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gphemsley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Death, Ableism, Colonisation, Murder, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gun violence, Cultural appropriation, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, War, and Slavery
raru's review against another edition
0.25
I just don’t know what the point of this book was; it had an identity crisis on whether it was adventure, intrigue, romance. Not that every book needs a point, but if you’re going to write a book set in Peru in the 1860s, you can’t just ignore that giant white elephant in the room that is imperialism. But she consistently tries to sidestep this by Merrick saying “don’t worry, I’m not racist.”
Graphic: Racism
wingedwalls's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Racism, Colonisation, and Death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
steffi_23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Racism, Ableism, Colonisation, and Religious bigotry
clarabooksit's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
I adored this book. The history, the magic, the adventure, the characters, the life that this book breathes—everything is just so achingly good.
Pulley’s writing is lush, intricate and beguiling. She has a stunning ability to infuse mundane things with energy and life so that her worlds and characters feel full and real but never boring. This story builds and builds, the tension slow and subtle, and the characters revealed in every detail. And the relationship at its heart is perfection.
If you like all the atmosphere, lovely writing and incredible world- and character-building, you need to read this book. It’s historical fantasy, queer, very British, and set primarily in the Peruvian mountains. Danger, mystery, confounding magic, and intelligent characters fill up every page.
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Racism, Classism, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment and Ableism
breadwitchery's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Genocide and Death
Moderate: Racism, Animal death, Gun violence, Ableism, Violence, and Body horror
Minor: Death of parent, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Cursing, Alcohol, Murder, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment
lizzie24601's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I can't think of a book in the past few years that has brought me more joy than this or The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. She uses pretty much the same trope in both (Merrick and Thaniel are basically the same person) in different settings - but the trope and the settings are so lushly illustrated that it works amazingly well both times. This book in particular fascinated me since I'd recently read Amazon Beaming by Petru Popescu so the beautiful Andean setting drew me in right away. As usual, Pulley draws out the magical mystery slowly and seductively, taking the time to build up the characters' love and relationships, and finds ingenious new ways to explain all of the magic through science. The time she took to visit and research the Peruvian Andes is evident and the indigenous characters feel fleshed out and genuine. I think I've found one of my new favorite books with this one.
Moderate: Classism, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Ableism, Chronic illness, and Colonisation
Minor: Blood and Pregnancy
pineapplesurvivor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Abandonment, Abortion, Colonisation, Death, Violence, and Genocide
Moderate: Stalking, Religious bigotry, and Body horror
maddaddam's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Racism
Minor: Miscarriage