Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

18 reviews

nklimczak's review against another edition

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adventurous funny 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

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fantasticalsam's review against another edition

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funny

1.5

In contrast to the first book, which had a structured and tight plot, linear character development, and problematic regarding race in a way that made it difficult to tell if it was a criticism of the historical time period or not...this book bore no such unclarity.

This novel is orientalist and racist in a seemingly inclusive way that does not challenge settler-colonialism or racial bias. It's a coming of age novel, but the racism inherent to how Felicity (white main character) sees Sim (Algerian queerplatonic interest) in the first and second acts isn't ever actually addressed. Rather, the bias is written off as Felicity being distrustful of "pirates", but the group was saved by pirates last book - and in this book again! None of this character's choices make sense if she's not racist, and the fact that Sim doesn't ever call that out and is smitten with her (and, kisses Felicity without any hint of permission at one point which harkens to the predatory masculine/racially masculinized lesbian trope in a deeply uncomfortable way) is wrong.

It did have the unfortunate pairing of (1) the most nonsense plot I've ever seen, and (2) an incredibly funny line every hour or so that made it a very funny book to check out from the library and make fun of with my spouse. I wouldn't recommend it.

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katie0528's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious 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

A year after the first book, Felicity finds herself rejected from one British medical school after another. Desperate for the chance to be taken seriously, Felicity reuintes with a childhood friend, Johanna, who is engaged to a liberal minded doctor who may be willing to assist her with the help of the mysterious pirate Sim who has her own reasons to find Johanna. Things quickly spin out of control with all three girls pulled into a magical mystery of the past, forcing them to create an uneasy alliance to overcome their foes and carve a place for women in a world that has no use for them.

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klbreyfogle's review

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adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted 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

Another fun read like the first in the series! I liked the exploration of Felicity’s asexuality. I also really liked the character growth and power of female friendship throughout the story!

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psammophilus's review

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adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0

While I'm glad for the representation and a different kind of historical fiction, I found the treatment of non European culture and BIPOC characters to be deeply alienating and disappointing.

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