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caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Racism, Religious bigotry, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Violence, Sexism, Alcohol, Excrement, and Injury/Injury detail
thelittlestmermaid's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I have been working on reading this book since May, and it is now October. It did not take me this long to read due to any lack of enjoyment or entertainment, I was just more excited to read manga instead of books.
This book was very enjoyable! As a theater person whose other hobby is reading, I was thrilled to find a book that would (hopefully accurately) include theater scenes. And this book did deliver exactly that! Alongside that were fun characters, an intriguing plot, and so many mythical creatures and fae.
My two biggest gripes about this book were the entire storyline involving Cecil and the interludes featuring random people around the city. Cecil just got on my nerves and also felt unnecessary, given all the other threatening things going on. The weird side characters just interrupted the main storyline, and I found myself wanting to skip those scenes more than anything else.
I would definitely recommend this book to people who are fans of both fantasy and theater. But really, anyone who loves a good fantasy book featuring the fae would probably like this.
This book was very enjoyable! As a theater person whose other hobby is reading, I was thrilled to find a book that would (hopefully accurately) include theater scenes. And this book did deliver exactly that! Alongside that were fun characters, an intriguing plot, and so many mythical creatures and fae.
My two biggest gripes about this book were the entire storyline involving Cecil and the interludes featuring random people around the city. Cecil just got on my nerves and also felt unnecessary, given all the other threatening things going on. The weird side characters just interrupted the main storyline, and I found myself wanting to skip those scenes more than anything else.
I would definitely recommend this book to people who are fans of both fantasy and theater. But really, anyone who loves a good fantasy book featuring the fae would probably like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Minor: Alcohol
maregred's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Blood, Violence, and Gore
Minor: Alcohol
emfass's review
Plot idea was fantastic, I was very excited by the *ideas* for the story, but oh my GOD for whatever reason I could not stand the writing. Was trying to get through the audiobook for Bad Bitch Book Club summer fantasy group but it became more and more torturous to try and make myself pick it up and I decided to let myself move on to other things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Body horror, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism and Sexism
Minor: Animal cruelty
jojo50's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? No
4.5
Starts slowly, improves mightily. Cliffhanger ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Racism
Moderate: Violence
rorikae's review
adventurous
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
4.5
'That Self-Same Metal' by Brittany N. Williams is an exciting YA historical fantasy that brings the Fae into Shakespearean England.
Joan works behind the scenes for The King’s Men, Shakespeare's theater company. She is a skilled craftsperson but she also has the gift of being able to manipulate metal. In this version of Shakespearean London, magic abounds through connections with the Fae world and with Orisha. The human and Fae have lived in relative harmony but Fae attacks are on the rise. Joan gets pulled into the upheaval after she saves the son of a well-off man. But what is causing these issues and how can Joan help to set them right?
Williams has created an engaging world that takes the reality of Shakespearean London and injects it with a little bit of magic and Fae political intrigue. Joan is instantly likable and it's both fun and fascinating to follow along on her adventures. A historical note at the end helps to showcase how Williams seamlessly weaves the reality of that time (including real people) with magical worldbuilding. I also really appreciate how she pulls on Shakespeare's plays to fill out the Fae lore. This is an excellent start to a new series and one that I will definitely be following.
Joan works behind the scenes for The King’s Men, Shakespeare's theater company. She is a skilled craftsperson but she also has the gift of being able to manipulate metal. In this version of Shakespearean London, magic abounds through connections with the Fae world and with Orisha. The human and Fae have lived in relative harmony but Fae attacks are on the rise. Joan gets pulled into the upheaval after she saves the son of a well-off man. But what is causing these issues and how can Joan help to set them right?
Williams has created an engaging world that takes the reality of Shakespearean London and injects it with a little bit of magic and Fae political intrigue. Joan is instantly likable and it's both fun and fascinating to follow along on her adventures. A historical note at the end helps to showcase how Williams seamlessly weaves the reality of that time (including real people) with magical worldbuilding. I also really appreciate how she pulls on Shakespeare's plays to fill out the Fae lore. This is an excellent start to a new series and one that I will definitely be following.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Racism
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Misogyny
batty_and_bookish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Death
avacadosocks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death, Blood, Violence, Cannibalism, and Gore
Minor: Alcohol
heather667's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Sexism, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, Racism, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol and Misogyny
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Animal cruelty, and Sexual assault
hailstorm3812's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This book would have made me insane at 16. I'm talking hunger games/mortal instruments/divergent obsession levels. I am so glad that current queer teens with a love for swords and shakespeare have access to this wonderful book, unfortunately I am an adult and it falls into some YA traps that are slightly less fun for the fully formed brain, like plot twists seen a mile away. But a perfect teen book read by an adult is still pretty dang fun. And one of the best covers of the year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality, Racism, and Sexism