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gphemsley's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was such a strange book. I don't even really know how to review it? There wasn't a lot of character development. And I feel like there were some plot holes maybe. Definitely confusion because I think I missed some things or the meaning of some things.
I think my biggest issues though was for a book set in Peru, there was basically no Spanish? I can't even remember if the word "gracias" came up. Which really bothered me. It always just had something to note if the person said something in English, Spanish, or Quechua. According to the notes at the back, this author took months of Spanish so why aren't there phrases and words throughout?
Anyways. That really bothered me.
I think my biggest issues though was for a book set in Peru, there was basically no Spanish? I can't even remember if the word "gracias" came up. Which really bothered me. It always just had something to note if the person said something in English, Spanish, or Quechua. According to the notes at the back, this author took months of Spanish so why aren't there phrases and words throughout?
Anyways. That really bothered me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Cursing, Colonisation, Ableism, Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Violence, and Vomit
lizzie24601's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
No one does it like Natasha Pulley...
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Ableism, Chronic illness, and Colonisation
Minor: Blood and Pregnancy
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