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chavonnwshen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation
orchidlilly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Madeline L'Engle write a book without the same stereotypical depiction of native cultures challenge: impossible. Seriously though, this is like her fifth book that has the exact same good native/bad native schtick. Please, I am begging you, find another way to critique modern society. It's getting so repetitive. The return to sci-fantasy is appreciated, as that was the main draw of her original books for me in the first place. I think the whole, "Zachary is afraid of death because he's an atheist and this drives him to do horrible things" narrative is kind of dumb, but it's Christian lit so I'm not entirely surprised. The romance with Tav was unnecessary, but not all that bothersome because it barely existed. I would have liked to see a little more exploration on the whole time travel thing; namely, how did this all affect the future? Besides grandad saying there are some ripples (how does he know, he's in the modern day, shouldn't he not be able to tell that things have changed?), we don't get much on the repricussions. Swiftly Tilting Planet does the whole time travel thing better, or at least more cohesively. The story doesn't really feel like a solid end to Polly's narrative; it doesn't give her any sense of conclusion. The book as a whole is fine, but that's about it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, and Terminal illness
Minor: Grief, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Blood, Violence, Death, Mental illness, Colonisation, and Child death
dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
1.0
What a thoroughly unfortunate book! If you enjoy L'Engle, and would like to continue enjoying L'Engle, do not read this book.
Polly is a terrible role model: she's bland af and willing to ignore what is unforgivable because ooooo BoYs. Zachary has serious frat boy rapist vibes. Polly's grandparents appear to both be senile I guess? Especially since her grandfather HAS time/space traveled. And yet most of the book, he refuses to believe that time traveling is a thing. WAT
Don't get me started on the whole "noble savage" vibes this book gives off. Even though Polly mentions the concept BY NAME, the whole book reeks of it. Also heavy on the Jesus stuff. That's always been a thread throughout this series, but it gets even heavier in this one (which, given that Many Waters was literally about biblical times, is impressive).
Fan theory: SpoilerPolly slowly loses her mind throughout the course of the book (perhaps a side effect of time travel??). She not only forgives the guy who was fully ok with letting her get murdered for his benefit (Zachary), she then proceeds to fall in love with a guy who was planning to sacrifice her (Tav). She has to be losing her mind...right? That's the only way she could be this stupid? RIGHT?!?
Polly is a terrible role model: she's bland af and willing to ignore what is unforgivable because ooooo BoYs. Zachary has serious frat boy rapist vibes. Polly's grandparents appear to both be senile I guess? Especially since her grandfather HAS time/space traveled. And yet most of the book, he refuses to believe that time traveling is a thing. WAT
Don't get me started on the whole "noble savage" vibes this book gives off. Even though Polly mentions the concept BY NAME, the whole book reeks of it. Also heavy on the Jesus stuff. That's always been a thread throughout this series, but it gets even heavier in this one (which, given that Many Waters was literally about biblical times, is impressive).
Fan theory: SpoilerPolly slowly loses her mind throughout the course of the book (perhaps a side effect of time travel??). She not only forgives the guy who was fully ok with letting her get murdered for his benefit (Zachary), she then proceeds to fall in love with a guy who was planning to sacrifice her (Tav). She has to be losing her mind...right? That's the only way she could be this stupid? RIGHT?!?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Murder
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