Member Reviews
I did t know what to expect with this book but I was pleasantly surprised. Murder mystery, magic, fortune all mixed to make a great who dun it.
Tabatha loves the occult and has had the privilege of being the apprentice to Sorcerer Solomon the top sorcerers around with a skill for fortune telling. The problem is he has predicted his own death. “By the hand of his most beloved.” When Tabatha comes to the house and finds him murdred and she’s one of the main suspects, she must clear her name and find out what the truth really is.
This magic driven murder mystery was very good and entertaining. I was hooked on this fast based mystery. It was very good and I enjoyed it
I just reviewed These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang. #TheseDeadlyProphecies #NetGalley
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was really interested in the plot of this book and thought it was interesting. A murder mystery with some magic thrown in there. This fell a little flat for me. I needed some more twists and suspense. I still enjoyed it , but just found it dragging at some points.
First I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Random House for letting me read this E-arc. In return for an honest review.
I was quite thrilled when I was approved for this book, as I had been eyeing the advertising Andrea Tang kept putting out for it, as well her other books have quite interested me before too. I was happy to have received this arc, and really quite excited it did not disappoint in the least.
It really is like a sorcerer family Knives Out, I love the bickering between all the family members as they try to prove themselves worthy of Solomon Inheritance, while at the same time many of them debating what killed the Mr. Solomon. Tabatha Zeng is swept up into the family disputes, and tied to Callum by her master's wishes to watch out for them. Seeing their budding friendship start, is one of my favourite parts as we first meet them bickering and suspecting each other of who killed the dad.
I loved the book, and I really hope there might be more put into this, so we can so a full world expand of it. That just shows how much I enjoyed this book, especially the twists and doubts you tell yourself as you read each clue.
The teen/YA book didn’t deter me from this book.
I’ve read some really great books for that age group, so I was excited to get into the book.
Really good and entertaining read.
It definitely deserves a shot.
If you’re looking for a mystery intermingled with fantasy, These Deadly Prophecies is for you. A very strong YA fantasy, it has some tragedies that makes you truly understand the motivation of these characters. This book grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let me go.
A thrillingly fun read from start to finish. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but These Deadly Prophecies grabbed me right away, with its snarky, clever protagonist, sharp style, and urban fantasy world. The mystery is a solid one with a satisfying solution, and with the combination of family-centered whodunit and magic in the real world, it gave Knives Out x The Fascinators in the best way. I absolutely flew through this delightful YA magical mystery.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance review copy!
Tabatha feels like her life is going pretty well. While she may not be the most popular person at school, she was able to land a prestigious apprenticeship with none other than Sorcerer Solomon, and she's learning the craft she has always dreamed about. But when her mentor starts predicting his own murder, she never expected it would be so soon - or that it would include her becoming closely involved with Solomon's son Callum. As the two work together to solve the murder, they also find themselves fighting for their own lives.
The MCs in this are well developed, and the side characters are also easy to keep straight. There are not a lot of extraneous characters to keep track of - just the perfect amount for a solve-the-murder type novel. I especially enjoyed the tone of the writing and the way that Tabatha addresses the reader throughout the story, which gives the book a great crime-noir atmosphere to the mystery. Tabatha and Callum make great gumshoe detectives, all while they navigate the realities of family expectations and keeping ahead of the murderer. I also found the world building to be enjoyable. The magic system was well explained without feeling like a lecture, and each piece built upon the last to create a more complex picture of their world.
Overall, 4 stars. Recommended for fans of William Ritter's Jackaby series.
Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
"These Deadly Prophecies" by Andrea Tang is a thrilling and enchanting YA fantasy murder mystery that has elements of supernatural intrigue as well as family drama and a touch of romance. Set in a world where magic and prophecy intertwine with the mundane, this book offers a captivating and fast-paced narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book is so much fun, and I definitely agree with the comparison to “Knives Out.” The story is a bit unhinged at times and over the top, but that’s what made me love it even more, just like with the first “Knives Out” movie. If you’re in the mood for a fun murder mystery, especially an fantasy one, you will definitely love this book.
Tabatha Zeng, a 17-year-old Chinese student, finds herself entangled in a web of mystery and suspicion when her mentor, the renowned sorcerer Julian Solomon, is brutally murdered. As Tabatha becomes a prime suspect in the case, she must team up with Julian's son, Callum, to uncover the truth behind his death.
Tang's writing is very is witty and engaging, with Tabatha serving as a sharp-witted and relatable protagonist. The dialogue was so much fun and was incredibly engaging, making the characters feel realistic. I also really enjoyed the humor throughout the book; it was definitely my type of humor, especially in relation to old-money politics and family drama. This is definitely a book you can finish in just 1-2 sittings with its quick pace; I found it difficult to put down because I was so invested in the mystery as well as the different characters.
The fantasy elements add depth and intrigue to the plot, allowing this book to stand out from other standard mystery books. Also, the exploration of themes such as identity, ambition, and belonging gives the story emotional resonance. The mystery aspect of the story did start off a bit slow, but the resolution is satisfying and well-executed. The characters are well-developed and engaging, with Tabatha's internal dialogue being the highlight for me as her inner dialogue brought moments of humor and insight.
Overall, "These Deadly Prophecies" is a delightful and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of YA fantasy and murder mysteries alike. Tang's imaginative storytelling and engaging characters make this novel a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating and immersive escape into a world of magic and intrigue.
A fun, spooky read!
Tabatha apprentices for the famous and magical Solomon. He states, through several prophecies, that he will die. It’s a shock to everyone when he actually dies and it’s a brutal death. Tabatha is told by Solomon, before his death, to only trust his son Callum and no one else. Callum and Tabatha try to solve the murder mystery but get swept up in the unknown along the way.
Likes/dislikes: This book is such a fun read! I loved the spooky atmosphere and the mystery. Tabatha is a strong, persistent, interesting character.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: R for 50 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG for deaths.
Ethnicity: The Solomon family members are white and Tabatha is Chinese American.
Thank you netgalley for the arc.
I've never read a fantasy murder mystery before and I have to say, it's way more fun than one set in the real world.
I wanted to love this, but for me, this wasn't quite what I expected. It reads a lot younger than I expected, even for a YA book. It was an interesting story, a murder mystery focused on sorcerers; however, the magic was a lot less important to the story than I thought it was going to be. The ending also didn't quite sit right with me, and I'm not sure why. Those going in with the right expectations might have a better time with this.
I did, however, think it was well written, it was fun to read, and I liked the characters.
Side note: I have also seen some criticism of the queer representation in this book, and I do have to agree. It is such a minor detail, but it didn't settle well with me as to how it all went down.
I love a good murder mystery, but add in some magic, and I'm onboard from page one. I absolutely loved Tabatha! She's such a dynamic and relatable character, and she's the kind of YA character I love to see in books: strong, opinionated, and clever. The plot is fast-paced which makes it easy to pick it up and read it in one sitting - I didn't want to put it down after I started it. I wanted a bit more worldbuilding when it came to the magic, but I think Andrea Tang gave us just enough for what the plot required. The ending wasn't quite what I was hoping for either, but it fit the general feel of the book and was a clean ending that made sense despite being a little bit expected. I'll definitely be buying a physical copy!
Maybe more of a 3.5.
This one has been on my radar for a while coz I read the same some time ago and thought it was fun. I waited till I could get the audiobook and I wasn’t wrong in my initial thoughts.
This is actually my first by the author and now I should checkout what else she has written. Because this book has a very witty writing style which made for many a wry smiles, despite it being essentially a multiple murder mystery. It’s also very fast paced and I just rushed through it. The stakes never did feel too high though and danger levels didn’t feel anxiety inducing, just more on the fun and exciting side. The revelation of the murderer was also quite the scene and while I had some suspicions, I didn’t really predict it.
The main characters are also nice with Tabatha being the typical Asian American child trying to find her dreams which is completely opposite of what her mom desires for her, and Callum being the youngest child of a very popular sorcerer - a father who really didn’t see his children for more than their potential for sorcery. They make for a cool pair together, investigating the murder, with some budding romantic moments sprinkled in between.
The sorcerer Solomon dies pretty early in the book but his presence nevertheless looms large throughout the narrative. Angelique was shown as this fiery hot tempered but powerful sorcerer but we don’t really get to see those powers. Felix and Circe both only get a few scenes to showcase their presence. I felt more impressed by the both the moms - Rowena and Anne-Marie are both not sorcerers but strong in their own right, doing whatever necessary to keep their kids safe.
Overall this book was a fun and quick read, and I also enjoyed the parts I listened to on the audiobook, narrated very neatly by Katharine Chin. The characters others than our protagonists didn’t really get much page time, but our main couple had very cute moments between them, and I loved following along with them on their Nancy Drew style mystery solving.
3.5 Stars
The was a story of sorcery magic gone wrong. It is a magical murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. It took me a bit to get into this because I had a hard time liking the main characters. About halfway through it got really good though I was rooting them on. I liked the ending and would love to read another book about this family if one was written.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young readers group for the opportunity to read this book.
I'm completely sold when I saw that this book is pitched as magical Knives Out meets The Inheritance Games. And yes, this did not disappoint because I had so much fun reading this one.
I first read Andrea Tang's Rebelwing years ago and it did not work for me but I decided to give this one a try because the synopsis and the blurbs sounds so exciting.
What I expected from the synopsis waa met because I ended up enjoying the eARC at all. It was enticing to know how Tabitha will navigate the mysterious world surrounding the death of her former boss that followed the exact prophecy that the boss foresaw.
Love how even if the major element is the murder mystery, the author was able to blend magic and fantastical things (and a bit of romance!) without sacrificing the integrity of the mystery plot.
Overall, such an enjoyable read. The only thing that I can say is an area for improvement is the ending because with everything that happened, I want a stronger conclusion with an unforgettable finish. 4 stars!
The comparisons to Knives Out are apt - this is a snarky, fourth wall-breaking urban fantasy that probably isn't as clever as it tries to be and has a rather rushed and anticlimactic ending. That said, it can be fun if you like distrusting outsider leads and a lot of twisty turns (many of which can be predicted, some of which cannot).
Story: Tabatha came from the wrong side of the tracks - and was fortunate to catch the eye of (and become an assistant to) a sorcerer of Solomon's level. Solomon can see the future and has predicted his own death by "his most beloved." When the event actually happens, an irate detective has Tabatha in her sights, as well as Solomon's unloved brood: two sons and a daughter. All Tabatha knows is that she is supposed to work with Solomon's youngest son closely in order to find out who performed the murder. But Callum's half sister and brother may or may not be working against them. Certainly, their mothers have their own issues with Solomon.
This is kind of fun in that you have the hugely dysfunctional Solomon family - magical and non magical wives, lovers, and former employees. Tabatha looks on at the working of the rich and famous with bemusement and not a small amount of disgust. Most of the characters are completely over-the-top and the author has fun with the roles.
At the same time, Tabatha was hard to like. She never came off as particularly intelligent and it was hard to see what Solomon saw in her so that he made her his apprentice (other than that she is persistent). I would have liked to see more intelligence behind her decisions rather than going mostly off the cuff as she tries to figure out who her allies are and aren't - all the while dodging jail herself as a suspect.
While this was by no means a terrible book, I still was left underwhelmed. Consider it more of a murder mystery with all the quirky characters so loved in the Knives Out movie. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
This book includes fantasy, a murder mystery, realistic but acceptable characters, and betrayal. I simply wish the characters were fleshed out more; this novel kept me guessing and intrigued. It isn't the fantasy book I was expecting. It had a perfect balance of magic; it wasn't too much, where it was simply based on magic, and it wasn't too little, where there wasn't enough magic in the story; it was just right, and the author is absolutely amazing for that, as well as for offering such depth. My favorite character is Tabatha because she is so driven and motivated, especially to clear her name, and she is so confident in her abilities and feisty. I prefer this author's writing style. I understand her plot and how she presents her story.
Thank you netgalley and penguin group for the ARC
3.5/5 ⭐
Witty and humorous with dark magic sprinkled throughout. I really liked the female and male MCs. It was easy to see where their relationship would go but I liked following them on their journey to solve the murders together. I feel like the ending was a bit too anticlimactic for my liking, especially since the majority of the book was quite enjoyable up until that point. Overall the book was well written and fast paced. I had a good time with this one and wouldn't mind looking for more from this author in the future.
I could not have been more excited to hear this book is for fans of Knives Out and The Inheritance Games because those are two favorites of mine! These Deadly Prophecies follows a teenage girl named Tabatha as she defies her family’s expectations and becomes an apprentice to an infamous Sorcerer instead of a more ‘lucrative’ career. When Tabatha’s boss, Sorcerer Solomon, predicts his own death and then it comes true, she becomes a chief suspect. Tabatha must team up with Sorcerer Solomon’s youngest son Callum, who is also a suspect, to find the true killer and clear their names. But all is not as it seems!
A great plot and storyline that has me hooked from the very beginning. The characters are interesting but I feel as though I only get surface level information, especially from our two mains. The story was a fun mystery but there was no way I could have guessed the ending because many important clues aren’t revealed to the reader. I’m not sure if this is due to the length of the book being so short or a writing preference. Although the plot is wrapped up very quickly at the end I was very entertained the whole time and really enjoyed the read! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.