Looking at the great sensation of the Krakow lagoon on the Internet, it’s hard not to think about the Wizard’s Bakery . After all, where could such a creature come from? However, in Gu Byeong-mo’s novel, magic baking works a bit differently.
A hard childhood
The main character’s life was not easy. It can be safely said that he had a hard time from an early age. The novel begins with another difficult experience. As it can be assumed, the title bakery becomes for him a way of coping with life. However, contrary to appearances, this is not a fairy tale and finding yourself in a magical place does not make all problems suddenly disappear.
We observe with interest the changes that take place in the main character over time. They may not be spectacular, but they are interesting nonetheless. Unfortunately, the other characters in the novel do not develop too much. We get to know some of them quite well, but their character and personality remain static, although sometimes very skilfully rendered. The main character’s stepmother deserves special attention. We can imagine it without the slightest problem, and how the environment reacts to it is fully convincing.
The fact that it’s hard to get attached to the heroes may be a downside. Not all are off-putting, but unfortunately hardly anyone is curious and sympathetic enough to like him. While reading, we feel a certain distance even towards the protagonist. The friendliest character is the baker’s supporting assistant, but even in her case it is hard to find a deeper attachment, because the writer devoted too little time to her.
Magic and its price
The author presented the way magic works in an interesting way. The bakery does not offer simple recipes to solve the problems. The delicacies you can get from it work, but your use may end badly. Despite the warnings, some people decide to buy, and then have to deal with the consequences of using magic.
Unfortunately, an interesting approach to magic does not make up for the shortcomings in the story. The main axis of the action is interesting and noteworthy. Especially the tip itself can really make you think. Unfortunately, the side plots that surround it are not very well developed, nor do they attract the attention of the reader. The whole thing looks a bit average. Perhaps the situation would be improved by combining several themes into one coherent whole, but in their current form they are only an excuse for the protagonist to be able to look at himself.
Eye-catching cover
It cannot be denied that the wizard’s bakery looks really good visually . The hard cover in purple and gold colors definitely catches the eye. The interior also looks interesting – both the end paper and the title pages of the following chapters are decorated with nice drawings. Interestingly, the stylistics stands out quite clearly from the original release. You can also have mixed feelings about whether it matches the content of the book. It is indisputable, however, that it visually encourages the reader to reach for this item.
Gu Byeong-mo’s novel has several advantages, but unfortunately it also has some disadvantages. You read it really fast and you don’t regret the time spent reading it, even if it was not a reading discovery of life.
Nasza ocena: 7/10
Theoretically, the novel is intended for a young reader. Perhaps this is where some of its disadvantages stem from. On the other hand, the author touches on difficult topics that not all teenagers may want to deal with. Undoubtedly, however, reading can make us think.EDITION AND PROOFREADING: 9/10
Characters: 7/10
STYLE: 6/10
STORY: 6/10