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alixlowe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As someone who is chronically ill, this book helped me. I appreciate that this is a retelling I a famous story, but I found the "mystery" a little predictable. The book is YA and reads that way, but it is charming, adventurous and I wish I'd had it when I was 13.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Xenophobia and Sexual assault
mollietherose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
3.0
finnamonroll's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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
4.0
bookedandbusy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was incredible. The chronic illness rep was amazing and I felt so seen and saw so much of myself in Tania, and found her strength and determination so inspiring, I absolutely loved the friendships and banter in this book as well!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism
barbiereads75's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hannahhbic's review against another edition
5.0
The very best chronic illness representation I’ve ever seen. In any media! This book means the world to me and I will never shut up about it.
It's a very fun fantasy romp. Ladies belong front and center with swords! Tania is a kickass protag who won't let anything stop her. Her friends, however, shot me through the heart with their kindness. I cried every time they said, "we won't let you fall" and then followed through. Thank you so much to Lillie Lainoff for writing a disabled protag whose friends treat her appropriately/as a PERSON instead of as a fragile doll. I very highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers or to anyone who wants to know more about what chronic illness feels like. Full disclosure: I don't have POTS; I have rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. But I do have limited energy and I do have days where my body says "nope!!!!" to everything.
Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy of the ebook and eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review. I ended up ordering the digital audiobook and requested that the library where I work at order it too.
It's a very fun fantasy romp. Ladies belong front and center with swords! Tania is a kickass protag who won't let anything stop her. Her friends, however, shot me through the heart with their kindness. I cried every time they said, "we won't let you fall" and then followed through. Thank you so much to Lillie Lainoff for writing a disabled protag whose friends treat her appropriately/as a PERSON instead of as a fragile doll. I very highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers or to anyone who wants to know more about what chronic illness feels like. Full disclosure: I don't have POTS; I have rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. But I do have limited energy and I do have days where my body says "nope!!!!" to everything.
Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy of the ebook and eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review. I ended up ordering the digital audiobook and requested that the library where I work at order it too.
kelburke's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.75
gracepizza40's review against another edition
4.0
4.3
The writing had a lot of non-sentences instead of full ones. I hope I see a lot more disabled protagonists written by disabled people in many other genres!
The writing had a lot of non-sentences instead of full ones.
Spoiler
Also, the last events of the book were kind of confusing; I didn't know what was going on and how they happened. I didn't really think the romance between Portia and Aria was necessary, but I didn't mind it that much. There was no drama about it, which I don't know if that was realistic. Overall, it was good.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
As a spoonie it's hard to find books where I can meet characters like me. And that's a pity. Because not only I need the message that I'm more than my illness, that I can still be a heroine and find my squad, other people in the world need that message too. Yes, my illness limits my abilities sometimes, but it's not everything I am. So, when I saw this book, with a spoonie as the heroine, on Netgalley I had to request a copy. I'm really happy the publisher gave me one!
The book takes its time to introduce us to our heroine. We get to know her parents, where she lives, how people in her home town talk to and about her and most of all how her illness impacts almost every part of her life. But once the heroine leaves her hometown and moves to Paris and discovers that she will make her dream come true and will become a musketeer the tone of the book changes and it becomes this addictive adventure story in the time of the French kings.
In a lot of ways the elements of the stories about the three musketeers we know are still there. Our heroine loses her father, becomes the fourth musketeer in an all women squad and is tasked with saving the King of France from death. However, since our heroine is a woman the way to deal with all these problems is a little different. I love how the author found a way to show us fierce and brave women without losing touch with the time period and position of women at the time.
And although in a way this book is about four female musketeers trying to find out who's plotting to kill the King, this book is even more about one woman learning a lot about herself. Throughout the book our heroine is confronted with her limits, her strengths, her emotions, her weaknesses, her fears, her anger and her willpower. And I love how that also means that she's slowly learning that she's still worthy, lovable and worth fighting for and with.
I want, and most of all need, more books like this!
The book takes its time to introduce us to our heroine. We get to know her parents, where she lives, how people in her home town talk to and about her and most of all how her illness impacts almost every part of her life. But once the heroine leaves her hometown and moves to Paris and discovers that she will make her dream come true and will become a musketeer the tone of the book changes and it becomes this addictive adventure story in the time of the French kings.
In a lot of ways the elements of the stories about the three musketeers we know are still there. Our heroine loses her father, becomes the fourth musketeer in an all women squad and is tasked with saving the King of France from death. However, since our heroine is a woman the way to deal with all these problems is a little different. I love how the author found a way to show us fierce and brave women without losing touch with the time period and position of women at the time.
And although in a way this book is about four female musketeers trying to find out who's plotting to kill the King, this book is even more about one woman learning a lot about herself. Throughout the book our heroine is confronted with her limits, her strengths, her emotions, her weaknesses, her fears, her anger and her willpower. And I love how that also means that she's slowly learning that she's still worthy, lovable and worth fighting for and with.
I want, and most of all need, more books like this!