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rbash2391's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well my feelings about at least one character have changed significantly (check spoilers). Although there were devastating results to the choices the characters made in this book, I understand why they made these choices and I agree with each of them even though that means I contradict myself. I don't know that there was a better way for things to have turned out other than the H/h actually trusting each other and communicating better. But there's good reasons for them to mistrust each other, so I appreciate why they were trying to do what they thought was right and hiding it from the other.
A note on the character Rosemarie, who is Black, and as I mentioned in my review for Book #1, it's not really clear how that affects her characterization until book #2. I think the author made her into a mammy trope :-/ More details on the roles of race/racism in the spoilers.
Other thoughts in the spoilers.
So I guess I changed my feelings a hard heel turn 180 degrees for Ella. I don't know if I appreciate the way that incestual rape, pregnancy, and near-fatal abortion was used to drive her character development. All of the misogyny and sexism in the series (major part of the plot) pales in comparison to the way that her character was assassinated. The rating would be higher if not for that whole ... thing. And Ella commandeered and had more mastery over the women's magic system ("knitting") than Beatrix almost to disastrous effect.
I do like how Beatrix was able to explore her own (women's) magic system more in this book. Surprisingly, the dreamside ended up being the safe space she needed to work that out, even though she was not being truthful with Peter. And it was the way she saved them and the capitol. It's not as much of a miscommunication trope as it is a desire not to communicate for good reason with these two, but I think they've finally come around and I'm interested to see where book 3 takes their relationship. Can it truly be a slow burn if they actually are in love with each other the whole time but don't realize it until the Vow is broken?
Regarding Rosemarie's character, I think she was mammified. She was a schoolteacher, which is one of the few careers women are allowed to pursue in this world. After Beatrix's mother dies, Beatrix realizes that Rosemarie was like a mother to her all along: providing advice, support, and trying to manage/encourage a better relationship with her younger sister Lydia. And that trope is annoying especially considering there are not many other characters of Color and racism isn't ever addressed as a thing that ever was or was "resolved" in this world. As we know from the true American suffragette movement, Black women were cast aside by organizers and the public and did not get the right to vote even though they held positions and did work for the movement. This book's timeline splinters from ours around the time of WWI when magic is discovered. This is about to be the height of post-Reconstruction, Jim Crow era, and none of that is addressed. Since racism and sexism are both tenets of white supremacy, it's hard to accept a world where one exists to a major degree and the other doesn't exist or isn't acknowledged.
A note on the character Rosemarie, who is Black, and as I mentioned in my review for Book #1, it's not really clear how that affects her characterization until book #2. I think the author made her into a mammy trope :-/ More details on the roles of race/racism in the spoilers.
Other thoughts in the spoilers.
I do like how Beatrix was able to explore her own (women's) magic system more in this book. Surprisingly, the dreamside ended up being the safe space she needed to work that out, even though she was not being truthful with Peter. And it was the way she saved them and the capitol. It's not as much of a miscommunication trope as it is a desire not to communicate for good reason with these two, but I think they've finally come around and I'm interested to see where book 3 takes their relationship. Can it truly be a slow burn if they actually are in love with each other the whole time but don't realize it until the Vow is broken?
Regarding Rosemarie's character, I think she was mammified. She was a schoolteacher, which is one of the few careers women are allowed to pursue in this world. After Beatrix's mother dies, Beatrix realizes that Rosemarie was like a mother to her all along: providing advice, support, and trying to manage/encourage a better relationship with her younger sister Lydia. And that trope is annoying especially considering there are not many other characters of Color and racism isn't ever addressed as a thing that ever was or was "resolved" in this world. As we know from the true American suffragette movement, Black women were cast aside by organizers and the public and did not get the right to vote even though they held positions and did work for the movement. This book's timeline splinters from ours around the time of WWI when magic is discovered. This is about to be the height of post-Reconstruction, Jim Crow era, and none of that is addressed. Since racism and sexism are both tenets of white supremacy, it's hard to accept a world where one exists to a major degree and the other doesn't exist or isn't acknowledged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Rape, Abortion, War, Incest, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
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