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kelseyland's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
A tense, face-paced escape story that takes place in a dark, fantastical version of the American West. This definitely felt more like part one of a series than a standalone novel so I'm glad the next book is already out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Sexual violence, Addiction, Drug use, Gun violence, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Medical trauma, Rape, Suicide, Child abuse, Infertility, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
ohheyandi's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
I didn't think I'd love this book as much as I did. The characters are pretty well fleshed out and compelling, and I really enjoyed the Western-esque setting. And honestly, I'm also a sucker for analogue swear words. You can bet I'm adding "ripping" into my mental rolodex of phrases. I will say the plot get a bit repetitive, but honestly it felt episodic and I didn't mind. I'm going to be thinking about this book for days.
Also, I was getting a bit of a gay vibe from Violet and Aster, so I'm kind of hoping we get to see that relationship (either romantic or platonic, honestly both are good) develop more in the sequel.
Also, I was getting a bit of a gay vibe from Violet and Aster, so I'm kind of hoping we get to see that relationship (either romantic or platonic, honestly both are good) develop more in the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, and Trafficking
Moderate: Infertility, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
sweetmusic22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Trafficking
mandkips's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Slavery, Misogyny, Sexism, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Death, Violence, Addiction, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Suicide
jolovestoread's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
An action packed adventure that I enjoyed reading from start to finish. I often wanted to continue and couldn't wait to find out how life would go for the girls. I desperately wanted them to succeed and get out of the awful situation they were landed in, but also felt very invested in seeing this world be improved.
There were a few supernatural elements with the tattoos that glow when covered as they are made from ink beyond the veil (or of the veil?) and also the vengeful spirits that are the ghosts of people who have passed away and literally can rip you to shreds, but you cannot see them.
It breaks my heart to know that this kind of world does exist in quite a similar way still for many girls and women. I wish it wasn't so, this is quite a heavy topic, but it isn't a depressing book.
There were a few supernatural elements with the tattoos that glow when covered as they are made from ink beyond the veil (or of the veil?) and also the vengeful spirits that are the ghosts of people who have passed away and literally can rip you to shreds, but you cannot see them.
It breaks my heart to know that this kind of world does exist in quite a similar way still for many girls and women. I wish it wasn't so, this is quite a heavy topic, but it isn't a depressing book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Child abuse, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking
sabrielsbell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The premise of this book is amazing and felt very new and unique. Unfortunately, the rest of the book felt very surface level to me when it could have been so much more. I struggled with the main character who was SO angry. I tried to be okay with it because she had every right to be angry but it just didn't work for me. A side-character also had an angry demeanor that made more sense because it was a 'look after myself/leave me alone anger' while the main character just wanted to be the boss. She would talk about protecting everyone and then go into reckless situations or refuse to accept the only option. I also struggled with the plot conveniences that came up throughout the book. Overall, I think it missed the mark in a lot of ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual violence, and Trafficking
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? No
4.25
Reread this in preparation for the sequel!
So I really loved this book! The beginning is so intense and really hooks you into the story. I was immediately empathetic toward Clementine and Aster, and needed them to succeed!
As the story went on, the pacing slowed down a bit and there were gaps when not much was happening. I grew to really care about all of the characters, but I was especially invested in what was happening with Aster and Violet.
I think it would have been very interesting for this story to have had multiple POVs instead of just Aster, and I hope to see more POVs in the sequel.
Pacing picked back up again at the end, with a lot of intense scenes. The ending was very satisfying but still left me wanting more! I cannot wait to see what happens next.
The world building was rich and beautiful. This is such a scary world, unsafe for "dustbloods", particularly women, but it is so interesting to see the mix of fantasy elements with western fiction. I adored this book!
So I really loved this book! The beginning is so intense and really hooks you into the story. I was immediately empathetic toward Clementine and Aster, and needed them to succeed!
As the story went on, the pacing slowed down a bit and there were gaps when not much was happening. I grew to really care about all of the characters, but I was especially invested in what was happening with Aster and Violet.
I think it would have been very interesting for this story to have had multiple POVs instead of just Aster, and I hope to see more POVs in the sequel.
Pacing picked back up again at the end, with a lot of intense scenes. The ending was very satisfying but still left me wanting more! I cannot wait to see what happens next.
The world building was rich and beautiful. This is such a scary world, unsafe for "dustbloods", particularly women, but it is so interesting to see the mix of fantasy elements with western fiction. I adored this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, Rape, and Torture
samberginimercy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Drug use
kayblecar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Trigger warning for discussions and depictions of child sex trafficking, characters experiencing PTSD, parallels to police brutality.
The Good Luck Girls follows the escape of five girls from sexual slavery, in a fantasy world where the exploitation of a group of people called “dustbloods” through slavery and generational debt directly parallels the history of Black and Indigenous people in the United States.
I’ve seen The Good Luck Girls described as a “fantasy western,” and while that’s a fair description, it has some distinctly Southern Gothic foundations. The ghosts take the form of a backdrop for the story, in a way that is rooted in the horrific history of the land and parallels American slavery and the Reconstruction era. Charlotte Nichole Davis excellently balances directly telling the reader how this world works and letting us infer from the characters’ offhand comments.
I’m usually wary of fantasy worlds that draw direct metaphors to oppressed groups, since they can easily find themselves relying on stereotypes to draw the parallel, but The Good Luck Girls did not seem to fall into this trap to me. The world of The Good Luck Girls is so tightly tied to the historical roots of modern racism, as well as modern conversations around fighting oppression, that it feels more like an alternate history than a fantasy lifting forms of oppression from the real world. Through the lens of survivors unpacking their traumatic experiences together, it addresses the ways that oppressed groups are pitted against each other, the ways that forms of oppression intersect, and the ways that trauma impacts survivors, as well as the difficulty of identifying who is to blame in a system built to cause harm and take choices away.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Sexual violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide and Pedophilia
rainbowshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ok maybe five stars is rash? But this was so great. A Western but with magic and ghosts/vengeful spirits. Queer girls punching rich old guys and stealing their money in the ruins of an empire. There's a lot more to explore here for sure but looks like this is a series... I can't wait for more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Infertility, Drug use, Addiction, and Confinement
Minor: Rape
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