Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley
Published April 28th 2015
Aza Ray is drowning in thin air.
Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak—to live.
So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn’t think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.
Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who’s always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world—and found, by another. Magonia.
Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power—and as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war is coming. Magonia and Earth are on the cusp of a reckoning. And in Aza’s hands lies the fate of the whole of humanity—including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?
I was so excited to read this book. The concept sounded so good and I knew I needed this book in my life. I was so excited and pumped, I didn’t stop to think that I might not like this book as much as I thought I would. I should have calmed down before starting this book because after 50 pages, I felt like I would drown in my disappointment.
Right away, the tone of this book caught me off guard. The main character was so snarky and I was not expecting that. At first, I was really on board with Aza and her attitude but after 40 pages, I couldn’t take it much more. There’s a fine line between good snarky attitude and just being a brat. I felt like Aza was just a brat. I wanted to tell her to just chill out for a second. I think the hardest part is I wouldn’t be friends with Aza if she was real. I think that’s a really important quality for characters to have. If I can’t relate to the main character (which I didn’t with Aza) then I want to be able to feel like we would be friends. I didn’t feel any of that with Aza. Granted, I did think she got better though out the book but the damage was already done.
I did really like the writing though. It was really well written.
I could go on and on about how much I love the concept of this book. It’s so unlike anything I’ve read before and that aspect of the blew my mind.
Overall, I liked everything about this book except the main character. I just couldn’t relate to her or connect to her. I feel like it’s more of a personal opinion than something actually “wrong” with the book. I’m definitely going to be rereading this book (because I’m determined to love it) but as of right now, I’m not really digging it.
2 COMMENTS
ravenblake99
8 years agoI’m not surprised, this one getting a 3 star.I haven’t read this book yet but I’ve seen so many people not loving it .I don’t know what’s the hype is all about this book maybe it’s because of the cover or the blurb.Great Review BTW! :D
Taylor
8 years agoI feel like everyone dislikes the same things about this book. Oh well.