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taliesinrex's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Highly intriguing and playful, with a great concept and setting. Not every idea presented in Babayaga had the best optics, or came out fully realized, but I fully enjoyed it nonetheless. The juxtaposition between the keen and observant nature of most characters and Will's sometimes oblivious way about him, allowing him to just sort of stumble into the rest of the plot in a way that felt admittedly quite natural, was a highlight of how Barlowe wove all the plot threads together. Normally, a protagonist who falls into trouble by crazy random happenstance can be quite frustrating, but in Will's case, his disenchantment with his position coupled with his genuine well-meaning disposition managed to sidestep that irritation for me. Overall, the different ruminations on love and various relationships were some of the most interesting part of the book, and often reflected a certain empathy for the female characters involved in them. The ending, in particular, felt acutely aware of the potential for love to manifest as violence for one or both parties - even in the context of the best of intentions - which really struck me and felt like an excellent note to end on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Racial slurs
Minor: Animal death
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