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fareehareads's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I almost didn't finish this book. I nearly dropped in several times. But something propelled me forward to just blaze through it in one sitting after days of going back and forth with it.
The story itself follows Joan Sands and her brother James, two fae living in the Elizabethan era and working as a part of Shakespeare's acting company. James is an actor and Joan is the swords expert that teaches everyone how to fight. Their family are blessed by the Orisha, meaning all of them have special abilities, for Joan it's the ability to manipulate iron and other metals. There is a political plot in this, a group of actors with wild personalities, a male and female love interest for Joan, and some fae deaths that lead to an investigation and further choas.
All around the premise sounded so promising but where it felt flat for me was the worldbuilding and convoluted plot. It was very clear that the author was setting up this book to have some larger implications that wouldn't be explored till the next book and I wish it was less heavy handed. The focus of the task at hand kept getting lost and while Joan's motivations weren't unclear, her desires felt very strained and pulled in too many directions. She was clearly meant to be an honorable character with a sense of justice and care for her fellow family and friends. Yet she often acted for her own self interests and didn't actually make any real effort to find out why she was the only one from her family other than her uncle with the specific very important ability that could change everything. It came up and was dropped like it meant nothing.
Also her parents didn't make a lot of sense to me, her mother was hell-bent on keeping Joan from knowing things by saying "she's too young" and that didn't feel like the strongest argument considering how she was killing monsters every other day and supporting her brother completely. It felt like Joan was carrying a lot but there was 0 acknowledgment of that from everyone around her. Also Shakespeare himself being an active character was an interesting choice, but I almost wish it didn't happen at all.
I had a lot more complaints about this than I thought. Anyway a lot of this book had potential, but it really didn't stick the landing.
The story itself follows Joan Sands and her brother James, two fae living in the Elizabethan era and working as a part of Shakespeare's acting company. James is an actor and Joan is the swords expert that teaches everyone how to fight. Their family are blessed by the Orisha, meaning all of them have special abilities, for Joan it's the ability to manipulate iron and other metals. There is a political plot in this, a group of actors with wild personalities, a male and female love interest for Joan, and some fae deaths that lead to an investigation and further choas.
All around the premise sounded so promising but where it felt flat for me was the worldbuilding and convoluted plot. It was very clear that the author was setting up this book to have some larger implications that wouldn't be explored till the next book and I wish it was less heavy handed. The focus of the task at hand kept getting lost and while Joan's motivations weren't unclear, her desires felt very strained and pulled in too many directions. She was clearly meant to be an honorable character with a sense of justice and care for her fellow family and friends. Yet she often acted for her own self interests and didn't actually make any real effort to find out why she was the only one from her family other than her uncle with the specific very important ability that could change everything. It came up and was dropped like it meant nothing.
Also her parents didn't make a lot of sense to me, her mother was hell-bent on keeping Joan from knowing things by saying "she's too young" and that didn't feel like the strongest argument considering how she was killing monsters every other day and supporting her brother completely. It felt like Joan was carrying a lot but there was 0 acknowledgment of that from everyone around her. Also Shakespeare himself being an active character was an interesting choice, but I almost wish it didn't happen at all.
I had a lot more complaints about this than I thought. Anyway a lot of this book had potential, but it really didn't stick the landing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Murder, Colonisation, Blood, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Hate crime, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Classism
jessicaludden's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I wanted to like this book but it fell kind of flat for me. I love the premise of a religion-based magic system set in Shakespearean London with POC and queer main and side characters. I really liked Joan and her brother’s relationship, but the side characters didn’t do a lot for me. The romance also felt very instant and I couldn’t really see the chemistry with either of her love interests. As far as the plot goes, I feel like things kept happening but nothing connected or flowed well. We never circled back to the overarching theme or goal. Overall, I liked the idea of this but the execution wasn’t what I hoped it would be. I wish we had gotten more world building and explored the magic system more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gore, Body horror, Death, Racism, Blood, Murder, and Racial slurs
eternallyicarian's review
adventurous
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.75
So a fun fact about this book is that when I was at a Leigh Bardugo book signing early this year, she recommended this book to the people there. So naturally, I requested it on NetGalley once I saw the audiobook, despite it being a form of reading I am not yet accustomed to. However, despite it taking me a lot longer to read than a book typically takes, it was a great book. I loved reading about all of the characters, and I am very glad that this book did not fully fall into the all-to-common trope of making William Shakespeare himself a fraud, although the character is definitely a real person. The book also does a good job of acknowledging the racism of the times and condemns it without holding these characters to today’s morals in the way that a lot of books do.Also there is a queerness and not just for the fae, for everyone, as I have a personal hatred for when the fae are queer in a way that seems as if they are queer to distinguish them as something other than human, as opposed to showing queerness as a human trait. I mean, the fae are still equally queer which is also good, but it's everyone this time. There is also a high chance that the books may end with the main character in a polyamorous relationship, so I am really excited for that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Cultural appropriation, and Violence
bug_gwen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Racism
amobrien's review
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
3.75
I loved the combination of Shakespeare literature and fantasy in this YA debut about a sword-fighting bisexual Black girl in historical London. There is a love-triangle of sorts that provides some romance to this read, but I honestly preferred the relationship between Joan (the main character) and her twin brother. Overall, this was a great debut and I look forward to the continuation of the series!
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence
knlipke's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I enjoyed reading this book so much!! The story is unique, while tying in old tales of fae and the Orisha. I love Joan, James and everyone else! They’re great characters.
The ending was kind of abrupt. I understand there to be more books in the future of this series; however, it was just a little rushed for me. But the twist at the end was great!
Overall can’t wait to read more in the Forge and Fracture Saga
The ending was kind of abrupt. I understand there to be more books in the future of this series; however, it was just a little rushed for me. But the twist at the end was great!
Overall can’t wait to read more in the Forge and Fracture Saga
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Murder, Blood, Racism, and Racial slurs
larenlit's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
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
3.75
n her debut novel, Brittany N. Williams combines Shakespearean literature and Yoruba religion into a stunning YA adventure!
There was so much to love about this book from its diverse cast to inclusive romance. Joan, our protagonist, faces malevolent fae as they toy with her life and the lives of her fellow thespians. She must also face the reality of being a young, black woman in Shakespearean London while trying to save the lives of those she loves. Williams’s ability to intertwine elements of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Othello shows a lot of promise for the rest of this series. I really enjoyed her take on the Orisha, how they interact with their children, and their gifts. I hope to see more development of the magic system and character arcs in the next installment!
There were a few aspects of the story that I felt held it back from its full potential. The love triangle seemed a bit “instalove-esque” to me. Due to the rapid pacing of the book, there wasn’t much room left for the development of these relationships. The writing was occasionally choppy, which one might from a debut novel, and the plot did get a bit drowned out at times. It was just a lot of information all at once combined with a story that moved quite quickly.
*I find it important to recommend that you check out the TW as there is content you may want to avoid.*
Thank you to @TLCbooks and NetGalley for providing me a free audio arc of this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
sterreks's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams was fantastic! It is written in third person and has an amazing maincharacter with wit and courage! There are Fae and people with magic and William Shakespeare is a character in this story!
One of the best YA debuts I have read in a while.
The maincharacter Joan is sixteen years old, queer and of color. She has the magic ability of controlling metal which her Head Orisha, Ogun had gifted her.
The Fae are depicted as dangerous creatures and seeing as Joan's whole family is Orisha-blessed they have been keeping an eye out for Fae around the city.
The book is very fast paced and many things are happening all at once. There are a few pov changes but we mostly focus on that of Joan. I really liked her as a maincharacter and I am really glad that girls all over the world will see themselves in Joan. Thank you Brittany for this beautiful powerful written woman!
Thank you so much NetGally for providing an early copy of the beautiful audiobook!
Content warnings: Racism, Sexcism
One of the best YA debuts I have read in a while.
The maincharacter Joan is sixteen years old, queer and of color. She has the magic ability of controlling metal which her Head Orisha, Ogun had gifted her.
The Fae are depicted as dangerous creatures and seeing as Joan's whole family is Orisha-blessed they have been keeping an eye out for Fae around the city.
The book is very fast paced and many things are happening all at once. There are a few pov changes but we mostly focus on that of Joan. I really liked her as a maincharacter and I am really glad that girls all over the world will see themselves in Joan. Thank you Brittany for this beautiful powerful written woman!
Thank you so much NetGally for providing an early copy of the beautiful audiobook!
Content warnings: Racism, Sexcism
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Racism
levesc17's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book had a lot to love, first and foremost, you can really feel the author’s love of Shakespeare shine through. There’s also: a girl with a sword, a bisexual love triangle, and magic! The plot had all the puzzle pieces that grab me. I felt that pace moved too briskly for me to really settle with the main characters internal dilemmas and the plot twists a bit predictable (because honestly teenagers are predictable, why don’t they communicate with their parents?!) HOWEVER, I am an adult reader and I am not the intended audience. I will happily gift this book to any middle school or high school reader in my life. I read an arc of this from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, and Sexism
brontesauruses's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for giving me early access in exchange for an honest review!
How great is that cover?? I was sold pretty much immediately based on that alone, and it mostly lived up to my expectations. The writing can be a bit clunky at times, and I found the romance to be very distracting*, but there's a lot to like: Joan's magic, her relationship with her brother, Faerie Nonsense, Shakespeare, just, like...Joan in general, honestly. Lots of good stuff. Also, it was all very queer and I am always here for that.
I was kind of on the fence about whether or not I'd read the next one, but the ending has made me very curious.
*It wasn't bad?? There was just lots of blushing and stomach butterflies, and maybe I'm just a cranky old lady, but it got old very quickly and felt like it was getting in the way sometimes. I like romance, but...yeah.
How great is that cover?? I was sold pretty much immediately based on that alone, and it mostly lived up to my expectations. The writing can be a bit clunky at times, and I found the romance to be very distracting*, but there's a lot to like: Joan's magic, her relationship with her brother, Faerie Nonsense, Shakespeare, just, like...Joan in general, honestly. Lots of good stuff. Also, it was all very queer and I am always here for that.
I was kind of on the fence about whether or not I'd read the next one, but the ending has made me very curious.
*It wasn't bad?? There was just lots of blushing and stomach butterflies, and maybe I'm just a cranky old lady, but it got old very quickly and felt like it was getting in the way sometimes. I like romance, but...yeah.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Racism
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