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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
4.5 Stars
Want a fantasy story with a girl hero that actually addresses misogyny and rape culture? Want a story with the “girl dresses up like a guy to go on an adventure” trope, that actually addresses female struggles?
Well, do I have a book for you...
In all seriousness, this book was a beautiful journey of self-discovery. It is categorised as fantasy, however, it is not your typical fantasy novel. It heavily centers around how difficult it is to be a teenage girl in a religion where your purity and virginity are everything; having a hugely critical parent, and the guilt you feel when you inevitably fail, and in every decision afterwards you just keep failing. It deals with some very serious topics, such as rape, alcohol addiction, slut-shaming and patriarchalism. It is a journey of overcoming societal repression, with the journey from point A to point B being the "fantastical" part.
The pacing was a bit slow at times, especially in the beginning, however this seemed to fit the story well - it resonates with Tess slowly overcoming her boulders, on her journey from teenhood to adulthood. She is remaking herself, into who she wants to be; who she was meant to be, which is a slow and painful process.
Tess has also officially become one of my favorite female MCs . She is one of those characters who you know are flawed, who have done bad things that shouldn't be condoned, but who you can't help but love (similar to Evelyn Hugo). Her character arc was wonderfully described - we get to see her develop from a young girl, who has been consumed by what she has had happen to her, into a young lady who is comfortable in her own body and passions.
In conclusion, we love a f*** the patriarchy story.
Want a fantasy story with a girl hero that actually addresses misogyny and rape culture? Want a story with the “girl dresses up like a guy to go on an adventure” trope, that actually addresses female struggles?
Well, do I have a book for you...
"She still held sorrows, but she was not made of them. Her life was not a tragedy. It was a history, and it was hers."
In all seriousness, this book was a beautiful journey of self-discovery. It is categorised as fantasy, however, it is not your typical fantasy novel. It heavily centers around how difficult it is to be a teenage girl in a religion where your purity and virginity are everything; having a hugely critical parent, and the guilt you feel when you inevitably fail, and in every decision afterwards you just keep failing. It deals with some very serious topics, such as rape, alcohol addiction, slut-shaming and patriarchalism. It is a journey of overcoming societal repression, with the journey from point A to point B being the "fantastical" part.
The pacing was a bit slow at times, especially in the beginning, however this seemed to fit the story well - it resonates with Tess slowly overcoming her boulders, on her journey from teenhood to adulthood. She is remaking herself, into who she wants to be; who she was meant to be, which is a slow and painful process.
Tess has also officially become one of my favorite female MCs . She is one of those characters who you know are flawed, who have done bad things that shouldn't be condoned, but who you can't help but love (similar to Evelyn Hugo). Her character arc was wonderfully described - we get to see her develop from a young girl, who has been consumed by what she has had happen to her, into a young lady who is comfortable in her own body and passions.
In conclusion, we love a f*** the patriarchy story.
Difficult to connect with the characters and the world building is poor. DNF at 25%
There are some areas that I think could have benefited from different pacing, but in summary I laughed out loud, I cried a little, and I thought of several people I needed to recommend it to before I was finished.
Oh, you’ve got me again, Hartman. I would follow Tess down any road she chooses. I loved her growth, the stories within stories, the change of vantage point to Seraphina’s books. Read in small bits until the last quarter, where I sunk in and read past bedtime and while shelving books which I don’t recommend because you’ll get to the last page and not even realize it until you come back to it an hour later and shout, “BUT WAIT!” into an empty library.
I. Loved. This. Book.
I've never read any of Hartman's other books, but jumped into this one for my lunchtime book - while simultaneously reading "Girl in the Tower" by Katherine Arden in the evenings at home (a pretty good complement, in fact!). It took me a minute to get into, since it starts off with a VERY different Tess from the one we leave the book with, confined to a servant-like state of existence with mean, uncaring parents, and a world of proper-etiquette-court-behavior to comply with. I didn't love this existence, and was perfectly set up for the break out. I LOVED Pathka and the communication and connection with this other kind of living thing, and the link to linguistic exploration in explaining her/his language.
I was a touch confused by the Saint/dragon linkage (though perhaps the previous books would be more illuminating on that front).
I loved Tess's adventuring, and was at first saddened by her necessity for disguise b/c of all the "uncontrollable" men running about (connection to Arden's book was huge here!), but then was a bit comforted by how many women actually run things in this world, and Tess was merely figuring it out. And her message, "Walk on," was brilliant for a life motto, especially when things get tough. Keep moving and you'll eventually move through the muck.
My mental image of the World Serpents is truly mind-boggling and magnificent, and something I'm eager to spend more time reading about.
For some reason, I'm compelled to think about the "Flora Segunda" series by Ysabeau S. Wilce, though I've not read these books in a LONG time. Something about the adventuring, mystical-creature world, and a girl on her own makes me feel a pang of nostalgia about those books - perhaps I need to revisit them!
Can't wait for more!
I've never read any of Hartman's other books, but jumped into this one for my lunchtime book - while simultaneously reading "Girl in the Tower" by Katherine Arden in the evenings at home (a pretty good complement, in fact!). It took me a minute to get into, since it starts off with a VERY different Tess from the one we leave the book with, confined to a servant-like state of existence with mean, uncaring parents, and a world of proper-etiquette-court-behavior to comply with. I didn't love this existence, and was perfectly set up for the break out. I LOVED Pathka and the communication and connection with this other kind of living thing, and the link to linguistic exploration in explaining her/his language.
I was a touch confused by the Saint/dragon linkage (though perhaps the previous books would be more illuminating on that front).
I loved Tess's adventuring, and was at first saddened by her necessity for disguise b/c of all the "uncontrollable" men running about (connection to Arden's book was huge here!), but then was a bit comforted by how many women actually run things in this world, and Tess was merely figuring it out. And her message, "Walk on," was brilliant for a life motto, especially when things get tough. Keep moving and you'll eventually move through the muck.
My mental image of the World Serpents is truly mind-boggling and magnificent, and something I'm eager to spend more time reading about.
For some reason, I'm compelled to think about the "Flora Segunda" series by Ysabeau S. Wilce, though I've not read these books in a LONG time. Something about the adventuring, mystical-creature world, and a girl on her own makes me feel a pang of nostalgia about those books - perhaps I need to revisit them!
Can't wait for more!
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It was a joy to be back in the world of Goredd again and I loved Tess. Her struggle to find herself and overcome a traumatic event were touching. Where Seraphina and her story is wound up in the politics of Goredd, Tess's story is tied up in personal struggles and I found it, in the end, an easier read than the Seraphina novels.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tess of the Road is a travelogue of the Southlands, part of the fictional world developed by Rachel Hartman in the Seraphina duology. Ultimately, Tess of the Road is a journey of self-discovery. As the younger, somewhat infamous sister of Seraphina, Tess has a tough road ahead of her. She has been branded a troublemaker. Seemingly never able to do anything right, despite her many sacrifices to improve her family financial and social standing, Tess gives up on trying to help and please everyone and runs away. But Tess isn’t just running away from the responsibilities of finding a good match for her twin sister in the Goreddi court. Tess has a bigger secret she is running from and Hartman does an excellent job weaving this reveal into the larger narrative of Tess’s journey.
In light of the #MeToo movement, Tess’s secret will resonate with many readers. A young woman taken in by the first man to notice her for the intelligent young lady that she is when she can’t yet see it for herself, Tess’s confidence and self-worth is shaken when the young man suddenly disappears. Self-loathing and self-doubt take root in Tess’s heart and mind. As Tess shares her physical and emotional struggles throughout her journey through the Southlands, the reader will be heartbroken, but by the end, admiration prevail.
In addition to discovering the truth behind Tess’s true reasons for running away, Hartman also gives readers a bit of insight into the dragon subspecies of quigutl. Throughout the original duology and in the early pages of Tess of the Road, there is a negative feeling around the quigutls. But Tess sees them for more. When she crosses paths with an old quigutl friend, Pathka, she seizes the opportunity to become reacquainted with the quigtul culture and invites Pathka to join her on her trip. Through their adventures together, Tess discovers that she and the quigutls have something in common — neither are thought of fondly by others, especially those of their own species, and both of them have troubled pasts. Tess isn’t as alone as she thinks and she soon discovers there is more to everyone that what is presented publicly.
The craft with which Hartman layers the history and mythology of Goredd with the characters’ backstories is captivating. There are parallels between the layers that are not immediately realized at first blush. Beyond the idea of looking for acceptance of self and of others, Hartman tackles what each culture, human and quigtul, believes is a healthy parent/child relationship. As each character comes to grip with their own personal narrative and bits of truth are discovered there is release and acceptance on a personal level. (It turns out that sometimes the world at large isn’t ready to accept that legends have some truth behind them.)
This new novel from Hartman, set in the same world as the Seraphina duology, allows readers to return to the amazing world of Goredd where humans and dragons coexist in a tentative peace. Tess of the Road has heart and is a rewarding emotional journey to discover the truth of a legend and the truth of self.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tess of the Road is a travelogue of the Southlands, part of the fictional world developed by Rachel Hartman in the Seraphina duology. Ultimately, Tess of the Road is a journey of self-discovery. As the younger, somewhat infamous sister of Seraphina, Tess has a tough road ahead of her. She has been branded a troublemaker. Seemingly never able to do anything right, despite her many sacrifices to improve her family financial and social standing, Tess gives up on trying to help and please everyone and runs away. But Tess isn’t just running away from the responsibilities of finding a good match for her twin sister in the Goreddi court. Tess has a bigger secret she is running from and Hartman does an excellent job weaving this reveal into the larger narrative of Tess’s journey.
In light of the #MeToo movement, Tess’s secret will resonate with many readers. A young woman taken in by the first man to notice her for the intelligent young lady that she is when she can’t yet see it for herself, Tess’s confidence and self-worth is shaken when the young man suddenly disappears. Self-loathing and self-doubt take root in Tess’s heart and mind. As Tess shares her physical and emotional struggles throughout her journey through the Southlands, the reader will be heartbroken, but by the end, admiration prevail.
In addition to discovering the truth behind Tess’s true reasons for running away, Hartman also gives readers a bit of insight into the dragon subspecies of quigutl. Throughout the original duology and in the early pages of Tess of the Road, there is a negative feeling around the quigutls. But Tess sees them for more. When she crosses paths with an old quigutl friend, Pathka, she seizes the opportunity to become reacquainted with the quigtul culture and invites Pathka to join her on her trip. Through their adventures together, Tess discovers that she and the quigutls have something in common — neither are thought of fondly by others, especially those of their own species, and both of them have troubled pasts. Tess isn’t as alone as she thinks and she soon discovers there is more to everyone that what is presented publicly.
The craft with which Hartman layers the history and mythology of Goredd with the characters’ backstories is captivating. There are parallels between the layers that are not immediately realized at first blush. Beyond the idea of looking for acceptance of self and of others, Hartman tackles what each culture, human and quigtul, believes is a healthy parent/child relationship. As each character comes to grip with their own personal narrative and bits of truth are discovered there is release and acceptance on a personal level. (It turns out that sometimes the world at large isn’t ready to accept that legends have some truth behind them.)
This new novel from Hartman, set in the same world as the Seraphina duology, allows readers to return to the amazing world of Goredd where humans and dragons coexist in a tentative peace. Tess of the Road has heart and is a rewarding emotional journey to discover the truth of a legend and the truth of self.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
I’ve read other books from this world and i didn’t really like where this book took some of those stories from other books right at the start
Blep. Honestly, I'm grateful I listened to this book because it was quite boring. I know it's more a character driven novel, but it would help to have some action.
I loved this. So many unexpected things here I could talk about, but for now I'll just say it was awesome.