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el_viral's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
This is just a great book! It ticks so many boxes for me, and often I find myself disappointed by books that seem like box-tickers, but this really delivered. I can't recommend it enough!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Death
lydaalexander's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lesbianbarista's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-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? Yes
3.0
The time period was a little hard for me to grasp, for most of it I thought it was in the Old West, a timepiece, but then it seemed it was in a dystopian future. A future where books are restricted and the librarians travel from town to town handing out "approved" materials, which is mostly propaganda supporting the War. But what kind of war, we're never told. But the librarians are rebels, handing out unapproved literature that expands people's world view. It's a dangerous job and we're following a character who wants to join them.
Esther is a Good Girl who turns out to be some level of sapphic, and I only say that because the book absolutely refused to say the word lesbian... even though we were surrounded by them. And Esther stowed away with the Librarians without their approval and now needs to prove herself to them, despite their distrust, and despite their cold attitude. She gains exposure to change her worldview, but fights it with every turn because she's been told she deserves the pain and suffering she has endured.
This book waaaas... okay! I did enjoy the Old West themes and the frontier and the descriptions given. It was fun to follow a character slowly coming to terms with her sexuality after a harrowing experience, and I really did enjoy a lot of the cast! Actually all of the cast, it was a solid and fun lineup and mostly women!
I did like seeing someone realize that their sexuality isn't an affliction (oof) and allow themselves to find joy and freedom, but I feel like we didn't get too much of that. Esther's journey was as quick as the book but not as satisfying as it was tied to a romance I couldn't much care about. Cye was very, very cool but I just didn't feel that charisma between the two of them that gets me excited about most romances.
By the end of the book I really just wanted more. This was an interesting set up into what seems to be a very interesting world. I only got to see a fraction of it.
Esther is a Good Girl who turns out to be some level of sapphic, and I only say that because the book absolutely refused to say the word lesbian... even though we were surrounded by them. And Esther stowed away with the Librarians without their approval and now needs to prove herself to them, despite their distrust, and despite their cold attitude. She gains exposure to change her worldview, but fights it with every turn because she's been told she deserves the pain and suffering she has endured.
This book waaaas... okay! I did enjoy the Old West themes and the frontier and the descriptions given. It was fun to follow a character slowly coming to terms with her sexuality after a harrowing experience, and I really did enjoy a lot of the cast! Actually all of the cast, it was a solid and fun lineup and mostly women!
I did like seeing someone realize that their sexuality isn't an affliction (oof) and allow themselves to find joy and freedom, but I feel like we didn't get too much of that. Esther's journey was as quick as the book but not as satisfying as it was tied to a romance I couldn't much care about. Cye was very, very cool but I just didn't feel that charisma between the two of them that gets me excited about most romances.
By the end of the book I really just wanted more. This was an interesting set up into what seems to be a very interesting world. I only got to see a fraction of it.
bookph1le's review against another edition
2.0
The description of this book is sheer mastery. Can't wait to get my hands on it.
Review:
Unfortunately, as much as I liked the description of the book, I liked the book itself less. Quite simply, it just didn't do it for me. There was too much left obscured about the setting for me to feel fully invested in it. Had this been a novel rather than a novella, I think it would have worked better for me because there would have been more room for Gailey to develop the larger cultural structure of the world.
I also didn't take to Esther. I had sympathy for what she was going through, but she felt less like a character and more like a proxy for the reader to me, in that I didn't get a strong sense of her personality, more like she was meant to be a window into the world for the reader. I also wasn't a big fan of the romance because I didn't think enough time had lapsed for it. I felt Esther was being kind of callous, considering why she'd ended up with the Librarians in the first place.
Lastly, I just don't think Westerns are my thing. I think Gailey painted a really vivid portrait of the life the Librarians led when it came to the difficulties, discomforts, and dangers of travel, but I just wasn't into it. I kept wondering, too, where the snakes were. Seemed to me like there should have been more of them.
Review:
Unfortunately, as much as I liked the description of the book, I liked the book itself less. Quite simply, it just didn't do it for me. There was too much left obscured about the setting for me to feel fully invested in it. Had this been a novel rather than a novella, I think it would have worked better for me because there would have been more room for Gailey to develop the larger cultural structure of the world.
I also didn't take to Esther. I had sympathy for what she was going through, but she felt less like a character and more like a proxy for the reader to me, in that I didn't get a strong sense of her personality, more like she was meant to be a window into the world for the reader. I also wasn't a big fan of the romance because I didn't think enough time had lapsed for it. I felt Esther was being kind of callous, considering why she'd ended up with the Librarians in the first place.
Lastly, I just don't think Westerns are my thing. I think Gailey painted a really vivid portrait of the life the Librarians led when it came to the difficulties, discomforts, and dangers of travel, but I just wasn't into it. I kept wondering, too, where the snakes were. Seemed to me like there should have been more of them.
kennnedyexe's review against another edition
4.0
could be pretty corny at times, but overall very enjoyable read! the premise is so fun and interesting and the follow-through is great. i will say though, the love interest is a bit "love at first sight," but seeing as they don't get together until the very very end, i suppose it can have a pass.
rlouis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Didn’t think I’d love a western as much as I did, the world Gailey creates and introduces us to is so fascinating. For me it was the characters that kept me glued to the pages!