Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

15 reviews

rafacolog's review

challenging emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Sexual content

mishmoshroom's review

funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Minor: Death and Racism

jackiepreston's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol

analenegrace's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

I purchased this for a romance book club I'm a part of and wasn't expecting to particularly enjoy it because I don't usually love historicals, although it, especially LGBTQ+ historicals, has been growing on me. But instead, I loved this book so much. It has everything I have come to appreciate from a historical romance novel, a lot of romance but also a lot of another plot that is unique and allows the characters to grow. For example, some of Cat Sebastian's books that I have read this year had that in spades!

Both Catherine and Lucy were beautiful characters that developed so well, I loved seeing their romance develop, leading their confidences and, even, their feminism to grow. Catherine especially felt so earnest in her emotions as she realized her sexuality in comparison to Lucy's early childhood knowledge of her sexuality. Their relationship felt real and honest while being beautifully written; the prose in this novel is gorgeous!

The plot itself was so engaging that although the romance was fantastic, the plot made the book for me. I personally struggle in science, so I loved that Lucy wrote the expanded translation to be for the common woman, especially with the knowledge at the time that women would not have had access to certain levels of education. I loved the twist with

Olrean being a woman and a black woman

at that! I particularly enjoyed that the book did not stray from the classism, racism, and especially misogyny of the time, with Catherine somewhat acknowledging her privilege at times, and her husband's use of his privilege as a white man in the times. It felt both realistic in that she did not fully see the issue with the colonization etc but did see it somewhat.

The side characters also added to the book so much, with each feeling fleshed out and thoughtfully created. The diversity was well-written, and I especially enjoyed Mr. Frampton and his pushing and support of Lucy

even when he could have had the fame himself.

Catherine's "Aunt",  

who turned out to have been her mother's lover, was another character I greatly enjoyed because it showcased lesbian/queer women's history and constant existence.

 

I highly recommend this book and will definitely be checking out other books by this author!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, and Misogyny

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia

Minor: Domestic abuse, Grief, Racism, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Classism, and Death

wilybooklover's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Misogyny

Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Colonisation

ember_eyes_are_for_tigers's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-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

4.25

In comparison to the books that I’ve read in the genre since now this book was so much better. And, it wasn’t because it was a sapphic love story (although, that might have contributed to my overall enjoyment).
Of course, this isn’t without saying that the book has some pitfalls. Lucy, the main character, sometimes feels a bit bland and just a canvas for things to happen (whilst I enjoyed Catherine’s character much better and felt she was developed much more in depth), and there is a small issue with the pacing.
However, the writing is incredible. It’s lyrical and poetic in just the right points that makes the love story that much more romantic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Misogyny

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, and Classism

littlewishling's review

emotional inspiring lighthearted 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? No

5.0

What a beautiful romance! I loved all the characters and the nuance of woman in STEM in the time period. It was really wonderful and made me want to learn more about astronomy and learn to embroider.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Sexual content

Minor: Grief, Domestic abuse, and Death

talonsontypewriters's review

emotional hopeful fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Alcohol, Grief, Infidelity, Death, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Racism

bisexualwentworth's review

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved the way this book talked about art and science and the way that women’s contributions to both are constantly undervalued/ignored. I also appreciated the fact that the younger and less privileged character in the relationship was also more experienced with sapphic relationships. It helped offset the power dynamic for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Racism

kylieqrada's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

I never would have picked this (or any historical romance) up if it wasn't for Beautifully Bookish Bethany's Patreon book club and I WAS MISSING OUT. This gave what needed to be gaveeeeee!!!!! Give me sapphic scientists in love or give me death. That is all. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Misogyny

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Grief, Death, and Death of parent