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

Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams

7 reviews

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

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

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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

caseythereader's review against another edition

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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

thelittlestmermaid's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings