The Bronze Key by Holly Black

The Bronze Key by Holly Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm going straight to pros and cons today.

Pros
Great read for the target age group.
Interesting story idea. Magic that can swap souls?
Good pace and length. Meaty enough to get into, but not a long term commitment.
Characters we can care about.

Cons
Inconsistent magic system. Knock people out with a thought, but still be crippled by your hands being tied together?
Goofy plot developments. Standing on a table and shouting your plan?

Yeah, I'm going to see this one through, but my epiphany for the day is that you don't have to be a perfect writer to be successful, especially with a younger audience. Focus on characters, and don't let your pace get too slow or your plot lines too deep, and younger audiences will fill in the gaps.