Reviews with content warning for Racism - That Self-Same Metal

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams

30 reviews

scrubsandbooks's review

Unfortunately not my cup of tea nor am I the audience for this anyway. There were some parts that were pretty interesting so if you love to see young Black teens in theatre during Elizabethan times fighting fae, you might like this. The writing just didn’t connect me.

Content Warnings

reviewsandreadathons's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark hopeful 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

Content Warnings

nightjar656's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This book was exactly what I needed right now- I’ve been really stressed and busy lately, so a lighter novel full of adventure and sword fighting was perfect at this time. I love Joan as a main character, and her progression with Ogun throughout the book is fascinating. I do hope there’s a little more complexity within the romances in book 2, but at the same time I liked that it was there yet didn’t overshadow everything. And monstrous fae was such a breath of fresh air from the more common kind of fae in romantasy. That cliffhanger at the end was a bit worrying, though. I can’t wait to read book 2!

Content Warnings

murderousscottishgremlin's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This book had a really unique premise, and I liked the historical setting. However, I felt as though the plot never truly picked up, which made the reading experience a bit boring for me. This book also depicted several social issues such as racism and sexism, but the commentary never really went beyond the surface. The characters were all distinct from each other but ultimately, I just didn’t care about any of them. Williams’ Shakespeare-esque language style choices also felt clunky and out of place.

Content Warnings

peterparker's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging reflective 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

4.0

This book was a little slow to start but once it got going it got really interesting. Some of the mysteries can be a little predictable but not all of them. There were some plot twists I was pleasantly surprised by. If you like medieval fantasy and sword fights you'll really like this book.

Content Warnings

lola1229's review

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

FANTASTIC reimagining of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, and I sporadically LOLed through the entire story. 😍

Content Warnings

sup3r_xn0va_maya's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

💬:“Bia slithered into Joan’s hand, the blade vibrating at the thought of spilling more blood. Joan spread her stance and glanced around the empty street."

Williams, Brittany N.. That Self-Same Metal (The Forge & Fracture Saga, Book 1) (p. 82). Abrams. Kindle Edition.

📖Genres: fiction, teens, young adult, historical fiction, historical, romance

📚Page Count: 344

🎧Audiobook Length: 10hrs 31mins

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 2.75/5

That Self-Same Metal is a young adult historical action novel by Brittany N. Williams. This story has Orishas (or African Deities), acting, sword fighting, fae, and Shakespeare. The main character, Joan Sands, works for William Shakespeare's acting company with her twin brother James. Joan has the power to shapeshift metal (she keeps this a secret from everyone but her family) and she uses that ability to maintain the weapons on the play stage. After Joan kills a high ranking fae and saves a terrible man's son, the action in the book begins to start. (this happens around the 30% mark in the book.)

I found the action to be slow starting, the main plot of the

treaty being broken

didn't occur until around 25% of the novel. I also found the setting to be really boring, unfortunately. Most of the time the main characters are at the acting house or at Joan Sand's family home. I just didn't get that feeling of excitement or even interest while reading this. I only finished it because it was a buddy ready with a friend.

Overall, I think the concept was interesting but I found the execution didn't quite pique my interest. I'm going to give this 2.75 out of 5 stars
⭐️⭐️.75

I listened to this audiobook for free on [Libbyapp.com]

Content Warnings

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Fantasy loving, theatre nerds are going to ADORE this refreshingly inventive Fae related fantasy that explores Shakespeare’s London (and its gritty, unsavoury underbelly) to perfection!

As a fan of Fae based stories and all things Shakespeare, I practically leapt at the chance to read this

It’s set in 1605, (two years after the Death of Elizabeth I) and follows sixteen year old Joan Sands, whose Orisha-blessed ability to control metals has made her an expert swordsmith for The Globe Theatre—working alongside Shakespeare himself!

But,when a pact between the Fae and the Yoruba spirits (which had protected the human world for centuries) is broken, Joan inadvertently finds herself at the centre of the cities’ conflict.

For London has become the hunting ground for the newly freed Fae and Joan’s gifts make her the only one who can stop them.

I thought this was quite an engaging read with a fiercely independent (and loveable) protagonist that readers will no doubt be rooting for from the start. The complexity of Joan’s character, and the internal struggles she faces— both as a queer black woman grappling with self identity, and as one of the magic-blessed, whose powers are soo strongly tied to the Orisha (Ogun) , were handled really well.

The pacing is a bit of a whirlwind at times, which meant some characters weren’t as in depth as others but Brittany N. Williams’ sharp wit and attention to the historical details was really enjoyable (like Joan, as the daughter of a goldsmith living in Cheapside, a street famed for its gold workers. I also can’t stop imagining The Cheapside Hoard belonging to them.)

I think she also did a fabulous job in using the well documented chaos of the era to firmly establish and cement the mischievous (and historically bloodthirsty) Fae into the narrative. Further helped by tying their antics to several well known figures/ historical events (I won’t give any spoilers, but I was intrigued to see one infamous plot from a more magic/supernatural perspective.)

If you’re at all familiar with Shakespeare’s works (especially A Midsummer Night’s Dream) then you’re gonna be delighted by the many references (and character cameos) we encounter alongside the Bard, whose own role was actually larger than I had initially imagined.

Overall, an adventurous (but incredibly fast paced) read that will appeal to historical fantasy and Shakespeare aficionados. Just be sure to check the TWs first.

Also, thanks to The Tandem Collective and Faber & Faber for the gorgeous finished copy.

Content Warnings

mattyb's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Content Warnings

oldandnewbooksmell's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Trigger Warnings: racism (including blackface), sexism, murder, violence

Sixteen-year-old Joan Sands is a “gifted” craftswoman who creates and upkeeps the stage blades for William Shakespeare’s acting company. Joan’s gift comes from a magical ability she was blessed with from her Head Orisha, Ogun. Because her entire family is Orisha-blessed, they’ve kept tabs on the Fae presence in London. Usually, they just see a faint glow around a Fae’s body as they try their best to blend in with regular society. After a pack has been broken though, the rise of brutal Fae attacks has risen. After saving the son of a cruel Lord from a Fae attack, Joan gets thrusted into the political world of humans and Fae.

The writing really shows the author’s background in theater and acting and of the historical time period (including the treatment of Black people living in London, which I hadn’t known about).

Some of the parts didn’t interest me as much, but I did really enjoy the fight scenes as I felt like they were well written. There could have been a lot going on, but I would never feel like I was lost but rather right in the middle of swords swinging around.

Overall, this was a fun and action-packed YA fantasy with an alternative history twist. I can see YA fantasy readers and those who love theater enjoying this book with the twist of Shakespeare. I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for the next book in the series to continue with Joan and her story.

Content Warnings

More...