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jstilts's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.25
The first part in a series, this book nevertheless is just about satisfying for the emotional/confidence journey it takes the lead upon (albeit slightly rushed at the end but I carries through well enough in book 2). I won't recap the plot as that would remove the tension, but this book is basically about an arranged marriage between two countries - but our lead character has been kept in the dark about how much danger this marriage will expose her to, to the point where she has to spend half the book in disguise amongst those who wish her dead. It's an interesting mix of fantasy and what could have been a period drama (almost a Jane Austen romance but one gone deliciously wrong). It probably wouldn't have been enough to be one or the other, but both genres combined lift this into a compelling tale of intrigue as she tries to survive the world she has been thrust into, and rise above the limited role she is being forced to play.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Classism, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, and Bullying
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Drug use, Abandonment, Alcohol, Murder, Violence, and Miscarriage
jenny_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Je ne sais pas trop quoi penser de ce livre. Le côté politique est intéressant, mais comme absolument aucun personnage n’est attachant, ça m’a empêché de ressentir quelque empathie que ce soit pour eux.
J’ai l’impression qu’Ophélie est demi-romantique, et Thorn présente plusieurs traits autiste. Est-ce voulu? Je n’en sais rien, mais c’est ce qui m’a semblé le plus captivant dans ma lecture.
Malheureusement, tous les personnages sont froids et la plupart sont dénués de caractérisation outre des défauts très superficiels qui deviennent leur entière personnalité.
Je ne sais pas non plus si le sous-entendu est intentionnel, mais les “provinciaux” semblent avoir un accent québécois et ça me rend mal à l’aise. Tout comme les références à la religion animiste, qui est fondamentalement liés à l’histoire coloniale et aux peuples africains et autochtones — pour la plupart décimés par les colonies françaises… M’enfin, c’est peut-être seulement mon interprétation de la chose.
Je ne sais pas encore si je vais lire la suite. Ce sont de gros livres avec peu d’action qui demandent beaucoup de travail cérébral pour peu de résultats.
J’ai l’impression qu’Ophélie est demi-romantique, et Thorn présente plusieurs traits autiste. Est-ce voulu? Je n’en sais rien, mais c’est ce qui m’a semblé le plus captivant dans ma lecture.
Malheureusement, tous les personnages sont froids et la plupart sont dénués de caractérisation outre des défauts très superficiels qui deviennent leur entière personnalité.
Je ne sais pas non plus si le sous-entendu est intentionnel, mais les “provinciaux” semblent avoir un accent québécois et ça me rend mal à l’aise. Tout comme les références à la religion animiste, qui est fondamentalement liés à l’histoire coloniale et aux peuples africains et autochtones — pour la plupart décimés par les colonies françaises… M’enfin, c’est peut-être seulement mon interprétation de la chose.
Je ne sais pas encore si je vais lire la suite. Ce sont de gros livres avec peu d’action qui demandent beaucoup de travail cérébral pour peu de résultats.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Blood, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Classism, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Child abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Child death, and Sexism
Minor: Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Rape
that_scrivener's review
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I echo the critiques of character & mysogyny + a bit of a drag, despite its fabulous world-building (I swoon for bureaucracy + court intrigue), BUT. It was worth investing the 500 pages for the last 100 pages of (ahem) the 2nd book ; as the plot (& social critique) unfolds, the flat characters, racial/ethnic stereotypes, weird thing a la Twilight where female protagonist is super clumsy/unruly haired and this is ruthlessly flogged throughout seem more about deliberate social commentary than authorial shortcomings. I felt echoes of the read-for-the-first-time wonder I associate with childhood — weeping over c.s lewis, mirrlees, Tolkien, Pullman etc. — & the privilege of not noticing the gross allegories, inasmuch as I have been able to justify a re reading of the problematic elements.
This is not really contributing beyond the reviews already published; I wanted to suggest, for anyone who wants to add a little supplemental reading & depth to the 2000 pages of this entire series, Marcel Aymé’s Le Passant-Murailles (hot cover art: 2012 English translation from Pushkin Press). I had never encountered any reference to Aymé before peeking into the authors that contextualize Dabos’ work (presumably it goes without saying that I am an underemployed phd, lol), but he is well known in French pop culture & is 1. a truly excellent read + 2. really enriches this series. I also recommend this piece if you are subsequently charged up by Aymé or want a quick & rewarding overview of his jam: Filipe M. Guerra, Fantasy That Makes You Laugh and Think, https://baos.pub/fantasy-that-makes-you-laugh-and-think-the-tales-of-marcel-aym%C3%A9-5ae9565a3449l
NB if you are the person that needed this information, be my friend? Must enjoy ruining escapist reading, walks on beach.
This is not really contributing beyond the reviews already published; I wanted to suggest, for anyone who wants to add a little supplemental reading & depth to the 2000 pages of this entire series, Marcel Aymé’s Le Passant-Murailles (hot cover art: 2012 English translation from Pushkin Press). I had never encountered any reference to Aymé before peeking into the authors that contextualize Dabos’ work (presumably it goes without saying that I am an underemployed phd, lol), but he is well known in French pop culture & is 1. a truly excellent read + 2. really enriches this series. I also recommend this piece if you are subsequently charged up by Aymé or want a quick & rewarding overview of his jam: Filipe M. Guerra, Fantasy That Makes You Laugh and Think, https://baos.pub/fantasy-that-makes-you-laugh-and-think-the-tales-of-marcel-aym%C3%A9-5ae9565a3449l
NB if you are the person that needed this information, be my friend? Must enjoy ruining escapist reading, walks on beach.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Colonisation
Moderate: Colonisation and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Racism
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