Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

One for All by Lillie Lainoff

56 reviews

asparagusisreading's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

First, I want to say thank you to the author, the publisher, NetGalley, and the FierceReads for making an e-arc copy for me to read in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes: finishing school used a cover for something else, love triangle, found family,
Representation Included: POTS, a lesbian character, an ac character, a demi bi character,
Content and Trigger Warnings: ableism, implied sexual assault, death of a parent, murder, violence, blood, gore

ONE FOR ALL by LILLIE LAINOFF is an Own-Voices feminist, gender-bent retelling of the Three Musketeers following a female main character with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). All Tania wants is to become a musketeer like her father but when he is found dead and the circumstances sound suspicious, she sets her sights on finding who killed him and why. The next thing she knows, she is sent to a finishing school (a place to teach women to be proper ladies and wives) as part of her father's will. At first, Tania is appalled by her father's choice of school but quickly learns why. The finishing school is secretly a cover for what is really taught: how to use a sword, hide weapons underneath skirts, and how to use them, to seduce men and get secrets. Tania starts to feel like she's found where she belongs, a place where she and her illness are accepted but she has to choose where her loyalties lie when she starts to fall in love with her first target... and he might have information on who killed her father.

Before I begin my review, I read this book mostly with an audiobook because the book has been released by the time I got around to reading it. Talia is about 16 years old and that is shown by how naive she can be. Some parts of the book were a little easy to guess based on books with similar tropes and plots, but I didn't mind it. The main twist towards the end I didn't catch onto because I fully believed the twist would've involved one of the musketeers. I do not have POTS so I can not speak on the accuracy of the representation from that perspective. However, I can speak on it from what I know through research and friends that have it. Based on what I know, I think the POTS representation was done well and explored more than just the fainting spells. I liked seeing Talia's growing connection with the musketeers and the small family she found from it, how they supported her and "wouldn't let her fall." Overall, I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook and anticipate reading the ebook or physical book will be even better.

My content featuring this book:
-August TBR https://youtu.be/nVPYzsM5Zfk
-September TBR https://youtu.be/GAqnZvCFdOw

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city_girl_writer's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

Never read The Three Musketeers, so I had no idea what to expect for a retelling. The theme of sisterhood, honor, and proving yourself worthy to yourself were strong in this novel. Tania, Théa, Aria, and Porticia were great characters. Loved how this book has a female protagonist with a chronic illness and is explicitly explored throughout. I cannot give it 5 stars because the audiobook narrator gave so many weird pauses in between sentences to the point that it was annoying and the true villain was kinda predictable. Nonetheless, this was a really strong book. Definitely recommend this for anyone who loves strong female protagonists and retellings!!

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libraryghost's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • 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

3.5


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ateliphobia's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

First book I've ever read with POTS rep and it was wonderful. 

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hilaryreadsbooks's review against another edition

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3.0


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vaniavela's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted 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? No

5.0

A feminist genderbent retelling of the Three Musketeers where the chronically ill protagonist seeks the truth behind her father's murder. 

The author is a fencing competitor and suffers from the same chronic health problem as Tania, which brings great authenticity and veracity to our protagonist's experiences, thoughts and emotions. Important issues such as disability and women's rights are discussed here, featuring highly in the story. One of the elements I enjoyed most was reading the message that her disability was not the problem, but society and the way she was perceived and treated. She was powerful just the way she was. We were not given a story where she was cured of her disability and saved the day, but rather showed that even with her disability she was a hero. 

One for All is a beautiful and gripping story. Tania is a very strong character and I love her. The relationships she formed throughout the story were beautiful to me as she was able to grow as a person because of them.  The feeling of sisterhood is very strong; seeing the girls united was incredible.

One of the things I like most about this book is that it recognizes more than one type of strength. Willpower, the drive to fight for what's right, and passion are great strength boosters. 

Sometimes I have a hard time getting into historical fiction, but this book did not disappoint me at all.  The writing in this book is beautiful and completely immerses you in the story.

I can't believe I don't have a copy of this novel in my hands, and I'm heartbroken that I don't have the money to buy it. If any of my acquaintances read this, it would make a great birthday present :)

I loved the concept of an adaptation of The Three Musketeers, and the characters being so well developed is one of the coolest aspects of the book.

Rep: white Russian-French cishet female MC with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), sapphic cis female side characters, aroace cis female side character. 

CWs: Ableism, chronic illness, death of parent, death, murder. Moderate: Sexual assault (of side character), blood, gore, violence, emotional abuse, medical trauma.

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charitylee92's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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

4.25


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thelowlysloth's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.5


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annamariahz's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I can't recommend this book enough! Tania's father was a Musketeer and raised her with a sword in her hand. But her constant dizziness and fainting ostracized her from the other people in her village and made her feel like she was letting down her parents. When her father is brutally murdered, Tania is sent off to L’Académie des Mariées in an attempt to find her a good husband. But this is not a regular finishing school. Instead, she is taught how to be a new kind of Musketeer and is introduced to a supportive group of girls attempting to protect the country in their own way. 

This is the best chronic illness representation I have ever read! Like the main character and the author, I have POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). I have never seen it represented in any kind of media and didn't realize how much I longed to see myself represented in books until I read One for All. This book represents the challenges that not only go along with POTS but also chronic illnesses in general. It discusses the physical and mental impacts while having an engaging plot. I loved this book so much and hope to see more representation in more books soon!

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jocelyn62013's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Representation of POTS was great as well as representation of how terrible some people treat people with illness they don't understand (Tania's internalized ableism is also very evident though she grows through the novel).
The author does a great job showing how something that helps doesn't mean cure. 
The story focused equally on Tania's growth as a musketeer and as a person learning she can belong. 


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