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takarakeireads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rebecca Roanhorse is one of the best fantasy writers out there. I would've loved to spend more time in this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexism and Abortion
ofbooksandechos's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexism
wordsareworlds's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Unfortunately a very disappointing departure from Roanhorse's other works. Much of the novella is spent info dumping lore instead of developing the characters beyond single traits or plot usefulness, and it makes the climax unbelievable at best.
While I'm a big fan of flawed MCs, and love the way Roanhorse has written others, this one crossed a point of no return where I was actively rooting against her, which also made for an unpleasant experience for the last quarter of the book.
While I'm a big fan of flawed MCs, and love the way Roanhorse has written others, this one crossed a point of no return where I was actively rooting against her, which also made for an unpleasant experience for the last quarter of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Confinement and Sexual content
Minor: Sexism
displacedcactus's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I've enjoyed everything I've read by Roanhorse, until this book came along. If it had been a longer book, I probably would have just straight-up DNFed it, but because it was so short, I kept with it hoping that it would pleasantly surprise me. Instead, it ended up disgusting me. HUGE spoilers here: when Celeste can't find evidence to clear her sister of murder, and in fact finds evidence that makes it obvious her sister lied to her about what happens, she decides to frame another girl for the murder, just based on the fact that the other girl said some snarky things about her sister. She also gets her demon lover to compel the other girl to confess. It's incredibly messed-up, and even the demon lover says so.
I can see what Roanhorse was trying to do, I think, by taking some tropes and turning them on their head, but unfortunately the end result is a character I don't particularly like making decisions that I strongly disagree with, and in such a short book that I'm not given any reason to feel compelled by her motivations.
I can see what Roanhorse was trying to do, I think, by taking some tropes and turning them on their head, but unfortunately the end result is a character I don't particularly like making decisions that I strongly disagree with, and in such a short book that I'm not given any reason to feel compelled by her motivations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Sexism
The racism here is an allegory but it's a painfully obvious allegory. There are no real-life racial slurs being used, however.