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kwthor's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Classism, Domestic abuse, and Sexism
itsnicholaslashay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
witcheep'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? It's complicated
4.5
"Well... let us say that you have a hundred and one days to marry the man that you love," he offered. "We will see it done, of course. But if something should go awry — and I tell you, Miss Euphemia, it is vanishingly unlikely — then I suppose that you shall simply have to come back with me to faerie and serve me as a maid instead, for the rest of your days. [--] But I know what I shall ask in return. For every minute that you are a lady, you shall add one stitch to my coat. I am sure that you can embroider something quite fetching upon it, if you set your mind to it."
Even with Lord Blackthorn's enthusiastic help the situation reveals itself to be more nuanced and difficult than either of them anticipated at first. Effie begins to doubt whether there are good options beteen her current employment as a maid and being let go and so having no employment– this concern on top of their deal doesn't make her overall situation very easy. Perhaps the same doubt could be said of Effie's love interest as well: it is very hard to get to know Mr Benedict, and Mr Jesson brings new questions to the table. Moreover, Effie's best friend Lydia, a fellow maid, seems to think that Effie is forgetting or overlooking one other option completely. Perhaps Lydia represents the reader as well, since her hinting seems quite obvious even if Effie doesn't catch it.
Lord Blackthorn furrowed his brow with greater and greater concern as Effie spoke. "If all of your options are terrible," he said slowly, "then that is a trap of a different sort, isn't it?"
I could praise almost endlessly the depth that the characters were given: they have multiple sides to them, and they aren't always just in the right or wrong, but stumble their way forward while aiming for their common goal of fulfilling the deal in Effie's favour. When they make wrong choises or end up hurting someone else, they try their best to fix the situation. While doing so, the two of them become closer and begin to enjoy each other's company.
"In a way, I suppose... you have become even more someone to me than everyone else is."
At the top of their scheming,
Moderate: Classism and Emotional abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse
oh_renard_lit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The whole point of the book is seeing the main character getting angry at and denouncing inequalities between the masters and the domestics, however the intentions are at many times clumsy and the main character often ends up lashing at the wrong person while using really dubious arguments.
Moderate: Violence and Domestic abuse
cozyscones'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
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
ramakn22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gaslighting, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Classism, and Emotional abuse
lct's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
cozylifewithabby's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse
sydapel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Bullying and Emotional abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse