Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Der Mitternachtspakt

Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Der Mitternachtspakt by C.L. Polk

42 reviews

hilarylouise's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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ehmannky's review against another edition

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emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I love when writers dabble in historical fantasy. There's something about throwing magic in with petticoats that just makes me so happy. I loved the central love story between Ianthe and Beatrice, and I also loved that Ysbeta is ace. I loved Beatrice's struggle to balance familial duty with her own desires. I'd recommend this book if you're a fan of Mary Robinette Kowal's Glamourist Histories series or Silvia Moreno-Garcia's The Beautiful Ones. They have a similar vaguely 1800s with magic setting and are centered on women's stories navigating that world. If I'm honest, I'm a bit bummed that there's only one in this series, because I would love to read a series of relationships in this world like what if there was a ployam throuple or a single woman trying to do her best in defending her children. So much to think about.

It's a great read, with women's rights and really interrogating what it means to be equal in a partnership beyond just *allowing* someone to be who they are and loving them. That a solid relationship demands compromises and sacrifices from both parties.

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codywolf's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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bookforthought's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Midnight Bargain is a charming, easy read, tackling themes of gender equality and power through a Regency-esque fantasy. Beatrice Clayborn is a powerful sorceress in a world where women are not allowed to practise magic and are locked into a marital collar that cuts off their powers. But Beatrice is determined to not let this become her fate, even as her family pushes her to marry to lift them out of the severe debt they have fallen into.

I really liked following Beatrice as the main character. She is powerful and knows it, and she is ready to challenge the whole of society for her right to become a mage - even if she has to do so in secret, risking everything. I wasn't too keen on the magic system itself, which seems to be strongly based in the mage being possessed by a spirit. Women learn magic from coded grimoires hidden in plain sight, and we get a fair bit of insight into how the magic works by following Beatrice as she conjures a luck spirit, Nadi.

Nadi was by far my favourite part of the book. I absolutely adored her and would totally take her with me everywhere and give her lots of cake. Nadi was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise quite predictable plot and character development. The rest of the cast is frankly quite forgettable, and the love interest, Ianthe, was quite bland for my taste. I also couldn't forgive the instalove and, even though I tried to look past it to enjoy the rest of the book, it bothered me to no end that Beatrice and Ianthe would be madly in love after briefly speaking ONCE. Ianthe's sister (and aspiring sorceress) Ysbeta was honestly a much more interesting character and I felt more chemistry between her and Beatrice, to the extent that I would have greatly preferred seeing them as a couple rather than the usual, predictable romance.

Crossing magic with a period drama is a great idea, especially for someone like me who loves both those elements, so I did overall enjoy reading this book. However, it was not without its faults. The plot was quite thin, the magic system problematic and the romance disappointing - in many ways, it reminded me of my experience watching Bridgerton, which I also found entertaining but deeply problematic. And yes, I did imagine Beatrice and Ianthe like this every time a dance was mentioned:

I appreciated the effort to include a gender equality theme in the book, even though at times it felt more like reading a Feminism 101 guide disguised as a fantasy rather than a story seamlessly incorporating these themes.

Overall, The Midnight Bargain was a pleasant enough read, in no small part thanks to the author's excellent writing style. It had some serious issues for me (mostly the thin plot and overreliance on the instalove), but some charismatic characters and the never-ending charm of the Regency-like setting somewhat made up for those, leaving me mostly satisfied and only partly wishing that this book had dared go further to reach its full potential.

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teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I usually try to read a few of the book from the Canada Reads Longlist each year. The Midnight Bargain wasn't necessarily on my list for this year, but my book club picked it, so I picked it up. The first thing that comes to be is that Polk is a very talented writer and storyteller. The writing was easy and smooth and help the pages turn easily. The storyline and characters were a mix of a lot of things for me. I liked parted and others not so much. Fantasy/magic books are not really my thing. I wish Polk had built the backstory to this up a bit more. But I enjoyed the spirits, especially Nadi, she made me laugh a few times. Beatrice was lovely as a main character, though I did feel she lacked depth. She was headstrong and determined and I appreciated that for the times this story was set in. The inequality between men and women was a central theme of the book that I appreciated some aspects of and felt it spoke truth to reality, but at times it also felt a bit too drawn out. The romance aspect was interesting and I felt it went back and forth between being centre stages and a sideline. The friendship aspect was one I enjoyed more, and wanted more of at the end. This book did take a bit to get into, but I found myself enjoying it the more I got into it. Overall, I'm happy I was encouraged to pick it up and would recommend it, but not a priority.

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iviarelle's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What an incredible story, beautifully told. I had to put the book down a couple of times, because I felt too deeply for Beatrice's plight and what was being done to her. But, fortunately, the ending is worth it, and the journey ain't half bad neither. I felt the dramatic climax was... both rushed and drawn out, somehow? But that's not necessarily a complaint, either. It's weird and I love it.

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spaghettireads's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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roguebelle's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

Magnificent! A powerful tale with a wonderful romance and strong friendships, colored by thoughtful politics and economics. Just what I like in a fantasy novel!

Truly, my only quarrel is that I would happily have read another book or two of Beatrice and Ianthe and Ysbeta traveling the world to unearth their magical secrets — but I suppose I can be content with the Happy Ever After ending that I got. ;)

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anigoose's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was a fun little read. It was a little slow and a little clunky at times. I found myself really distracted by the strange and bizarre descriptions of stays that were so confusing and conflicting! Conical stays with steel (that you pinned stomachers onto? with steel?) that somehow were tight laced and restricted breathing? It just...it was mentioned with regular frequency enough to actually be a problem in my enjoyment of the book, unfortunately.

I was describing the book to my husband - the magic and the feminism - and realized it sounded much cooler than what I felt like I was reading. I did absolutely dig the premise, but struggled with the execution.

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kpem's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This was such a fun read. It was magical and feminist with a setting reminiscent of Jane Austen or Bridgerton. I absolutely loved the characters. It was a fun, engaging, fast paced read. All pleasure and no guilt because the book centers the feminist values that are really important to me. Near the end of the book, there is some time when things look bleak for the main characters and I felt sick reading it because I wanted the best for them so badly.

It does have an almost too tidy ending, but I was happy to see the characters I care about get everything they wanted, so it didn't take away from the book for me.

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