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ramreadsagain's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
I loved so much about this, the world-building is great (I love reading different approaches to witches in books) and the entire book is also a fuck you to terfs which is always excellent.
I found the first 150 pages quite slow, the book started a couple of chapters too early imo and it took a while for the plot to kick off. Possibly too many POVs as I spent a long while just trying to remind myself who was who.
The characters did feel slightly one-dimensional at times, particularly Elle, but I still loved many of them. I would love to learn more about Diaspora too.
The final 150 pages were excellent, I sped through them so fast. I really enjoyed the plot development and can't wait to read the next one. Glad I already have it!!
Graphic: Transphobia and Murder
Moderate: Violence, War, and Death
Minor: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Fire/Fire injury
foxwish'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
4.0
It was wonderful to read a fantasy story from the perspective of adult women, where many of them have kids/kid charges and it's an accomplishment that the children were all dynamic characters and not frustrating to read about or detrimental to the plot in a way they sometimes are. Themes of motherhood and found family are very strong here.
The romances and friendships all felt organic to me and I was definitely rooting for the budding new romance in the book.
The trans storyline was by far the strongest and was what made this book 5 stars for me, it used a great many talking points I've heard from trans people, allies and TERFs so it was bone chilling how accurate to real life the arguments the characters were having felt.
We also get POC characters and lesbian characters, but their struggles were sidelined somewhat and I am hoping they will get their chance to shine in the next book.
I'm glad the second book is out because I can't wait to read it and find out where these characters go next.
Edit: After reading the second book I've changed my rating to 4 stars as I realised the ending to this book destroys multiple characters storylines and is partially responsible for book 2 being disappointing.
Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Transphobia
Moderate: Car accident, Infidelity, Murder, Outing, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual content, Classism, Ableism, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, and War
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship
laurataylor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Car accident, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Abandonment, Violence, Cursing, Child abuse, Murder, and Transphobia
black_cat_iiix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Racism, Animal cruelty, and War
Minor: Slavery, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Toxic relationship, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
frmeden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Transphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Car accident, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual content, War, and Racism
dannilmp'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? Yes
4.0
While HMRC feels like it has the setting for a pretty used story line, the detail and depth Dawson went into to explore topics including racism, transphobia, cultural differences in magic and how society treats individuals all wrapped into a thrilling tale about magic and world crises makes for a really interesting read!
I loved the depth that the characters had, and the way sensitive topics were covered felt like it was covered in a good way. While this meant I did have to frequently take rest breaks in order to absorb all the information and to think through the implications of certain character's actions or consquences. While the book ended on quite the cliffhanger, I'm looking forward to what the sequel has in stall for these women!
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, War, Transphobia, Violence, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Animal death
alexiab's review against another edition
- 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
While there are a ton of excellent commentaries happening throughout this story about racism, homophobia, transphobia, and sexism there is also an INCREDIBLE fantasy plot with exciting action and heartstopping twists. I can't BELIEVE the exciting and emotional way it ended, and I am champing at the absolute bit for the next book. I'm obsessed with this writing, the balance of character study/women's fiction aspects, world building, and fast paced plot is fabulous. I would read another one of these books for the characters alone, but THAT PLOT! OOOOH THAT PLOT SHE IS SPICY SHE IS EXCITING SHE IS DESTROYING MY VERY SOUL FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
And god, the social commentary on trans women and their place in women's spaces? The white feminism and how it doesn't benefit women of colour? The raging white women fighting for "women's rights" but only women who look like her?! GOD. JUST AMAZING.
A huge part of me thinks this book was written as a direct response to JK Rowling and her bullshit TERF rhetoric, and my god is it incredible. The setting, the fantasy elements, and the themes work so beautifully together and paint the biggest "fuck you" to every TERF out there, I couldn't be more thrilled.
A huge part of me expected Helena's story to go a very different direction, and I am SO thrilled that this didn't remotely pander to the "we're better than them, show them kindness" bullshit that some people spew. every TERF deserves to burn in hell, I'm not sorry. RIP Helena, you crusty bitch.
Graphic: Transphobia, Cursing, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Grief, Hate crime, Sexual content, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol and Self harm
ellenigrace's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: War
astropova'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Transphobia and Violence
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Body horror, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Kidnapping
Minor: Confinement and Death
maregred's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Classism, Death, Blood, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, War, Death of parent, Infidelity, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content