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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was an okay book and a quick read because I was invested in finding out what happens to the main character. However, there were some annoying inconsistencies (character ages, things being written in Russian then later being written in English, etc) that I got hung up on and the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. A middle of the road read
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Sexual content
Review based on an ARC from Edelweiss Plus.
I really enjoyed the first part of this story but it was so slow with virtually no plot advancement (I know things *happened* but nothing felt terribly important, if that makes sense) that I started to lose my interest about halfway through, and then the final 30ish pages blew by so fast that it left me scratching my head, wondering what exactly just happened and how all the main action had been distilled to so few pages. The "resolution" was deeply unsatisfying to me (Kirkus says there'll be a sequel? That make sense.) and I didn't like many of the characters by the end because they didn't seem to have well-rounded personalities, except for Dov. (I really enjoyed him and would have preferred a book told from his point of view.)
I've got a LOT of feelings about the ending-- major spoilers ahead:I wasn't a fan of the means of revealing the story pieces. Of course the evil mother figure has a monologue where she conveniently gets to explain her backstory and reasons for everything— which felt disingenuine, given what we know of Evelina and her history with her family. Given how manipulative and evil she is portrayed, why would she decide to be honest with her daughter juuuust before a ritual, instead of selling her some believable lie to make her follow-through? And of COURSE Ruby has a last-minute plan to get back-up help that leaves the reader purposely left in the dark until said help arrives. And of COURSE Talia, Dov, and Cece immediately forgive Ruby for using them and/or lying to them, despite it being pretty much all her fault that things escalated to this point. The whole Cece-and-Talia-leave-town-while-Dov-and-Ruby-stayed-behind just felt off— I thought it would make more sense for Ruby to run away while Cece rallies the rest of the family to stand up against Eveline and protect Ruby. ALSO, I'm still mad we didn't get to see the culmination of the showdown between Evelina and Mrs. Mahalel— THAT would have been amazing.
As for general plot thoughts, I was reeeally hoping that it would turn out all the family members had similar Times (or at least the sisters) but never knew because they it wasn't something they talked about it-- and it would turn out their Times were actually symbolic endings of the family gifts because once they DID grow closer and recognize the common thread in their Times, they would work together to end the family legacy— that way it would be a critique on the superficiality of family bonds while simultaneously highlighting the power of chosen family bonds. Just sayin'. Maybe it will but that’s not the sense I got upon finishing this book— it felt a lot more magical showdown than family togetherness, though I suppose the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
I do think it was well-written overall! The writing style was right up my alley and made it go by fast. I appreciate the overall idea but probably won't be seeking out the sequel.
I really enjoyed the first part of this story but it was so slow with virtually no plot advancement (I know things *happened* but nothing felt terribly important, if that makes sense) that I started to lose my interest about halfway through, and then the final 30ish pages blew by so fast that it left me scratching my head, wondering what exactly just happened and how all the main action had been distilled to so few pages. The "resolution" was deeply unsatisfying to me (Kirkus says there'll be a sequel? That make sense.) and I didn't like many of the characters by the end because they didn't seem to have well-rounded personalities, except for Dov. (I really enjoyed him and would have preferred a book told from his point of view.)
I've got a LOT of feelings about the ending-- major spoilers ahead:
As for general plot thoughts, I was reeeally hoping that it would turn out all the family members had similar Times (or at least the sisters) but never knew because they it wasn't something they talked about it-- and it would turn out their Times were actually symbolic endings of the family gifts because once they DID grow closer and recognize the common thread in their Times, they would work together to end the family legacy— that way it would be a critique on the superficiality of family bonds while simultaneously highlighting the power of chosen family bonds. Just sayin'. Maybe it will but that’s not the sense I got upon finishing this book— it felt a lot more magical showdown than family togetherness, though I suppose the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
I do think it was well-written overall! The writing style was right up my alley and made it go by fast. I appreciate the overall idea but probably won't be seeking out the sequel.
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Edelweiss. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Wise and the Wicked is a story about confronting our fate, of wondering if we are willing to sacrifice what it takes to change it, and go against what we thought. It's a story of expectations, of bravery, and friendship. All while it being a story about stories themselves, about heroes and villains, and whether we can find the power in our blood to re-write our ending.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-the-wise-and-the-wicked-by-rebecca-podos/
The Wise and the Wicked is a story about confronting our fate, of wondering if we are willing to sacrifice what it takes to change it, and go against what we thought. It's a story of expectations, of bravery, and friendship. All while it being a story about stories themselves, about heroes and villains, and whether we can find the power in our blood to re-write our ending.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-the-wise-and-the-wicked-by-rebecca-podos/
More reviews up on my blog Inside My Library Mind
*I initially gave this book 3.5 stars but I lowered it to 3 stars after sitting down to write the review and getting frustrated
Stuff I Liked
There was so much to like about this book. Matter of fact, if you follow me elsewhere online, you know I have been talking about how much I’ve been loving this one. And I was loving it.
First of all, I really enjoyed the writing. It’s very immersive and the author manages to create this really encompassing atmosphere right off the bat, which is why I was sure this book was gonna get a high rating from me. The book starts with a house and a family of women who may or may not be witches and you are sort of thrown into their family dynamics and secrets and it all makes for a really compelling atmosphere and setting.
The characters were interesting. I really liked Cece and I really loved Dov. I think they were really good characters and I loved how their dynamic with Ruby was explored. Cece is Ruby’s cousin and absolute best friend, and I really enjoyed how their relationship developed throughout and how they dealt with certain things that happen. I think close cousin relationships are really rare, and I love that it was included (although, I think it’s mostly because they’re Russian). And Ruby’s relationship with Dov was really pure and felt real (for the most part), so I really liked that. I also really loved Ruby’s sisters and I really wish they got more page time, because I really found them interesting and I would read a book about them.
And the novel had a lot of momentum. There’s almost a mystery element to it and it was a great driving force for the novel and the book really did keep me engaged and I feel like there was a lot in the book to keep you interested.
There’s also queer rep in here, which we always love! There is a prominent sapphic side relationship and also the love interest of the novel is a trans boy. So that was great to see!
Stuff I Disliked
However, around the middle, things started to annoy me, and the book I was loving started being just a meh read, for a number of reasons.
First of all, the main character, Ruby wasn’t my favorite. She isn’t a memorable character, but on top of that, her choices make no sense and she constantly said things that clashed with things she was doing and it was really frustrating.
On top of that, the event that triggers the unraveling of secrets and starts up the final revelation and resolution of the plot was SO UNNECESSARY. Like this is the event that stirs shit up and it makes no sense in the narrative. It could have had a point, with a simple alteration, but it was… a choice to do it and I just looked directly at the camera like on The Office when it happened.
Also, this has got to be one of the most unsatisfying endings I read this whole year. It was incredibly rushed and it was so messy and it made very little sense and I think it dumbed down what could have been a really complex narrative. On top of that, I really felt like the book was trying to give nuance to villians, and to say that people aren’t inherently good or evil, they’re just people, but it did the exact opposite. It was a very Middle Grade ending in terms of making things very black & white when it comes to villians (which isn’t a bad thing, I love Middle Grade, but that’s not what the book was trying to do, and it showed). And I just found the ending and the resolution kind of cliche.
To Sum Up
A lot of potential, and a book I initially loved, but that kind of went downhill for me. It was a really meh read for me personally, but I do think that it could be well-loved by other people. If the things I mentioned aren’t that important to you, then you might enjoy it more than I did.
I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own (duh)
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*I initially gave this book 3.5 stars but I lowered it to 3 stars after sitting down to write the review and getting frustrated
"We're Chernyavsky women, and the dark is scared of us."
Stuff I Liked
There was so much to like about this book. Matter of fact, if you follow me elsewhere online, you know I have been talking about how much I’ve been loving this one. And I was loving it.
First of all, I really enjoyed the writing. It’s very immersive and the author manages to create this really encompassing atmosphere right off the bat, which is why I was sure this book was gonna get a high rating from me. The book starts with a house and a family of women who may or may not be witches and you are sort of thrown into their family dynamics and secrets and it all makes for a really compelling atmosphere and setting.
The characters were interesting. I really liked Cece and I really loved Dov. I think they were really good characters and I loved how their dynamic with Ruby was explored. Cece is Ruby’s cousin and absolute best friend, and I really enjoyed how their relationship developed throughout and how they dealt with certain things that happen. I think close cousin relationships are really rare, and I love that it was included (although, I think it’s mostly because they’re Russian). And Ruby’s relationship with Dov was really pure and felt real (for the most part), so I really liked that. I also really loved Ruby’s sisters and I really wish they got more page time, because I really found them interesting and I would read a book about them.
And the novel had a lot of momentum. There’s almost a mystery element to it and it was a great driving force for the novel and the book really did keep me engaged and I feel like there was a lot in the book to keep you interested.
There’s also queer rep in here, which we always love! There is a prominent sapphic side relationship and also the love interest of the novel is a trans boy. So that was great to see!
Stuff I Disliked
However, around the middle, things started to annoy me, and the book I was loving started being just a meh read, for a number of reasons.
First of all, the main character, Ruby wasn’t my favorite. She isn’t a memorable character, but on top of that, her choices make no sense and she constantly said things that clashed with things she was doing and it was really frustrating.
On top of that, the event that triggers the unraveling of secrets and starts up the final revelation and resolution of the plot was SO UNNECESSARY. Like this is the event that stirs shit up and it makes no sense in the narrative. It could have had a point, with a simple alteration, but it was… a choice to do it and I just looked directly at the camera like on The Office when it happened.
Also, this has got to be one of the most unsatisfying endings I read this whole year. It was incredibly rushed and it was so messy and it made very little sense and I think it dumbed down what could have been a really complex narrative. On top of that, I really felt like the book was trying to give nuance to villians, and to say that people aren’t inherently good or evil, they’re just people, but it did the exact opposite. It was a very Middle Grade ending in terms of making things very black & white when it comes to villians (which isn’t a bad thing, I love Middle Grade, but that’s not what the book was trying to do, and it showed). And I just found the ending and the resolution kind of cliche.
To Sum Up
A lot of potential, and a book I initially loved, but that kind of went downhill for me. It was a really meh read for me personally, but I do think that it could be well-loved by other people. If the things I mentioned aren’t that important to you, then you might enjoy it more than I did.
I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own (duh)
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
First - I loved the characters in this novel. The Wise and the Wicked is a magical realistic novel about a family of Russian women who possess connections to each other and to the folktales of their heritage. Tangible characters and a mysterious family secret that could change the fate of the women in their family make this an unputdownable story.
I had really high expectations for this book and it just didn't quite meet them. Good trans rep tho
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this in about six hours because I cut it too close to the library due date. I hadn’t heard much of anything about The Wise and The Wicked prior to picking it up, but it was a very quick and intriguing magical realism story based on Russian folklore.
I’d read one other novel from Podos, Like Water, but didn’t remember anything about it or her writing style. As it turns out, I quite like their writing style. They did an excellent job balancing the plot, the family histories, and current relationships.
While I did enjoy Ruby’s friendship with her cousin Cece, my favorite part of the book was the romance between her and Dov. He’s so sweet and funny and good and I love him. He’s also trans, and—take this with a grain of salt, as I’m a demigirl—it seemed to be well-done. There’s no deadnaming or outing, and Ruby is curious but respectful. Anyway, Ruby and Dov stole my heart and, in my opinion, the show.
I had two issues. First, even though I liked seeing Ruby’s character growth, I found myself more interested in the side characters than I was in her. Second, and more importantly, the ending was abrupt and open. So much was going on, plans were made, and then... that’s it? Podos said she’d be down to write a sequel, but nothing is certain due to the nature of publishing. I think it would’ve been better to treat it as a stand-alone with sequel potential, rather than a first book that might not get a second.
Despite those things, I enjoyed the directions the story went in, and as I’ve made clear, I’m a big fan of the romances—the second being Cece and another girl. Go gays! Ahem. I’d recommend this book for sure, and I plan to read the sequel if we get one. I hope we get one.
Representation
I’d read one other novel from Podos, Like Water, but didn’t remember anything about it or her writing style. As it turns out, I quite like their writing style. They did an excellent job balancing the plot, the family histories, and current relationships.
While I did enjoy Ruby’s friendship with her cousin Cece, my favorite part of the book was the romance between her and Dov. He’s so sweet and funny and good and I love him. He’s also trans, and—take this with a grain of salt, as I’m a demigirl—it seemed to be well-done. There’s no deadnaming or outing, and Ruby is curious but respectful. Anyway, Ruby and Dov stole my heart and, in my opinion, the show.
I had two issues. First, even though I liked seeing Ruby’s character growth, I found myself more interested in the side characters than I was in her. Second, and more importantly, the ending was abrupt and open. So much was going on, plans were made, and then... that’s it? Podos said she’d be down to write a sequel, but nothing is certain due to the nature of publishing. I think it would’ve been better to treat it as a stand-alone with sequel potential, rather than a first book that might not get a second.
Despite those things, I enjoyed the directions the story went in, and as I’ve made clear, I’m a big fan of the romances—the second being Cece and another girl. Go gays! Ahem. I’d recommend this book for sure, and I plan to read the sequel if we get one. I hope we get one.
Representation
- trans Jewish love interest
- sapphic side characters
- side f/f couple
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood
Discusses murders that occurred prior to the story.
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes