Illustrated Girl by Josephine Angelini - Book Review

Series: The Chronicles of Lucitopia #1

Publication Date: 02nd July 2024 

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Super fun but with loose ends 

Holly is a sixteen-something teen looking to escape from the real world by burning her nose in books. All she ever wanted was a romance like in the novels, but a spell made her a part of a middle-grade medieval fantasy! 

Now, Holly is stuck in The Chronicles of Lucitopia as Princess Pleasant. She has only fifteen days to break the spell, or she will be permanently stuck in the book. Holly sets out on a quest to find a way and meets a super handsome knight on his own quest. Can she be successful in her mission, or will Holly become Princess Pleasant forever? 

The story comes in Holly’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Your enjoyment will depend on how well you like the narrative style. The first-person narration here is more like a young girl telling you her story with cheeky side notes and witty remarks. The narrator speaks to the readers at times. The tone is informal, casual, and sassy. I quite enjoyed the voice with all its quirks, though it is not my preferred style.

The beginning is slow, but the story picks up pace soon enough. The humor is lighthearted even though the plot deals with some tough topics. Everything is kept on the surface level to restrict the focus to the fantasy land and the story in the story. 

This book is YA, even if Holly is stuck in a middle-grade story. So it does have a few scenes and references appropriate for the teen folk but not kiddos. And with our FMC fully appreciating the MMC’s physique, this should work better for the 16+ readers. 

It is a cozy fantasy with stinky monsters, handsome knights, an evil sorcerer, and a girl on a quest to find her freedom. The fantasy world is not elaborate but blends reality and fantasy. Moreover, I like how it is presented. It feels fresh while giving the author some leeway to get away with basic world-building. Smart! 

However, we are also left with quite a few questions and no answers. I saw the blurbs for the other two books in the series. While the evil sorcerer is a recurring character, the plotlines seem to be independent. So, I’m not sure if these questions will be answered. 

The ending is cute and sweet, but again, leaves some things unanswered. This is the kind of read where you don’t use logic and go with the flow. I enjoyed it, so no complaints. 

To summarize, Illustrated Girl is a lighthearted and fun read for teens (preferably the older set) who want a touch of magic, romance, and humor. Don’t look for anything intense, and enjoy it for what it is! I would love to read the next book in the series. 

And… can I get my own Rancor, please? 

Thank you, NetGalley, Sungrazer Publishing, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #IllustratedGirl