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aqtbenz's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Death, Child death, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Vomit
ontheoffbeat's review
1.5
The author's note and the social movement that the author chose to focus on for this book were both intriguing and garnered my excitement. The movement in question is the early women's equal rights movement that began at the tail end of 18th century going into the 19th century. Pioneers of this movement included Mary Wollstonecraft, author of The Vindication of the Rights of Woman, and the leading inspiration behind the protagonist of The Rakess, Seraphina Arden. Unfortunately, Seraphina did not come close to capturing the fervency of Wollstonecraft. This rakess remained cold, robotic even, throughout the entire novel. If there's one thing that this gender-swapped experiment of the trope proves it's that no matter what gender they are, a rake(ss) is still an ass. Her love interest, a Scottish architect by the name of Adam Anderson, likewise was poorly-written. His trauma from losing his wife and baby in childbirth is not handled carefully and instead came off as quite silly and melodramatic. It reminded me of the character writing of Anthony Bridgerton, whose fears also came off as silly and not the sources of turmoil that they were set out to be. I would hope authors and editors would go through more care in properly exploring the trauma of these characters while also bridging this gap of understanding between the modern audience, who live in a society where modern medicine has solved many health issues that would have been a death sentence two hundred years ago, and the characters of Regency England, who would not have such luxuries in their lifetime. This book also contains one of my least favorite tropes ever.
Overall, The Rakess set its target high but did not hit the mark.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Forced institutionalization
ticktock's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Sexual content
jessiewolf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Miscarriage, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
racheldida's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Sexism, and Misogyny
taylordmccabe's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death and Miscarriage