and draws parallel from these 3 works of art. I IMPLORE YOU TO READ THIS. I mean, the amount of reviews for this books is an injustice to its beauty?!?!
ACCESSIBLE WRITING COUPLED WITH A FAST-PACED PLOT
Caster takes off immediately when you read the first chapter. It doesn’t wastes its time with some niceties before diving in. It’s writing is simple, efficient, and utterly beautiful with its clarity. This makes the book more compelling because it shows you the essentials quickly without ever glossing them.
I love how Chapman paces each chapter because it’s not overdone to the point that you’re reeling with the plot sequences. Instead, it’s more visually appealing because you get to see the pauses and appreciate it more as it fleshes out Aza’s family life more rather than just getting high on the action.
I’m saying that this is visually appealing because it feels like watching a movie without the effort which is actually my most favorite thing about reading. I do think that this would be amazing to see on the big screen which is why I feel so frustrated that this hasn’t garnered much attention. THE INJUSTICE!
A REFRESHING CONTAINED STORYLINE WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF THE USUAL LARGE – SCALE END GAME
Most YA Fantasy books are centered in overthrowing a political regime or any form of systemic oppression, one that takes a lot of scheming and betrayal HAHAHA. Caster, on the other hand, offers a fresh take on the genre for me as it only divulges Aza’s struggles in regards to her family’s financial burden as well as the mystery of her sister’s death.
It doesn’t give you the burden of remembering the intricacies of the political system but only a slice of it in Aza’s perspective. I don’t mean that I don’t love large-scale end games in YA but it’s quite amazing to read such a contained storyline in this world which leads me to my next point.
LOGICAL YET INTRIGUING MAGIC SYSTEM
I fcking love this aspect because how casting works in this alternate dystopian China makes a whole lot of sense. It reminded me so much of Full Metal Alchemist, Avatar: The Last Air Bender and even, Jackie Chan Adventures (the cartoon one)!
It’s quite logical that the magic system works in a give and take setup for the caster because it gives the magic here more grounded as they literally draw power from the Earth. Basically, the casters draw a star on their palm and use a starter, the more points it has the more complex AND the more it takes a toll on their physical body.
Of course, my explanation is very generalized here but if you get to read the book you’ll see how much intricate the magic system is without ever being info-dumpy. Alongside this, this also lead me to question the ethical environmental issues here as technically, the casters destroy a little part of the Earth while casting.
The world-building of this book is a whole lot more complex if you try to focus not only in Aza’s life but also the implications of their underground magic tournaments, the people behind it, as well as the future of the Earth. It’s a bleak one my friends, but I wish to see more of this world!
SIMPLE YET SUPERB FIGHT SCENES
ISTG this is also one of the most amazing aspects of Caster! I really love how the fight scenes played out even if they weren’t so flashy and “out of this world”. The system of their “fight club” is so familiar and at the same time so unique because with every fight, we get to see a slice of the magical history of casters fleshed out especially that the Speaker of the game reiterates it. It’s just so intriguing and I can’t help but pine for Aza all the way as if I’m seeing the fight in real time.
LENDS PERSPECTIVE ON THE NARRATIVE OF INHERITED GUILT & FAMILY LEGACY
There’s a chock full of inherited guilt in this one and offers a take on how one process it and how one respond to it externally.
It just so happened that in this story, our MC responds by probing for answers of her sister’s death in an underground magical fighting tournament while also facing the immense pressure of paying debts and keeping the family legacy intact.
I actually felt very sad for Aza most of the time because of the struggles she faced on her own and I love that despite all this her love for her family pervades.
Overall, this is a memorable and easy read! I'm already loving my continuous streak of reading great books this year! :>
ACCESSIBLE WRITING COUPLED WITH A FAST-PACED PLOT
Caster takes off immediately when you read the first chapter. It doesn’t wastes its time with some niceties before diving in. It’s writing is simple, efficient, and utterly beautiful with its clarity. This makes the book more compelling because it shows you the essentials quickly without ever glossing them.
I love how Chapman paces each chapter because it’s not overdone to the point that you’re reeling with the plot sequences. Instead, it’s more visually appealing because you get to see the pauses and appreciate it more as it fleshes out Aza’s family life more rather than just getting high on the action.
I’m saying that this is visually appealing because it feels like watching a movie without the effort which is actually my most favorite thing about reading. I do think that this would be amazing to see on the big screen which is why I feel so frustrated that this hasn’t garnered much attention. THE INJUSTICE!
A REFRESHING CONTAINED STORYLINE WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF THE USUAL LARGE – SCALE END GAME
Most YA Fantasy books are centered in overthrowing a political regime or any form of systemic oppression, one that takes a lot of scheming and betrayal HAHAHA. Caster, on the other hand, offers a fresh take on the genre for me as it only divulges Aza’s struggles in regards to her family’s financial burden as well as the mystery of her sister’s death.
It doesn’t give you the burden of remembering the intricacies of the political system but only a slice of it in Aza’s perspective. I don’t mean that I don’t love large-scale end games in YA but it’s quite amazing to read such a contained storyline in this world which leads me to my next point.
LOGICAL YET INTRIGUING MAGIC SYSTEM
I fcking love this aspect because how casting works in this alternate dystopian China makes a whole lot of sense. It reminded me so much of Full Metal Alchemist, Avatar: The Last Air Bender and even, Jackie Chan Adventures (the cartoon one)!
It’s quite logical that the magic system works in a give and take setup for the caster because it gives the magic here more grounded as they literally draw power from the Earth. Basically, the casters draw a star on their palm and use a starter, the more points it has the more complex AND the more it takes a toll on their physical body.
Of course, my explanation is very generalized here but if you get to read the book you’ll see how much intricate the magic system is without ever being info-dumpy. Alongside this, this also lead me to question the ethical environmental issues here as technically, the casters destroy a little part of the Earth while casting.
The world-building of this book is a whole lot more complex if you try to focus not only in Aza’s life but also the implications of their underground magic tournaments, the people behind it, as well as the future of the Earth. It’s a bleak one my friends, but I wish to see more of this world!
SIMPLE YET SUPERB FIGHT SCENES
ISTG this is also one of the most amazing aspects of Caster! I really love how the fight scenes played out even if they weren’t so flashy and “out of this world”. The system of their “fight club” is so familiar and at the same time so unique because with every fight, we get to see a slice of the magical history of casters fleshed out especially that the Speaker of the game reiterates it. It’s just so intriguing and I can’t help but pine for Aza all the way as if I’m seeing the fight in real time.
LENDS PERSPECTIVE ON THE NARRATIVE OF INHERITED GUILT & FAMILY LEGACY
There’s a chock full of inherited guilt in this one and offers a take on how one process it and how one respond to it externally.
It just so happened that in this story, our MC responds by probing for answers of her sister’s death in an underground magical fighting tournament while also facing the immense pressure of paying debts and keeping the family legacy intact.
I actually felt very sad for Aza most of the time because of the struggles she faced on her own and I love that despite all this her love for her family pervades.
Overall, this is a memorable and easy read! I'm already loving my continuous streak of reading great books this year! :>
July 28, 2019
A complex protagonist, an even more complex magic system, and very high stakes. Caster kept me on the edge of my seat. There'd better be a sequel is all I'm saying.
lost-interest
January 4, 2019This book is pitched as FIGHT CLUB meets magic, and features an Asian main character, I’m so hyped??
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Blog | Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Tumblr | Twitter
August 26, 2019
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
While you can get swept away with the magic of Caster, what sticks with you after the last page is Aza - her grief and her responsibility. A year after the death of her sister, Aza is no closer to figuring out what really happened to her sister, nor is her family fully recovered financially. What begins with a plot to save her family while the clock ticks down, becomes something even more - a hint of revenge, of conspiracy, and sacrifice.
Before I talk about how much I love Aza, I want to geek out a little. What a magical world. It's urban fantasy at it's best. Magic extracts not only a steep price on our bodies, but on the world around us. In Caster, our magic has earth shattering consequences - literally. Not only that, but our magic has the ability to kill us. I am obsessed with fantasy books which illustrate the costs of magic. And Chapman just takes it further, tying our quest for power, for what lies at our fingertips, to the deteriorating environment around us.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
While you can get swept away with the magic of Caster, what sticks with you after the last page is Aza - her grief and her responsibility. A year after the death of her sister, Aza is no closer to figuring out what really happened to her sister, nor is her family fully recovered financially. What begins with a plot to save her family while the clock ticks down, becomes something even more - a hint of revenge, of conspiracy, and sacrifice.
Before I talk about how much I love Aza, I want to geek out a little. What a magical world. It's urban fantasy at it's best. Magic extracts not only a steep price on our bodies, but on the world around us. In Caster, our magic has earth shattering consequences - literally. Not only that, but our magic has the ability to kill us. I am obsessed with fantasy books which illustrate the costs of magic. And Chapman just takes it further, tying our quest for power, for what lies at our fingertips, to the deteriorating environment around us.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
November 17, 2019
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review can be found here at Booked J.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Did I know I would enjoy Caster before reading it? UM. Yes. Did I know how much? NOPE. To be perfectly honest,I was blindsided by my love of Elsie Chapman's Caster and have spent the better part of a few weeks babbling about it to anyone who will listen. Caster is yet another novel of 2019 that was pure brilliance and completely engrossing; I was unable to put it down and have yet to fully shake it from my mind yet.
I can honestly say this is in the top ten of the best of this years Own Voices books.
But, we'll get to that in a future post.
Caster reminded me what it felt like when I first began diving into YA novels as a teenager. It felt as though the experience of reading Caster was reminiscent of several old favourites, not necessarily in story parallels (although there are a few that can be drawn from it) but in the way it makes the reader feel. If you love a good fantasy novel, that has a knife sharp edge of hope and despair and forbidden magic, you'll definitely eat this one up.
Elsie Chapman creates a story that readers may find difficult to put down and will certain ignite a steady fanbase as well as the desire to pull an all-nighter and devour it. (Which is absolutely what I did, much to the dismay of my friend who wanted to go out that night.)
Her world-building is on point (I'm OBSESSED and don't want to give away too, too much to any readers), the characters of Caster all feel complex and real, each and every page exudes a darkly atmospheric tone with that sharp jab of intrigue and heart-racing moments. You can feel this sort of magic bubbling over in the story and it's indescribable compelling. The action and the stakes of living in this world, too, leaves you feeling tense and mystified in a way that not many authors can accomplish in small doses.
Thinking up how to describe Caster in a few words was more than a little difficult, because it leaves so much lingering in our minds as we close the pages. My mind was spent by the time I finished it, because I couldn't help but to be completely tied into every little thing that happens in the novel. Questions and questions, thrills and intrigue--Caster, at its core, is one of the best YA fantasy releases of the year.
While all of the above mentioned traits of Caster are amongst the biggest and brightest highlights, I think that the very best feature within the story is the complexities Aza, our main character, grapples with throughout Caster. It's been a long time since I found myself lost to a character in the best way possible, but I cannot stress how much of a good thing that was.
Overall, Chapman crafts this world with care, and has the tendency to startle us as readers. Words have this power to possess us and grip us, and Chapman uses this skill wisely. If you haven't picked up Caster yet but find the synopsis to be intriguing and are looking for a solid, underrated gem of a fantasy read--this is IT. Unforgettable, fast paced and truly out-of-this-world.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Did I know I would enjoy Caster before reading it? UM. Yes. Did I know how much? NOPE. To be perfectly honest,I was blindsided by my love of Elsie Chapman's Caster and have spent the better part of a few weeks babbling about it to anyone who will listen. Caster is yet another novel of 2019 that was pure brilliance and completely engrossing; I was unable to put it down and have yet to fully shake it from my mind yet.
I can honestly say this is in the top ten of the best of this years Own Voices books.
But, we'll get to that in a future post.
Caster reminded me what it felt like when I first began diving into YA novels as a teenager. It felt as though the experience of reading Caster was reminiscent of several old favourites, not necessarily in story parallels (although there are a few that can be drawn from it) but in the way it makes the reader feel. If you love a good fantasy novel, that has a knife sharp edge of hope and despair and forbidden magic, you'll definitely eat this one up.
Elsie Chapman creates a story that readers may find difficult to put down and will certain ignite a steady fanbase as well as the desire to pull an all-nighter and devour it. (Which is absolutely what I did, much to the dismay of my friend who wanted to go out that night.)
Her world-building is on point (I'm OBSESSED and don't want to give away too, too much to any readers), the characters of Caster all feel complex and real, each and every page exudes a darkly atmospheric tone with that sharp jab of intrigue and heart-racing moments. You can feel this sort of magic bubbling over in the story and it's indescribable compelling. The action and the stakes of living in this world, too, leaves you feeling tense and mystified in a way that not many authors can accomplish in small doses.
Thinking up how to describe Caster in a few words was more than a little difficult, because it leaves so much lingering in our minds as we close the pages. My mind was spent by the time I finished it, because I couldn't help but to be completely tied into every little thing that happens in the novel. Questions and questions, thrills and intrigue--Caster, at its core, is one of the best YA fantasy releases of the year.
While all of the above mentioned traits of Caster are amongst the biggest and brightest highlights, I think that the very best feature within the story is the complexities Aza, our main character, grapples with throughout Caster. It's been a long time since I found myself lost to a character in the best way possible, but I cannot stress how much of a good thing that was.
Overall, Chapman crafts this world with care, and has the tendency to startle us as readers. Words have this power to possess us and grip us, and Chapman uses this skill wisely. If you haven't picked up Caster yet but find the synopsis to be intriguing and are looking for a solid, underrated gem of a fantasy read--this is IT. Unforgettable, fast paced and truly out-of-this-world.
October 11, 2019
I don't understand HOW this book isn't being discussed by everyone, because it's amazing! The promise of Avatar: the Last Airbender meets Fight Club did not disappoint! It was everything I hoped it would be and so much! I especially adore the way the magic system is constructed. It reminded me of a perfect blend between Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Avatar. ♡
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Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin
August 31, 2020
What a wild ride! I really enjoyed this and it was such a fun and thrilling read. CASTER has been pitched as FIGHT CLUB x A:TLA - which I agree with! - but I also think Caster is an urban fantasy dystopia that is INFERNAL AFFAIRS x FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD. 👀
- Follows Aza, an Asian teen who is a 'full caster' - a person who can cast 'full magic' - who enters as a competitor in an underground casting tournament -- where she may also find the answers about her sister's mysterious death.
- I haven't read a book with a magic system in a long time, and I loved it! The magic system places a big emphasis on costs and consequences. Think FMA:B's 'equal exchange', except that the consequences are linked to the user's body and the earth.
- Fantastic narrative and discourse on greed and the cost of magic on the earth - Aza lives in a world that is polluted and on the brink of desolation, and I loved how magic interwove into this and ran parallel to discourses on industralisation.
- Whilst I really enjoyed this action-packed and thoughtful book, I really did feel like a lot more could have been developed - the worldbuilding, some of the relationships, and Aza's motivations. Nonetheless, it's still a great read!
Trigger/content warning:
- Follows Aza, an Asian teen who is a 'full caster' - a person who can cast 'full magic' - who enters as a competitor in an underground casting tournament -- where she may also find the answers about her sister's mysterious death.
- I haven't read a book with a magic system in a long time, and I loved it! The magic system places a big emphasis on costs and consequences. Think FMA:B's 'equal exchange', except that the consequences are linked to the user's body and the earth.
- Fantastic narrative and discourse on greed and the cost of magic on the earth - Aza lives in a world that is polluted and on the brink of desolation, and I loved how magic interwove into this and ran parallel to discourses on industralisation.
- Whilst I really enjoyed this action-packed and thoughtful book, I really did feel like a lot more could have been developed - the worldbuilding, some of the relationships, and Aza's motivations. Nonetheless, it's still a great read!
Trigger/content warning:
Read
August 12, 2019Well, this was pretty badass! Not only did this totally
live up to being magical fight club, but I really loved the worldbuilding of the sectors, and the idea that each one leaves its sensory marks on the people who pass through it. It had great mysteries and stakes, and the whole thing felt like a great followup to Chapman’s story in HUNGRY HEARTS, which was one of my favorites. Very much looking forward to more! (CW, besides the obvious violence: sibling death)
live up to being magical fight club, but I really loved the worldbuilding of the sectors, and the idea that each one leaves its sensory marks on the people who pass through it. It had great mysteries and stakes, and the whole thing felt like a great followup to Chapman’s story in HUNGRY HEARTS, which was one of my favorites. Very much looking forward to more! (CW, besides the obvious violence: sibling death)
July 11, 2019
"It's said that earth's magic comes doesn't have a physical form, but even so it fills my veins. Full magic glows inside, a red that's brighter and hotter than any blood, desperate to be free."
ARC obtained from the Scholastic Booth at Bookcon 2019.
4 Stars. Caster was a book I went into expecting to not care for, yet by the end I found myself a bit disappointed it was over. When I tell you that I was expecting nothing, I truly mean it: maybe it's because I completely judged this by the its cover, but I was actively apprehensive about reading this. I truly went into this with the attitude of just get it done with so I could read the other ARCs I had, but wow. This book completely surprised me. One of the things I noted when I read this book is that its appeal lies in its plot and world-building, rather than its character. As a character-based reader, I can say that this book's characters aren't the most memorable but the strong world-building completely makes up for it.
Speaking of that, honestly three of these four stars belong to the world-building and the world-building alone. I'll be honest and say this is some of the best world-building I've ever seen in YA, not too reliant on exposition and info dumping nor too vague and hazy to seem plausible. The magic in this book is more... visceral than most other magic I've seen: there's something distinctly harsh about it. This book takes place in a city struck by the natural consequences of magic, with every act of magic having harsh consequences on the surrounding environment. Each spell cast by a "caster" requires a drawing of a star, with the number of points denoting how strong the spell is. There are also certain items needed to cast certain spells with different effects, and multiple classifications of "casters." All of this explained extremely well and only serves to interest the reader rather than be off putting.
Plot. Very interesting, and made great use of the world-building. I will say that the way this book is marketed is completely accurate: this is indeed a magical, #ownvoices Fight Club like story featuring a type of grit you rarely see in YA nowadays. The plot zips between the actual fights that occur at the fight club and Aza Wu, our protagonist, navigating how to pay back the debts owed to the gang that her family's teahouse is on the land of. All of it was incredibly compelling. I also do applaud Elsie Chapman for decidedly not pulling punches, because damn, the the twists and turns and that ending! Bravo! Also based on that ending,
Writing and characters were serviceable. This book is told in 1rst-person limited, and honestly, I kind of wish it was in third-person limited because after reading Elsie Chapman's short story in the A Thousand Beginnings and Endings anthology, I really liked her writing in third person. But ultimately, this is a personal preference. As for characters, Aza is not a flat protagonist per say... she's definitely the opposite. She's layered, morally-gray, makes mistakes, and is an underdog: she's the ideal protagonist to narrate this in 1rst-person perspective.
Conclusively: I would say pick this up when it comes out. Caster will definitely not be the last Elsie Chapman book I will pick up.
ARC obtained from the Scholastic Booth at Bookcon 2019.
4 Stars. Caster was a book I went into expecting to not care for, yet by the end I found myself a bit disappointed it was over. When I tell you that I was expecting nothing, I truly mean it: maybe it's because I completely judged this by the its cover, but I was actively apprehensive about reading this. I truly went into this with the attitude of just get it done with so I could read the other ARCs I had, but wow. This book completely surprised me. One of the things I noted when I read this book is that its appeal lies in its plot and world-building, rather than its character. As a character-based reader, I can say that this book's characters aren't the most memorable but the strong world-building completely makes up for it.
Speaking of that, honestly three of these four stars belong to the world-building and the world-building alone. I'll be honest and say this is some of the best world-building I've ever seen in YA, not too reliant on exposition and info dumping nor too vague and hazy to seem plausible. The magic in this book is more... visceral than most other magic I've seen: there's something distinctly harsh about it. This book takes place in a city struck by the natural consequences of magic, with every act of magic having harsh consequences on the surrounding environment. Each spell cast by a "caster" requires a drawing of a star, with the number of points denoting how strong the spell is. There are also certain items needed to cast certain spells with different effects, and multiple classifications of "casters." All of this explained extremely well and only serves to interest the reader rather than be off putting.
Plot. Very interesting, and made great use of the world-building. I will say that the way this book is marketed is completely accurate: this is indeed a magical, #ownvoices Fight Club like story featuring a type of grit you rarely see in YA nowadays. The plot zips between the actual fights that occur at the fight club and Aza Wu, our protagonist, navigating how to pay back the debts owed to the gang that her family's teahouse is on the land of. All of it was incredibly compelling. I also do applaud Elsie Chapman for decidedly not pulling punches, because damn, the the twists and turns and that ending! Bravo! Also based on that ending,
Writing and characters were serviceable. This book is told in 1rst-person limited, and honestly, I kind of wish it was in third-person limited because after reading Elsie Chapman's short story in the A Thousand Beginnings and Endings anthology, I really liked her writing in third person. But ultimately, this is a personal preference. As for characters, Aza is not a flat protagonist per say... she's definitely the opposite. She's layered, morally-gray, makes mistakes, and is an underdog: she's the ideal protagonist to narrate this in 1rst-person perspective.
Conclusively: I would say pick this up when it comes out. Caster will definitely not be the last Elsie Chapman book I will pick up.
January 25, 2020
Aza Wu knows that real magic is dangerous and illegal. After all, casting killed her sister, Shire. As with all magic, everything comes at a price. For Aza, it feels like everything in her life has some kind of cost attached to it. Her sister had been casting for money to pay off Saint Willow, the gang leader that oversees her sector of Lotusland. If you want to operate a business there, you have to pay your tribute. And now with Shire dead, Aza must step in to save the legacy of Wu Teas, the teahouse that has been in her family for centuries. When Aza comes across a secret invitation, she decides she doesn’t have much else to lose. She quickly realizes that she’s entered herself into an underground casting tournament, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Real magic, real consequences. As she competes, Aza fights for her life against some very strong and devious competitors. When the facts about Shire’s death don’t add up, the police start to investigate. When the tributes to Saint Willow aren’t paid, the gang comes to collect. When Aza is caught sneaking around with fresh casting wounds, her parents are alarmed. As Aza’s dangerous web of lies continues to grow, she is caught between trying to find a way out and trapping herself permanently.
How is Caster by Elsie Chapman not getting more hype?! This novel came out in September and it came up on my radar in December (thank you Junior Library Guild). I'm so glad I decided to take a chance on it because I think this might be one of my favorite reads of 2020. I honestly can't recommend it enough and you'd better believe that I'll attempt to get it in as many hands as I can. Anyway, Caster is a brilliant YA dystopian urban fantasy novel with a determined and strong lead at the helm, vivid world building, and one of the most unique magic systems (with a brutal price) that I've had the opportunity to read in awhile. Think Chinese Fight Club meets Fullmetal Alchemist with a dash of Warcross by Marie Lu and Jade City by Fonda Lee. If that particular combination doesn't sound epic, I don't know what does to be honest.
Finally, I'm dying to see what Elsie Chapman will do in the future. My fingers are crossed that there will be a sequel to this novel because I need to see Aza and Lotusland again. If you give Caster a chance, I bet you'll feel exactly the same way.
How is Caster by Elsie Chapman not getting more hype?! This novel came out in September and it came up on my radar in December (thank you Junior Library Guild). I'm so glad I decided to take a chance on it because I think this might be one of my favorite reads of 2020. I honestly can't recommend it enough and you'd better believe that I'll attempt to get it in as many hands as I can. Anyway, Caster is a brilliant YA dystopian urban fantasy novel with a determined and strong lead at the helm, vivid world building, and one of the most unique magic systems (with a brutal price) that I've had the opportunity to read in awhile. Think Chinese Fight Club meets Fullmetal Alchemist with a dash of Warcross by Marie Lu and Jade City by Fonda Lee. If that particular combination doesn't sound epic, I don't know what does to be honest.
Finally, I'm dying to see what Elsie Chapman will do in the future. My fingers are crossed that there will be a sequel to this novel because I need to see Aza and Lotusland again. If you give Caster a chance, I bet you'll feel exactly the same way.
October 6, 2020
rtc if i can form a comprehensive thought later!
October 4, 2019
I died, you guys. This book killed me.
I'm not sure how to explain the adrenaline rush this book was! Literally from page one, my poor baby Aza is hit over and over again! Like can this girl get a break! She's lost her sister, her parents are still grieving, her sister's former mentor won't give her the answers she looks for and she's being threatened from all sides. And then she stumbles into the tournament and all hell breaks loose. This book as packed with action and it's AMAZING! And it better be a series because that cliffhanger ending was a guy puncher! And Aza is that type of character you keep rooting for! She resilient and flawed and hurting because of all these "mistakes" she's made. But she finds the strength to fight back. Some fights she wins and others, she loses. But she never gives up. She fights for her family, for the memory of her sister, and for herself. Beneath all the action, there's a vulnerable beauty. This book is just amazing guys! Read it!
"The things you hate the most are the things that are loudest in your head, so that you can't hear anything else. Because they are also the things you fear the most" - Aza
I'm not sure how to explain the adrenaline rush this book was! Literally from page one, my poor baby Aza is hit over and over again! Like can this girl get a break! She's lost her sister, her parents are still grieving, her sister's former mentor won't give her the answers she looks for and she's being threatened from all sides. And then she stumbles into the tournament and all hell breaks loose. This book as packed with action and it's AMAZING! And it better be a series because that cliffhanger ending was a guy puncher! And Aza is that type of character you keep rooting for! She resilient and flawed and hurting because of all these "mistakes" she's made. But she finds the strength to fight back. Some fights she wins and others, she loses. But she never gives up. She fights for her family, for the memory of her sister, and for herself. Beneath all the action, there's a vulnerable beauty. This book is just amazing guys! Read it!
"The things you hate the most are the things that are loudest in your head, so that you can't hear anything else. Because they are also the things you fear the most" - Aza
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
February 1, 2020Magic comes from everywhere, but it takes from everywhere too.
Magic is dangerous. After it killed her sister Shire, Aza knows all too well that the powers come with a price. Casting is something Aza can't escape, as she secretly performs magic to help alleviate her family's financial debts. So when she finds an invitation to an underground casting tournament, she enters in hopes of winning and getting answers about her sister's mysterious death. It's a fight for her life in more ways than one. Aza's web of lies quickly spreads, but an unexpected truth may shatter everything.
A story of magic and what it fulfills and what it drains. A tale of secrets, and what happens when they are uncovered.
Trigger warnings for violence, death of a sibling/child, and gang violence.
Quick-witted, stubborn Aza had a lot on her plate. The magic user was always aware of the price of casting, but as she sought answers about Shire's death, she was shocked at just how emotionally painful those cost could be. Aza took risks and made mistakes feuled by her feelings, but she always kept a cool head. She was bravely determined in light of having to try to stave off Saints Willow's gang from taking her family's tea house and recovering from the tournaments. I adored Aza and her driven nature as she did everything she could to keep her life afloat.
Family meant everything to Aza. Even though they unintentionally caused some of her biggest burdens, she was extremely loyal to them. The loss of Shire and her mysterious death took a toll on the family as a whole. The lengths Aza went to understand the holes, the hows, and the whys Shire left behind were surprising and heavy. I adored how well-placed flash backs deepend not only Shire's character, but her bond with Aza, as well as the legacy of the teahouse. Though this was Aza's story, the well drawn supporting cast made it easy to see why she lied and dueled to keep her family safe. Not even the relentless pressure from the local family gang was enough to dissuade Aza from protecting her remaining family. Every sacrifice she made for them was incredibly moving.
It's impossible to open this book and not feel the magic rippling through the pages. Against a dark and polluted world, Aza utilized powers that demanded payment from both her and the environment. Not only did this help create and define the magic system, it truly hyped up the stakes of each tournament battle. Perfectly set scenes and natural deposits of information made the concepts of casting and the constructs of Lotusland easy to understand and visualize. The magic wasn't the only powerful part of this novel. Aza's decisions as her morals were put to the test blew me away and made me value the complexities of her character. Effortlessly bouncing between thought-provoking moments and Chinese Fight Club inspired battles, this own voices novel engrossed me completely. Elsie Chapman's action-packed story answered all my questions while simultaneously provoking more about Aza, her family, the world, and how it got to be in the state it was. I adored how she paralleled many aspects of Castor in ways that subtly commented on our world, specifically, the environment, loss, grief, family, loyalty, and identity. Riveting and raw, the stunning open ending was fantastic. However it left a lot of room for a sequel. Tense and beautiful, Castor was candy for the imagination and soul.
I challenge you to cast a glance at one page of this book and not get hooked.
Magic is dangerous. After it killed her sister Shire, Aza knows all too well that the powers come with a price. Casting is something Aza can't escape, as she secretly performs magic to help alleviate her family's financial debts. So when she finds an invitation to an underground casting tournament, she enters in hopes of winning and getting answers about her sister's mysterious death. It's a fight for her life in more ways than one. Aza's web of lies quickly spreads, but an unexpected truth may shatter everything.
A story of magic and what it fulfills and what it drains. A tale of secrets, and what happens when they are uncovered.
Trigger warnings for violence, death of a sibling/child, and gang violence.
Quick-witted, stubborn Aza had a lot on her plate. The magic user was always aware of the price of casting, but as she sought answers about Shire's death, she was shocked at just how emotionally painful those cost could be. Aza took risks and made mistakes feuled by her feelings, but she always kept a cool head. She was bravely determined in light of having to try to stave off Saints Willow's gang from taking her family's tea house and recovering from the tournaments. I adored Aza and her driven nature as she did everything she could to keep her life afloat.
Family meant everything to Aza. Even though they unintentionally caused some of her biggest burdens, she was extremely loyal to them. The loss of Shire and her mysterious death took a toll on the family as a whole. The lengths Aza went to understand the holes, the hows, and the whys Shire left behind were surprising and heavy. I adored how well-placed flash backs deepend not only Shire's character, but her bond with Aza, as well as the legacy of the teahouse. Though this was Aza's story, the well drawn supporting cast made it easy to see why she lied and dueled to keep her family safe. Not even the relentless pressure from the local family gang was enough to dissuade Aza from protecting her remaining family. Every sacrifice she made for them was incredibly moving.
It's impossible to open this book and not feel the magic rippling through the pages. Against a dark and polluted world, Aza utilized powers that demanded payment from both her and the environment. Not only did this help create and define the magic system, it truly hyped up the stakes of each tournament battle. Perfectly set scenes and natural deposits of information made the concepts of casting and the constructs of Lotusland easy to understand and visualize. The magic wasn't the only powerful part of this novel. Aza's decisions as her morals were put to the test blew me away and made me value the complexities of her character. Effortlessly bouncing between thought-provoking moments and Chinese Fight Club inspired battles, this own voices novel engrossed me completely. Elsie Chapman's action-packed story answered all my questions while simultaneously provoking more about Aza, her family, the world, and how it got to be in the state it was. I adored how she paralleled many aspects of Castor in ways that subtly commented on our world, specifically, the environment, loss, grief, family, loyalty, and identity. Riveting and raw, the stunning open ending was fantastic. However it left a lot of room for a sequel. Tense and beautiful, Castor was candy for the imagination and soul.
I challenge you to cast a glance at one page of this book and not get hooked.
September 8, 2020
well this was an interesting read! i tend to love books with the tournament trope because i enjoy reading about the challenges, the high stakes, and the tension. caster gave me all of that. the magic system also amazed me a lot because of how unique and innovative it is. i appreciate the boundaries to the magic and how costly it is, both to the caster and the environment. the destructive nature of the magic system added layers to the story and i liked that.
however, i wasn't fully able to love this book because i wasn't attached to any of the characters. yes, there were scenes that affected me but the emotional payoff wasn't that great because my attachment to the characters involved was flimsy at best. i love the mc's fighting spirit and dedication to win for the sake of her family but i was unable to fully connect with her. the other characters in this book also didn't stand out to me. i would have appreciated it more if there was more depth to finch's character. he's the quote unquote antagonist but i feel like his identity and intentions weren't tapped into that much. i would have liked this book better if the characters were more fleshed out.
and even though i really like the magic system, i think that it wasn't established really well. at the start of the book, aza was performing mind wipes and basic tricks. she was even complaining about not having enough training and control. but then she joined the tournament and she suddenly knew all these kinds of deadly and cool spells. i was just taken aback because there was no build up beforehand that such powerful spells existed. i was even more surprised that the mc knew how to cast them even though she didn't have prior combat training whatsoever. i mean all the training she had was arranging shelves and helping out on an apothecary. how could she have known all those combat spells??? i know this sounds really nitpicky but i was not ready for the whiplash. there was also no explanation afterwards as to where aza learned all those.
anyway, i still appreciate the layers to this book. i also enjoyed the audiobook narration and the fight scenes. the last few chapters which include the last stage of the tournament + the ending kept me engaged as well.
although i can't call this a favorite, i still recommend this to bookdragons who are looking for an action-packed read with a unique magic system. oh and i know that this book has a sequel but tbh it can stand on its own and reads like a standalone.
however, i wasn't fully able to love this book because i wasn't attached to any of the characters. yes, there were scenes that affected me but the emotional payoff wasn't that great because my attachment to the characters involved was flimsy at best. i love the mc's fighting spirit and dedication to win for the sake of her family but i was unable to fully connect with her. the other characters in this book also didn't stand out to me. i would have appreciated it more if there was more depth to finch's character. he's the quote unquote antagonist but i feel like his identity and intentions weren't tapped into that much. i would have liked this book better if the characters were more fleshed out.
and even though i really like the magic system, i think that it wasn't established really well. at the start of the book, aza was performing mind wipes and basic tricks. she was even complaining about not having enough training and control. but then she joined the tournament and she suddenly knew all these kinds of deadly and cool spells. i was just taken aback because there was no build up beforehand that such powerful spells existed. i was even more surprised that the mc knew how to cast them even though she didn't have prior combat training whatsoever. i mean all the training she had was arranging shelves and helping out on an apothecary. how could she have known all those combat spells??? i know this sounds really nitpicky but i was not ready for the whiplash. there was also no explanation afterwards as to where aza learned all those.
anyway, i still appreciate the layers to this book. i also enjoyed the audiobook narration and the fight scenes. the last few chapters which include the last stage of the tournament + the ending kept me engaged as well.
although i can't call this a favorite, i still recommend this to bookdragons who are looking for an action-packed read with a unique magic system. oh and i know that this book has a sequel but tbh it can stand on its own and reads like a standalone.
January 6, 2020
Review copy: Publisher
I went into Caster with pretty high expectations for two reasons: 1. I love Elsie Chapman’s writing — her story in the short story anthology A Thousand Beginnings and Endings is one of my favorites. 2. Fantasy brimming with complex worldbuilding and magic systems is the kind of thing I love to read. Caster, I’m happy to say, did not disappoint.
In Caster, Aza Wu is a caster capable of full magic, magic that comes with a cost to her own body and to the earth — a cost so terrible that it killed her sister. Now, Aza has to do whatever it takes to keep her family’s finances afloat, including dangerous casting and even joining an underground casting tournament. Magic is an integral part of the world Aza lives in, and that’s apparent in the nuance and complexity of the worldbuilding. This is a magic that is visceral and logical and powerful, all at once. It reminded me of what I loved about My Hero Academia and Fullmetal Alchemist — the cost and consequences of having power.
The cost and consequences, along with the social stigma of possessing the ability to cast full magic — which is blamed for the earth’s pollution and earthquakes — creates a complex, morally grey world for Aza to navigate. It was fascinating to explore this world, and I found it hard to put this book down even for a moment.
It didn’t help that this book is absolutely action-packed, as you can probably tell from the existence of an underground casting tournament (!!). You’ll be on the edge of your seat for every moment. The action scenes absolutely deliver.
If you’re looking for a thought-provoking, action-packed fantasy, then Caster is it. Definitely pick it up if you get the chance!
Recommendation: Get it soon! This is the action-packed fantasy that you’re looking for.
I went into Caster with pretty high expectations for two reasons: 1. I love Elsie Chapman’s writing — her story in the short story anthology A Thousand Beginnings and Endings is one of my favorites. 2. Fantasy brimming with complex worldbuilding and magic systems is the kind of thing I love to read. Caster, I’m happy to say, did not disappoint.
In Caster, Aza Wu is a caster capable of full magic, magic that comes with a cost to her own body and to the earth — a cost so terrible that it killed her sister. Now, Aza has to do whatever it takes to keep her family’s finances afloat, including dangerous casting and even joining an underground casting tournament. Magic is an integral part of the world Aza lives in, and that’s apparent in the nuance and complexity of the worldbuilding. This is a magic that is visceral and logical and powerful, all at once. It reminded me of what I loved about My Hero Academia and Fullmetal Alchemist — the cost and consequences of having power.
The cost and consequences, along with the social stigma of possessing the ability to cast full magic — which is blamed for the earth’s pollution and earthquakes — creates a complex, morally grey world for Aza to navigate. It was fascinating to explore this world, and I found it hard to put this book down even for a moment.
It didn’t help that this book is absolutely action-packed, as you can probably tell from the existence of an underground casting tournament (!!). You’ll be on the edge of your seat for every moment. The action scenes absolutely deliver.
If you’re looking for a thought-provoking, action-packed fantasy, then Caster is it. Definitely pick it up if you get the chance!
Recommendation: Get it soon! This is the action-packed fantasy that you’re looking for.
maybe
February 26, 2019"a chinese-inspired fight club plus magic" im interested
August 14, 2019
*Spoiler free, 3.5 stars*
I first heard about this book when the cover was revealed. It has an absolutely stunning cover, and it definitely sets the stage for what this book is about. And then I learned it's about magic and the price that has to be paid for it. There's underground tournaments, secrets, and mysteries too. It sounded like something I would like to read, and I wanted to give it a shot.
While I'm a bit back and forth on my feelings toward some parts of this book, I can say that I enjoyed it. It delivers everything the synopsis promises. There's magic and prices paid, there's death and secrets, there's a world falling apart at the seams.
Aza has crafted such a web of lies, that I was honestly stressed for her when she was trying to keep everything balanced haha. It's like she has multiple different worlds, and different roles to play for different people. And they just keep piling up! It really speaks to her strength as a person on how she balances everything. She feels the weight of responsibility and she wants to help her family. She's also just a teenager, so her emotions are messy and she slips up here and there. She feels like lose of her sister keenly and she's trying to figure out where to put her grief and her anger.
In all the worlds Aza is balancing, I found some more interesting than the others. The tournament was fascinating. I loved watching the competitors, and it was so cool how it played out. Aza's problems with the gang weren't as interesting until the end. I sort of just wanted this dude to go away so she could focus on the problem at hand haha. I mean, I think that means Chapman accomplished what she was going for, because that dude was supposed to be jerk haha.
This world, and the characters, just are. It doesn't feel like there is a right or a wrong anywhere. The line is barley a line. They make decisions based on their feelings and what they think is going to have the best outcome. There's no solid answer. This is true both for decisions in fighting and in emotions. It felt really real and it added rawness and reality to the story.
I really, really like the magic system and the world. There is such an obvious system for how everything works. I liked how the price paid for using full magic was always clear. The world the way it is in the present and also the history of this world is so fascinating. I would love to know more. I originally thought this was a standalone, but there are more books! I can't wait to see more of the magic and the secrets it holds.
I did feel like there was a ton of info dumping throughout the entire book. The world and it's magic is complicated. It takes a lot of explaining. Unfortunately, that explaining got a bit tedious here and there. Though, the information was interesting enough that I ended up enjoying the book a lot overall! I also felt like there were discrepancies with the magic at times. It's a complicated system, and magic was often cast during high stake moments, so it felt like a few details slipped through the cracks.
The ending was not what I was expecting at all, but it works so, so well. I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next book. I'm hoping there's expansion on the world because it's so cool, and I think there are a lot more secrets to uncover. The government is hiding something, I'm pretty sure, and I can't wait to see what else Aza uncovers. Because I have a feeling she's going to be digging a lot deeper.
I first heard about this book when the cover was revealed. It has an absolutely stunning cover, and it definitely sets the stage for what this book is about. And then I learned it's about magic and the price that has to be paid for it. There's underground tournaments, secrets, and mysteries too. It sounded like something I would like to read, and I wanted to give it a shot.
While I'm a bit back and forth on my feelings toward some parts of this book, I can say that I enjoyed it. It delivers everything the synopsis promises. There's magic and prices paid, there's death and secrets, there's a world falling apart at the seams.
Aza has crafted such a web of lies, that I was honestly stressed for her when she was trying to keep everything balanced haha. It's like she has multiple different worlds, and different roles to play for different people. And they just keep piling up! It really speaks to her strength as a person on how she balances everything. She feels the weight of responsibility and she wants to help her family. She's also just a teenager, so her emotions are messy and she slips up here and there. She feels like lose of her sister keenly and she's trying to figure out where to put her grief and her anger.
In all the worlds Aza is balancing, I found some more interesting than the others. The tournament was fascinating. I loved watching the competitors, and it was so cool how it played out. Aza's problems with the gang weren't as interesting until the end. I sort of just wanted this dude to go away so she could focus on the problem at hand haha. I mean, I think that means Chapman accomplished what she was going for, because that dude was supposed to be jerk haha.
This world, and the characters, just are. It doesn't feel like there is a right or a wrong anywhere. The line is barley a line. They make decisions based on their feelings and what they think is going to have the best outcome. There's no solid answer. This is true both for decisions in fighting and in emotions. It felt really real and it added rawness and reality to the story.
I really, really like the magic system and the world. There is such an obvious system for how everything works. I liked how the price paid for using full magic was always clear. The world the way it is in the present and also the history of this world is so fascinating. I would love to know more. I originally thought this was a standalone, but there are more books! I can't wait to see more of the magic and the secrets it holds.
I did feel like there was a ton of info dumping throughout the entire book. The world and it's magic is complicated. It takes a lot of explaining. Unfortunately, that explaining got a bit tedious here and there. Though, the information was interesting enough that I ended up enjoying the book a lot overall! I also felt like there were discrepancies with the magic at times. It's a complicated system, and magic was often cast during high stake moments, so it felt like a few details slipped through the cracks.
The ending was not what I was expecting at all, but it works so, so well. I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next book. I'm hoping there's expansion on the world because it's so cool, and I think there are a lot more secrets to uncover. The government is hiding something, I'm pretty sure, and I can't wait to see what else Aza uncovers. Because I have a feeling she's going to be digging a lot deeper.
January 29, 2020
4 stars
RTC
RTC
September 7, 2019
Was given an ARC from the publisher for a giveaway
More so a 4.5/5 due to some side characters not getting as much development, but overall this was a solid YA urban fantasy!
Caster is a appropriately fast paced for a YA urban fantasy but never lets up or drags down with its world building. The magic system is most interesting for its recoil mechanics; although recoil is focused on in many fantasy series Caster highlights on this more so than others, and the recoil is not only physical.
Aza's story is one of true survival. She goes at all odds to repay her family's debts, keep her parents safe, and get vengeance for her sister's demise. What I enjoyed most about these intersecting needs is her interactions with Kylin and Oliver. Aza knew both the pros and cons of the pacts offered to her by Kylin and Oliver and how they weighed on her and she learns form the consequences of both. Although there is no romantic intersection between Aza and Oliver (at least for this book, there's really no romance in here at all which I'm fine with) it is clear she had some affection for him that often twisted at her. Despite this, Aza does not fall victim to this affection but still keeps her pact with him. Her feelings for him do not become an eclipsing problem for her as is seen in many other YA novels where the heroine has feelings for guy who may prevent her from reaching her goal.
Additionally, Aza has her own network of friends and frenemies that she sets up, most supporting women. The ending with Saint Willow and Nima leaves this somewhat ambiguous but we know that both them see the potential in Aza.
This is one the best starters to a new YA series I've ever read! I can't wait for the rest. BUT I WILL NOT FORGIVE ELSIE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO KYLIN! How dare you, Elsie!
More so a 4.5/5 due to some side characters not getting as much development, but overall this was a solid YA urban fantasy!
Caster is a appropriately fast paced for a YA urban fantasy but never lets up or drags down with its world building. The magic system is most interesting for its recoil mechanics; although recoil is focused on in many fantasy series Caster highlights on this more so than others, and the recoil is not only physical.
Aza's story is one of true survival. She goes at all odds to repay her family's debts, keep her parents safe, and get vengeance for her sister's demise. What I enjoyed most about these intersecting needs is her interactions with Kylin and Oliver. Aza knew both the pros and cons of the pacts offered to her by Kylin and Oliver and how they weighed on her and she learns form the consequences of both. Although there is no romantic intersection between Aza and Oliver (at least for this book, there's really no romance in here at all which I'm fine with) it is clear she had some affection for him that often twisted at her. Despite this, Aza does not fall victim to this affection but still keeps her pact with him. Her feelings for him do not become an eclipsing problem for her as is seen in many other YA novels where the heroine has feelings for guy who may prevent her from reaching her goal.
Additionally, Aza has her own network of friends and frenemies that she sets up, most supporting women. The ending with Saint Willow and Nima leaves this somewhat ambiguous but we know that both them see the potential in Aza.
This is one the best starters to a new YA series I've ever read! I can't wait for the rest. BUT I WILL NOT FORGIVE ELSIE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO KYLIN! How dare you, Elsie!
January 23, 2020
Layered. This book is so beautifully, astonishingly layered. And it’s complemented by a powerful punch that quite literally took my breath away. And just when I thought it couldn’t possibly get any better, Elsie Chapman effortlessly pulled off a “ha bitch you thought” and set up a wildly fascinating premise for the sequel.
Not to exaggerate but the moment I finished Caster, I sat quietly for minutes, asked myself if this was a stand-alone novel, and then sent Elsie Chapman a message on Instagram that said:
I forgot about [the announcement of its sequel]. Djdnsjsjs. But tbh, if this /was/ a standalone, it would singlehandedly be the cruelest but also the most iconic thing anyone has ever done.
Because some stories can stand on their own, but Caster made everyone else bow, took the crown, and ran off with it. And then strutted back into the room wearing it.
I swear, all my metaphors would make sense if you read this book. So do it. Do it now.
Full review once I recover.
Highly recommended! (5 stars)
Not to exaggerate but the moment I finished Caster, I sat quietly for minutes, asked myself if this was a stand-alone novel, and then sent Elsie Chapman a message on Instagram that said:
I forgot about [the announcement of its sequel]. Djdnsjsjs. But tbh, if this /was/ a standalone, it would singlehandedly be the cruelest but also the most iconic thing anyone has ever done.
Because some stories can stand on their own, but Caster made everyone else bow, took the crown, and ran off with it. And then strutted back into the room wearing it.
I swear, all my metaphors would make sense if you read this book. So do it. Do it now.
Full review once I recover.
Highly recommended! (5 stars)
July 8, 2019
Caster
is a fantasy-thriller written for a young adult audience, though it will certainly be enjoyable for older readers. The common use of magic by humans is the book’s driving premise, fueling its action and ecological theme. This magic aspect is Harry Potterish, but with a greater sense of constraints and consequences. There is also a dystopian element that makes it a darker (and more grittily realistic) world than HP. Though I noted weak points in the book’s plotting and characters, it is overall well-written with prose elevated enough to prompt young reading skills.
The basic premise of Caster is that all humans (other than a certain few) are capable of using magic at a low level (”leftover magic”). With this magic, they can do simple things, like healing small wounds and heating cups of tea. Some people can perform high levels of magic (”full magic”) and do things like erasing memories and killing people. But using full magic has a cost—it causes pain and injury for the caster (of spells) and for the earth itself (because all magic is drawn from the earth). Past use of full magic has left the world an ugly, damaged place. For that reason, use of full magic is outlawed.
Against this background, we follow the story of Aza Wu. She is a sixteen year-old caster of full magic who does so for money, keeping her work hidden from the special police, called scouts, who hunt down full magic casters. Aza is emulating her big sister, Shire, in doing this work. Shire died mysteriously the previous year, apparently from casting a big spell that got away from her. Aza doesn’t know the specifics, but wants to. She harasses Shire’s mentor, Rudy, to find out, but Rudy is not forthcoming with any information. Meanwhile, Aza is doing her magic work, quietly, and trying to avoid the scouts. At the same time, she is dealing with the gangsters pressing her for “honor” money to allow her parents teahouse to operate.
One day, Aza finds a note, written by Rudy, containing a cryptic message and an address. Investigating, she discovers an annual tournament where full magic casters use their magic to fight each other. Aza gets involved, finding a possible new life-path fraught with danger.
As you can see, there’s plenty of tension and conflict here. That story is action-packed and told from Aza’s point-of-view, in First Person, so we follow her teenage angst through all the complications. That angst comes through mostly in the dialogue, and I suspect YA readers will identify with it. Some of her internal monologue and struck me as a bit advanced for a teenager, but I allow that as a minor point of dramatic license. Otherwise, I liked the narrative voice.
Ms. Chapman uses flashbacks a few times to bolster Aza’s character development, but doesn’t use them to excess, as is all too common these days. And she isn’t deceptive with them, which is the feeling I get when nonlinear narratives and flash-forwards are used to create mystery (indicating a weak plot). All this is to Ms. Chapman’s credit.
The strongest point of Caster, for me, is its ecological theme. The story is set in our future where the air is toxic to the point that most people wear masks when they go outside. Sunshine is rare and always filtered through smog. It’s a world of blighted nature:
No more blue and greens but smog and rust and dull gray concrete…Lakes and rivers carry mutant fish that ate up all the normal fish, and wildfires keep burning up forests all over the world because of freak weather. (p. 14)
That’s not far off from describing the real world. The premise here is that casting full magic is the cause of all this damaged nature, but only full casters know it. Everyone else accepts it as due to natural causes or as just an unknown. At one point, Aza’s home country (Lotusland) is covered in a smog event, keeping everyone indoors:
Environmentalists can’t pinpoint a single reason for it, so they’re saying it’s a whole bunch of things—factories, cars, the combination of years’ worth of buildup of pollutants running into perfectly windless conditions. None come close to the truth. (p. 284)
This also hits close to home for any number of actual current weather events. None of the real-world “experts” are coming close to the truth, either. I don’t know how much Ms. Chapman intended her picture of damaged ecology to reflect reality. I can only say it is the most poignant part of her story for me.
Overall, Ms. Chapman handles her plotting and action scenes well. A couple of weak points for me, however, are Aza’s parents, and the cop. I don’t believe either parent is ever named, leaving something of a generic feel to them. While Aza’s anger towards them is typical teenager, the parents don’t seem concerned enough. I didn’t really buy them being OK with Aza working for gangsters or sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night.
The cop-scout, Cormac, is presented as young and inexperienced at this job. Even so, I think he is way too easily fooled by the lame story Aza gives him to cover her tracks. Also, he is dropped from the novel too suddenly. It’s like he’s developed in the beginning to a point where he adds tension and complication, and then dumped when he is done as a dramatic device.
The climax feels a bit rushed and could have been, I believe, drawn out to greater effect. I think more development of the Finch character would have helped a lot, there.
The ending is more of a termination than a conclusion. Nevertheless, it invites sequels and will likely be pleasing for YA readers.
These criticisms considered, I really liked Caster. I think it’s YA audience will find it entertaining. I hope they also pick up on its ecological theme, understanding the magic/earth relationship as a metaphor for reality’s fossil-fuels/earth relationship. If they do, then maybe it will prompt their understanding of what “truth in fiction” means. This is a good read.
The basic premise of Caster is that all humans (other than a certain few) are capable of using magic at a low level (”leftover magic”). With this magic, they can do simple things, like healing small wounds and heating cups of tea. Some people can perform high levels of magic (”full magic”) and do things like erasing memories and killing people. But using full magic has a cost—it causes pain and injury for the caster (of spells) and for the earth itself (because all magic is drawn from the earth). Past use of full magic has left the world an ugly, damaged place. For that reason, use of full magic is outlawed.
Against this background, we follow the story of Aza Wu. She is a sixteen year-old caster of full magic who does so for money, keeping her work hidden from the special police, called scouts, who hunt down full magic casters. Aza is emulating her big sister, Shire, in doing this work. Shire died mysteriously the previous year, apparently from casting a big spell that got away from her. Aza doesn’t know the specifics, but wants to. She harasses Shire’s mentor, Rudy, to find out, but Rudy is not forthcoming with any information. Meanwhile, Aza is doing her magic work, quietly, and trying to avoid the scouts. At the same time, she is dealing with the gangsters pressing her for “honor” money to allow her parents teahouse to operate.
One day, Aza finds a note, written by Rudy, containing a cryptic message and an address. Investigating, she discovers an annual tournament where full magic casters use their magic to fight each other. Aza gets involved, finding a possible new life-path fraught with danger.
As you can see, there’s plenty of tension and conflict here. That story is action-packed and told from Aza’s point-of-view, in First Person, so we follow her teenage angst through all the complications. That angst comes through mostly in the dialogue, and I suspect YA readers will identify with it. Some of her internal monologue and struck me as a bit advanced for a teenager, but I allow that as a minor point of dramatic license. Otherwise, I liked the narrative voice.
Ms. Chapman uses flashbacks a few times to bolster Aza’s character development, but doesn’t use them to excess, as is all too common these days. And she isn’t deceptive with them, which is the feeling I get when nonlinear narratives and flash-forwards are used to create mystery (indicating a weak plot). All this is to Ms. Chapman’s credit.
The strongest point of Caster, for me, is its ecological theme. The story is set in our future where the air is toxic to the point that most people wear masks when they go outside. Sunshine is rare and always filtered through smog. It’s a world of blighted nature:
No more blue and greens but smog and rust and dull gray concrete…Lakes and rivers carry mutant fish that ate up all the normal fish, and wildfires keep burning up forests all over the world because of freak weather. (p. 14)
That’s not far off from describing the real world. The premise here is that casting full magic is the cause of all this damaged nature, but only full casters know it. Everyone else accepts it as due to natural causes or as just an unknown. At one point, Aza’s home country (Lotusland) is covered in a smog event, keeping everyone indoors:
Environmentalists can’t pinpoint a single reason for it, so they’re saying it’s a whole bunch of things—factories, cars, the combination of years’ worth of buildup of pollutants running into perfectly windless conditions. None come close to the truth. (p. 284)
This also hits close to home for any number of actual current weather events. None of the real-world “experts” are coming close to the truth, either. I don’t know how much Ms. Chapman intended her picture of damaged ecology to reflect reality. I can only say it is the most poignant part of her story for me.
Overall, Ms. Chapman handles her plotting and action scenes well. A couple of weak points for me, however, are Aza’s parents, and the cop. I don’t believe either parent is ever named, leaving something of a generic feel to them. While Aza’s anger towards them is typical teenager, the parents don’t seem concerned enough. I didn’t really buy them being OK with Aza working for gangsters or sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night.
The cop-scout, Cormac, is presented as young and inexperienced at this job. Even so, I think he is way too easily fooled by the lame story Aza gives him to cover her tracks. Also, he is dropped from the novel too suddenly. It’s like he’s developed in the beginning to a point where he adds tension and complication, and then dumped when he is done as a dramatic device.
The climax feels a bit rushed and could have been, I believe, drawn out to greater effect. I think more development of the Finch character would have helped a lot, there.
The ending is more of a termination than a conclusion. Nevertheless, it invites sequels and will likely be pleasing for YA readers.
These criticisms considered, I really liked Caster. I think it’s YA audience will find it entertaining. I hope they also pick up on its ecological theme, understanding the magic/earth relationship as a metaphor for reality’s fossil-fuels/earth relationship. If they do, then maybe it will prompt their understanding of what “truth in fiction” means. This is a good read.
October 3, 2019
Dude! Look at that cover, though!!?!?! I love it! I love it when covers can essentially give us everything we need to know about the book {although we don't know that until we read the book} and Caster does just this.
Lotusland is a complicated land where full magic casters are shunned because of the damage they have caused to Earth. They are illegal and hunted down by enforcers called Scouts.
And Aza is just that -a full magic-user
The world-building in Caster is very descriptive. As Chapman described each sector, all of your senses are used to imagine each Sector. The tea sector, where Aza and her family reside, seemed to make crave all my favorite teas as I read the descriptions. The spice sector made me hungry for curry and all my favorite spicy foods.
I was thoroughly impressed with how our author could insert into the story with her use of storytelling.
I found myself relating to Aza in more ways the longer the story went on. I understood her grief and felt her pain, trying to keep her family in their home and legacy. Most of all, I mourned for her and the loneliness that she seemed to exude out to everyone. I loved that Aza was a kick-ass heroine who knew she had flaws but also learned to adapt and learn from them.
Aza was quick-witted and had loads of street smarts to get by with the gang that followed her around trying to collect " honor marks" in exchange for protection from them.
The magical tournament makes me think of Mortal Kombat. And of course, Fight Club as well. But Mortal Kombat is what really popped in my head every night she fought in the different sections of the tournament.
Caster is a wonderful read!! You will be second guessing every clue you get and you will still be shocked a few times as well. I freaking love that there isn't a love interest in this story. It was refreshing to read a YA story that wasn't about falling in love and the plot following that arc of the story. Not that I don't enjoy the YA romance; but I just really liked that Aza was the main focus of the story.
Caster was a gritty fantasy about the magic that isn't all rainbows and wands. It shows us that magic hurts. It can be painful and it can destroy even when it is trying to save. What a great way to incorporate how we treat the Earth now into a fantasy story with magic!! I can't wait to read more from Elsie Chapman and I do believe we may see more of Aza and Lotusland.
I can't wait!
Lotusland is a complicated land where full magic casters are shunned because of the damage they have caused to Earth. They are illegal and hunted down by enforcers called Scouts.
And Aza is just that -a full magic-user
The world-building in Caster is very descriptive. As Chapman described each sector, all of your senses are used to imagine each Sector. The tea sector, where Aza and her family reside, seemed to make crave all my favorite teas as I read the descriptions. The spice sector made me hungry for curry and all my favorite spicy foods.
I was thoroughly impressed with how our author could insert into the story with her use of storytelling.
I found myself relating to Aza in more ways the longer the story went on. I understood her grief and felt her pain, trying to keep her family in their home and legacy. Most of all, I mourned for her and the loneliness that she seemed to exude out to everyone. I loved that Aza was a kick-ass heroine who knew she had flaws but also learned to adapt and learn from them.
Aza was quick-witted and had loads of street smarts to get by with the gang that followed her around trying to collect " honor marks" in exchange for protection from them.
The magical tournament makes me think of Mortal Kombat. And of course, Fight Club as well. But Mortal Kombat is what really popped in my head every night she fought in the different sections of the tournament.
Caster is a wonderful read!! You will be second guessing every clue you get and you will still be shocked a few times as well. I freaking love that there isn't a love interest in this story. It was refreshing to read a YA story that wasn't about falling in love and the plot following that arc of the story. Not that I don't enjoy the YA romance; but I just really liked that Aza was the main focus of the story.
Caster was a gritty fantasy about the magic that isn't all rainbows and wands. It shows us that magic hurts. It can be painful and it can destroy even when it is trying to save. What a great way to incorporate how we treat the Earth now into a fantasy story with magic!! I can't wait to read more from Elsie Chapman and I do believe we may see more of Aza and Lotusland.
I can't wait!
August 12, 2019
Wow i totally love this book, you got a complex magic system that consists of not only two types of casters those with full magic and those with half magic. You also have the ways the spells can be cast, how they are cast and what can be done to cast them. Then you got the effects of using magic one you can become an invor which is someone who used magic to the point where they will shatter from it and become unstable. Those are usually hunted down and put in cages as a warning to those who hid that they have full magic. You read that right it a bad thing to have full magic. Second cause of using full magic is pain and destruction of the Earth. Third you can also lose your magic usually by giving it away.
Not only does the amazing story have a complex magic system, their the political/gang aspects of it which force or main character into a forbidden magic casting tournament. The tournament is where all the action happens in what i think could of been a much longer book. I wanted the rounds to last longer then they did. I wanted more details about the secrets she uncovers as she fights in the tournament.
The only reason i gave this story a 4 star rating instead of a 5 is that the ending we are left with leaves us with the possibility of their being more story but their is no more story listed as being released. I did read an ARC so maybe the final copy gives us a better clue. I do know that this has the makings for a fantastic series and it could go a lot of directions with the ending of caster.
Pick this amazing story up release date September 3, 2019.
Not only does the amazing story have a complex magic system, their the political/gang aspects of it which force or main character into a forbidden magic casting tournament. The tournament is where all the action happens in what i think could of been a much longer book. I wanted the rounds to last longer then they did. I wanted more details about the secrets she uncovers as she fights in the tournament.
The only reason i gave this story a 4 star rating instead of a 5 is that the ending we are left with leaves us with the possibility of their being more story but their is no more story listed as being released. I did read an ARC so maybe the final copy gives us a better clue. I do know that this has the makings for a fantastic series and it could go a lot of directions with the ending of caster.
Pick this amazing story up release date September 3, 2019.
October 13, 2019
(3.5 stars)
Sometimes I lie so much that I think I’ll stop knowing what’s real anymore. Or maybe it’s just being surrounded by the lies of so many others that they change what truth even means.
This book was so different from usual YA. And it totally worked! The magic system was so complex and interesting, and it was explained really well too. There is a chunk about it at the beginning, but then we learn more as Aza discovers more about her magic. And there isn’t any romance! The plot focuses on Aza trying to keep her family’s business afloat without alerting her parents that something is wrong.
The description of the magic, especially the fights, was really well done. It was easy to picture the spells and all the action. I would have liked a bit more detail about how the world was functioning and exactly how magic affected it, but I guess that was part of the mystery of using full magic. And the plotline with the cops wasn’t wrapped up very well. But aside from that, I enjoyed the plot a lot! Especially all the scenes at the tournament.
Bending the truth and full-out lying were big contributors to Aza’s survival. Her very existence is dishonest, as full magic is illegal. And then she is keeping secrets from basically everyone she knows as she spins a web of lies around her.
The ending was so open, which I am actually okay with for once! The problems Aza was facing throughout the book were wrapped up and then her decisions opened up a whole other avenue of stuff to deal with, which was left up to our imaginations.
Sometimes I lie so much that I think I’ll stop knowing what’s real anymore. Or maybe it’s just being surrounded by the lies of so many others that they change what truth even means.
This book was so different from usual YA. And it totally worked! The magic system was so complex and interesting, and it was explained really well too. There is a chunk about it at the beginning, but then we learn more as Aza discovers more about her magic. And there isn’t any romance! The plot focuses on Aza trying to keep her family’s business afloat without alerting her parents that something is wrong.
The description of the magic, especially the fights, was really well done. It was easy to picture the spells and all the action. I would have liked a bit more detail about how the world was functioning and exactly how magic affected it, but I guess that was part of the mystery of using full magic. And the plotline with the cops wasn’t wrapped up very well. But aside from that, I enjoyed the plot a lot! Especially all the scenes at the tournament.
Bending the truth and full-out lying were big contributors to Aza’s survival. Her very existence is dishonest, as full magic is illegal. And then she is keeping secrets from basically everyone she knows as she spins a web of lies around her.
The ending was so open, which I am actually okay with for once! The problems Aza was facing throughout the book were wrapped up and then her decisions opened up a whole other avenue of stuff to deal with, which was left up to our imaginations.
September 20, 2020
I hate that I'm DNF-ing this :/ The premise and world building was SO GOOD- the conflict between the power and ease of full magic vs the gradual destruction of an already broken Earth was something I'd never read before. Unfortunately, that's the only positive I can really take out of the book. The rest of the world building was very wishy washy- Lotusland sounds like some sort of theme park, and with an entire sector devoted to Tea, I thought it might be some sort of East Asian inspired setting, but I have literally no reason to think that because apart from the magic system, nothing else is described. We don't know if it's some sort of alternate reality- other than the description of the first casters linking their magic to starters there's such little information to go on. Why is Aza not in education? Who are the people ruling Lotusland? Is there any effort begin made to find a way to reverse the damage caused by full magic? There's televisions and elevators and sneakers but I couldn't even get a definitive picture on the level of technology available in Lotusland. Aza as a character also read as really flat- she's 16 but she could be 30- there's nothing teenage about her at all. Also (at least up to part when I DNFed) doesn't really interact with an other character which is SO boring. I really really wished I liked this more, and after reading the blurb for the sequel I'm interested to know how the ending plays out, but not enough to actually read it.
September 19, 2021
If you like Leigh Bardugo, you will love this book. If I'm being honest, I actually think Elsie Chapman's writing in this novel is superior because of its structuring & diction.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this YA book! I read Dualed sometime ago & while I didn't dislike it, I also felt sort of like it was just another YA fantasy--not bad, but nothing exceptional. However, this book, Caster, is truly well written & a great deal of fun. It's highly compelling, and as many have noted, the characters are complex, likable & easy to invest in. This is definitely a book I would (and have) recommend to readers of all ages as a perfect escape!
Chapman's writing here has clearly matured. Her diction is lovely, and her prose structure almost has a meter--it's so smooth & highly readable. I also appreciate that Chapman's overall themes tend to remind readers of the struggle in society for those who are othered (in any sense) and just how much more they have to overcome in order to achieve what those who are normed as a birthright take for granted.
This is solid series & well worth it! It's so much better than 90% of the YA novels I have read recently, and I can't believe it took me a few years to find it, or that it isn't better known because start to finish, this is non-stop suspenseful writing that is blessedly original, innovative, and meaningful. I hope the right director options this as a film or a series because it'd be incredible!
I was so pleasantly surprised by this YA book! I read Dualed sometime ago & while I didn't dislike it, I also felt sort of like it was just another YA fantasy--not bad, but nothing exceptional. However, this book, Caster, is truly well written & a great deal of fun. It's highly compelling, and as many have noted, the characters are complex, likable & easy to invest in. This is definitely a book I would (and have) recommend to readers of all ages as a perfect escape!
Chapman's writing here has clearly matured. Her diction is lovely, and her prose structure almost has a meter--it's so smooth & highly readable. I also appreciate that Chapman's overall themes tend to remind readers of the struggle in society for those who are othered (in any sense) and just how much more they have to overcome in order to achieve what those who are normed as a birthright take for granted.
This is solid series & well worth it! It's so much better than 90% of the YA novels I have read recently, and I can't believe it took me a few years to find it, or that it isn't better known because start to finish, this is non-stop suspenseful writing that is blessedly original, innovative, and meaningful. I hope the right director options this as a film or a series because it'd be incredible!
January 19, 2020
Reviewed from an ARC.
In this fantasy, Aza Wu is a caster, capable of casting full magic, in a world where casters are being hunted toward extinction by Scouts. Her sister Shire died under suspicious circumstances while casting last year. Aza finds herself in the same underground casting tournament, coming head-to-head with the caster responsible for Shire’s death in a battle to save not only her own life, but also that of her parents and their teahouse.
Chapman has carefully crafted a fantastical alternate world where the earth is damaged when a caster casts a spell, gang leaders control areas of the town, and Scouts are trying to round up all casters. The first half of the book plods along with Aza, of Chinese descent, spending most of her time explaining where she is going and why, relationships between people, and how this world works. Once she enters the tournament and the battle begins, the rest of the book falls together nicely and reads quickly. Think: Hunger Games played using magic, as there is showmanship on the part of the players and there is death and a battle to the be the last one standing. Told largely from Aza’s point of view, the reader only sees what Aza sees. You won’t see the final twist on the last page coming (and don’t cheat and peek for it)! I look for more to come.
Recommended for grades 7-10
In this fantasy, Aza Wu is a caster, capable of casting full magic, in a world where casters are being hunted toward extinction by Scouts. Her sister Shire died under suspicious circumstances while casting last year. Aza finds herself in the same underground casting tournament, coming head-to-head with the caster responsible for Shire’s death in a battle to save not only her own life, but also that of her parents and their teahouse.
Chapman has carefully crafted a fantastical alternate world where the earth is damaged when a caster casts a spell, gang leaders control areas of the town, and Scouts are trying to round up all casters. The first half of the book plods along with Aza, of Chinese descent, spending most of her time explaining where she is going and why, relationships between people, and how this world works. Once she enters the tournament and the battle begins, the rest of the book falls together nicely and reads quickly. Think: Hunger Games played using magic, as there is showmanship on the part of the players and there is death and a battle to the be the last one standing. Told largely from Aza’s point of view, the reader only sees what Aza sees. You won’t see the final twist on the last page coming (and don’t cheat and peek for it)! I look for more to come.
Recommended for grades 7-10
October 27, 2020
"Caster" has a really interesting magic system/world. There are two different types of magic users in "Caster": Low Magic users: this is the most common type, people who can only cast lower-level magic (fix a scrape,warm up tea, ect), and the illegal Full Casters: people who have (as their name implies) full magic capabilities. But there are two costs to Full Magic: The first, depending on what you cast (how much energy you use), the caster get psychical pain as the cost for using their magic. (headaches, brusies,ect.). The Second, and main reason why Full Magic was outlawed,: the Casters get their magic from the earth, and each time they use it, the earth suffers. (fish dying,deep cracks in the earth, fog/smoke that stays in the air forever). Our Main Character Aza has a lot on her plate :trying to hide being a Full Caster, while trying to make enough marks from casting to pay off the mob her family's tea shop is currently in debt too, and avoiding the police that capture Full Magic User like her. I liked how Chapman has a checks-and-balance system in her magic system, as there are real consequences to Aza using her magic that are shown in the book. I think it's very refreshing in a gerne where every other MC is super powerful and they have no repercussion for having vast amounts of power. Chapman does a wonderful job and I can't wait to read the Sequel.
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