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schnaucl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
There was a lot I like about this book. The magic system and underground sisterhood of magic users were interesting, as were the politics and the characters. I would have liked to see more of the sisterhood though. I really liked how the sisterhood communicated and how (at least some) mothers taught their daughters how to decipher grimoires.
What didn't work for me was the romance, though full disclosure, love at first sight (or in this case, kiss) almost never does. Ianthe didn't seem to have much depth and I would have like to spend more time with Ysbeta and her passion for recovering lost magic. There's a single reference to a person not having an interest in men or women so I guess non straight people exist but there's no discussion of what that means. Presumably they're supposed to get involved in a heterosexual marriage and produce kids regardless. I'm also not big on kids generally so a society where women are always treated at pre-pregnant gives me hives. That said, there's surprisingly no discussion of contraception or abortificants. If the whole reason for the collar is the that a spirit might take over a fetus you'd think female presenting bodies would have a collar put on after the first period to be completely safe. That would negate the symbolism of it happening in connection with marriage, but still.
And of course, secretly telling women the secret of how to prevent spirits taking over a fetus while the men are distracted is a great symbolic moment, but since it requires the active participation of men who are clearly unwilling to make the sacrifice and given that women are still unable to own property and don't really have any more power than before I'm not sure what difference it would actually make, at least in Beatrice's homeland. Women could certainly incorporate the knowledge into grimoires. I guess we're supposed to be content with changing a couple of minds here and there and maybe decades from now it will be unacceptable to use a collar instead but that's a pretty depressing place to leave things.
What didn't work for me was the romance, though full disclosure, love at first sight (or in this case, kiss) almost never does. Ianthe didn't seem to have much depth and I would have like to spend more time with Ysbeta and her passion for recovering lost magic. There's a single reference to a person not having an interest in men or women so I guess non straight people exist but there's no discussion of what that means. Presumably they're supposed to get involved in a heterosexual marriage and produce kids regardless. I'm also not big on kids generally so a society where women are always treated at pre-pregnant gives me hives. That said, there's surprisingly no discussion of contraception or abortificants. If the whole reason for the collar is the that a spirit might take over a fetus you'd think female presenting bodies would have a collar put on after the first period to be completely safe. That would negate the symbolism of it happening in connection with marriage, but still.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, and Sexism
clarabooksit's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Slavery
bremna101's review against another edition
Selfish main character and way too much sexism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
candace's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Child death and Pregnancy
purplatypus's review
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Vomit, Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Death, and Murder
kestrel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, and Sexism
griffinthief's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Child death, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
cgcunard's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Okay, so, it's hard to even say what I liked or did not like about this book because I was too busy being caught up in the FUCKING INTENSE emotional world of not having control over your body as a young woman. It's honestly fascinating to me and it reminds me in its later pages of nothing so much as Frances Burney novels. Wow. What a wild ride.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Emotional abuse
lighterthaneyre's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was a very fun read. It's not a regency romance, but it knows all the tropes and best parts to spread out as scene dressing and plot conflicts
This is a head on interrogation of gender roles and gender equality, and while it's direct, there's depth there that resonates.
There's lots of good discussions on how women are undervalued, how systematically it's enforced, how women have to give up ambition or romance/family. And there's real cost assigned to both wants, and and real grief felt for giving up either option.
My biggest issue was at the end when all the parents got on board. Mrs Lavan I do believe, but absolutely Fuck Beatrice's dad. Toss that man into the drink.
This is a head on interrogation of gender roles and gender equality, and while it's direct, there's depth there that resonates.
There's lots of good discussions on how women are undervalued, how systematically it's enforced, how women have to give up ambition or romance/family. And there's real cost assigned to both wants, and and real grief felt for giving up either option.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Pregnancy
maddireads13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism