Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

La Couleur du mensonge by Erin Beaty

1 review

gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-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

4.25

I liked the characters in this book and all the different relationship interactions. I think that is one of the strongest points of the book as the world building is a bit lack luster and plot, whilst enjoyable and had me hooked was nothing new and to write home about.

About the first half of the book is the group of soon to be brides traveling to the capital for with an escort supplied by the military. This part of the book really focuses on Sage and Ash's growing friendship and building up for the second half of the book where most of the espionage, fighting and politics takes place at the forefront.
The second half takes place at Duke D'Amiran's estate, and where Sage is asked by Captain Quinn to help the military escort figure out what is happening as they are missing key pieces of information and are unable to mingle with the Nobles and lower class/servants as easily as she can.
 

Things I did NOT like about the book:
  •  
    When Sage is dressing up nicely she does the stereotypical corsets are uncomfortable and how it is hard to do certain activities in them. Whilst this sets up the "She is not like other girls" trope, corsets in history were not uncomfortable but were instead used for chest support. These lines and ones similar to it came across as a bit of regurgitation about how corsets should feel without looking into it.
     
  •  
    The "Not like Other Girls" trope represents girls who like more stereo typically feminine things in a negative light. From subtext that they are not free or thinking for themselves, and all the girls in the bridal party var one are hostile towards Sage even though she doesn't represent a threat to their marriages.
     
  •  
    Lack/basic character descriptions for everyone which leads to anyone outside of the average white look being written as "darker skin" or so vaguely that you forget that this character is meant to be POC.
     
  •  
    The plot twist that Ash Carter was actually Captain Quinn undercover the whole time. How the plot twist was executed was set up nicely where you start questioning things but can't really figure out what's wrong as you don't have the final pieces, but the plot twist itself left much to be desired.
    Personally I liked the idea that a side character in the opening few chapters focusing and meeting the soldiers was who Sage was spending time and falling in love in love with. It felt different from the formula of the two main characters having to be the ones together. It honestly felt really natural and I loved how they interacted together. The plot twist felt shoved in there so it is the two "main/important" characters together and taints everything that came before where they are getting to know each other and the chemistry.
     
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