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vivelarevolution's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
I loved this book when I was younger and I wanted to love it now. I mean, come on, magic and sewing and spinning and knitting! What could be more up my alley?
Unfortunately I found the ableism to be absolutely intolerable and the love interest to be frustratingly sexist. I hated how the main character pushed her disabled brother into taking "one step every day" while she was off on her adventure as if that isn't an incredibly fucked up thing to encourage a disabled person to do, and I hated that she (poorly) faked his disability in order to pretend to be him. I stopped reading when she got drunk and strange men goaded her love interest (who she was not in a relationship with yet) into kissing her and she kissed him on the cheek to attempt to satisfy this request without making herself uncomfortable and then he kissed her anyway. Like, what the hell? Also, I assume that her love interest is also a teenager, but there were some weird references to him maybe being immortal that made me wonder. I can't remember my first reading well enough to say for certain whether or not this relationship was straight up pedophilic.
Also, this is one of my more minor gripes, but why have the main character come out as a gay man while going out of your way to establish that her love interest knew her gender the entire time and therefore nothing about that relationship is actually queer? It's not funny or cute, it's just weird.
Also, introducing a whole (fake, but still) ethnic group as "barbarians" and then having the main character meet some and learn "they're not all barbarians"? That's sick.
Unfortunately I found the ableism to be absolutely intolerable and the love interest to be frustratingly sexist. I hated how the main character pushed her disabled brother into taking "one step every day" while she was off on her adventure as if that isn't an incredibly fucked up thing to encourage a disabled person to do, and I hated that she (poorly) faked his disability in order to pretend to be him. I stopped reading when she got drunk and strange men goaded her love interest (who she was not in a relationship with yet) into kissing her and she kissed him on the cheek to attempt to satisfy this request without making herself uncomfortable and then he kissed her anyway. Like, what the hell? Also, I assume that her love interest is also a teenager, but there were some weird references to him maybe being immortal that made me wonder. I can't remember my first reading well enough to say for certain whether or not this relationship was straight up pedophilic.
Also, this is one of my more minor gripes, but why have the main character come out as a gay man while going out of your way to establish that her love interest knew her gender the entire time and therefore nothing about that relationship is actually queer? It's not funny or cute, it's just weird.
Also, introducing a whole (fake, but still) ethnic group as "barbarians" and then having the main character meet some and learn "they're not all barbarians"? That's sick.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Violence, Blood, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Torture, and Ableism
Minor: War
iwinatcookie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Torture, Animal death, Murder, Violence, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: War, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, and Confinement
aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
I enjoyed most of the book, until we got a bit of an insta love moment and then from there, it became a bit too eye roll dramatic for my taste. It was a good retelling of Mulan and I liked the unique elements it brought but yeah, the romantic relationship became very cringe
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Bullying, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Death of parent, and Body horror
brockoli's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
If you liked a Magic Steeped in Poison, then you'll like this book. Instead of tea the main character weilds sewing as her weapon. In this world she fights against a system that doesn't want her and constantly underestimates her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Sexual harassment
acidicgoddess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The main character was kind of annoying, especially when the romance finally kicked in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Animal death, and Misogyny
Minor: Torture, Violence, Slavery, and Sexual content
sydapel's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? No
3.75
This isn't quite as strong as Six Crimson Cranes, but I really do love Elizabeth Lim's storytelling abilities and characters. I thought the romance came a bit too quickly in this one, but the stakes are high and the plot is really compelling. Also put the second in the series on hold from the library before I even finished this one, which is a always a good sign.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and War
Minor: Sexual content
themiscyra_anna's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming and Alcohol
- threat of sexual slavery AKA unconsentual marriage - historically-inspired setting meaning cissexism in description and assumptions about others and the world - magical personalised and institutionalised form of slaverybooksthatburn's review against another edition
The main character disguises herself as a (specific) boy with a disability she doesn't have. That was iffy enough, but my hell no point was when she bound her chest for five days with no breaks and then kept going through the pain. I'm not interested in watching a character either slowly distort her ribcage through unsafe binding practices, or mysteriously have it just be painful but have no other consequences.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Child death, Death, Grief, Classism, Ableism, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcohol and War
maryander_hamilton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
My friend Amenda recommended this one to me. Really good, I love this author. The writing style is pretty diff from most books I read with how the author decides what periods of time to gloss over and which to spend time on. Really good though!! I also loved the characters. Absolutely adore Maia and Edan. It really did feel like I was being told an elaborate fairy tale, and I love that vibe.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, War, and Sexism
allie_schick's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content