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roannasylver's review
5.0
Disclaimer: I was sent an advance copy of this book for an honest review. Even more honesty: I'm also a friend of the author - but I was a fan of the series long before that. And everything readers love in the Mangoverse, they'll find here. Between the lighthearted but emotionally rich fantasy and inclusive, loving representation, The Olive Conspiracy more than stands on its own.
The book stands on its own in another way; I don't think you have to have read the entire series to enjoy it, even though this is #4 in the Mangoverse series. You might even be able to start here. (One interesting note though - you may want to read the series of 5 very short, very sweet stories, "Tales of Perach" first, especially if you're new to the 'Verse. They're companion pieces to this book, and go along really nicely. I actually read part of this book before Tales, and part after, and while your mileage may vary, my enjoyment of "Olive" was actually a little deeper after having read "Tales," and knowing everybody in it a little bit more. Just a thought!)
The Olive Conspiracy is very kind to new readers, though, catching them up on who everyone is and the social dynamics of Perach, its friends, and neighbors... who may or may not have friendly intentions. The characterizations are strong and consistent and even if you're unfamiliar with a major character - like I was, having inadvertently skipped a book where he entered - you'll get to know and, likely, love everyone very easily thanks to the lively prose and endearing interactions. You'll also get a sense of Perach (a lush sub-tropical setting, world-built on Jewish culture, in everything from food and festivals to magic systems) and Imbrio (which seems to be Portuguese... Flavored - ha, you'll get that joke soon) - and their differences - very well and quickly, thanks to the rich descriptions of the time, place and mood of the kingdoms. Joy and sorrow permeate the settings, as well as the people within them. More than any Mangoverse book so far (maybe more than any book I've read lately), emotion is a tangible force at play here, a constant presence that hangs low over everyone and everything, effecting movement and events like weather or the tides.
I'm emphasizing *feeling* more than the literal plot events, because they've been pretty well covered by other reviews (and the actual synopsis), and atmosphere is where Shira Glassman's writing shines the most. This, and the absolutely sumptuous descriptions of food - even if you run into something you're unfamiliar with, I pretty much guarantee you'll be hungry at some point - gorgeous princess clothes, and a simply amazing garden sequence that borders on dreamlike... even if it quickly deteriorates into an equally intense nightmare. This stark contrast (from the teenage hormone-fueled rush of joy and excitement in a wonderland of flowers and glittering pretty things to the sudden drop into harsh realities of brutal caste systems, casual abuse, and deadly ignorance that can leave memories of the sweetest fruits rotten on the vine) might be the most memorable in the book. The shift is... nauseating. But necessary.
The much happier counterpart to the impact of this devastating injustice and its associated specters - damaging systems, secrets, old shame, new fears, adversity, grief - that hang over the story, are the brighter, warmer presences of the friends and found family who stand around Queen Shulamit as she makes her emotionally vulnerable but determined way. Their interactions, their personalities and their love - for their country and each other - just ring true. And very real. They feel like friends, and eventually family. To each other and the reader.
I keep trying to think of a better way to put it, and I keep coming back to 'warm.' Reading the books of the Mangoverse feels 'warm.' It feels like coming home, even if Perach in no way resembles anywhere you've ever been. It feels like a place you would like to call home. More than that, it feels like a place that might let you. In this increasingly frightening world, this is a very important thing indeed. If you have need of a place like this (and I know a lot of readers do, particularly young LGBTQA and otherwise marginalized readers) I highly recommend giving the Mangoverse series a try.
The book stands on its own in another way; I don't think you have to have read the entire series to enjoy it, even though this is #4 in the Mangoverse series. You might even be able to start here. (One interesting note though - you may want to read the series of 5 very short, very sweet stories, "Tales of Perach" first, especially if you're new to the 'Verse. They're companion pieces to this book, and go along really nicely. I actually read part of this book before Tales, and part after, and while your mileage may vary, my enjoyment of "Olive" was actually a little deeper after having read "Tales," and knowing everybody in it a little bit more. Just a thought!)
The Olive Conspiracy is very kind to new readers, though, catching them up on who everyone is and the social dynamics of Perach, its friends, and neighbors... who may or may not have friendly intentions. The characterizations are strong and consistent and even if you're unfamiliar with a major character - like I was, having inadvertently skipped a book where he entered - you'll get to know and, likely, love everyone very easily thanks to the lively prose and endearing interactions. You'll also get a sense of Perach (a lush sub-tropical setting, world-built on Jewish culture, in everything from food and festivals to magic systems) and Imbrio (which seems to be Portuguese... Flavored - ha, you'll get that joke soon) - and their differences - very well and quickly, thanks to the rich descriptions of the time, place and mood of the kingdoms. Joy and sorrow permeate the settings, as well as the people within them. More than any Mangoverse book so far (maybe more than any book I've read lately), emotion is a tangible force at play here, a constant presence that hangs low over everyone and everything, effecting movement and events like weather or the tides.
I'm emphasizing *feeling* more than the literal plot events, because they've been pretty well covered by other reviews (and the actual synopsis), and atmosphere is where Shira Glassman's writing shines the most. This, and the absolutely sumptuous descriptions of food - even if you run into something you're unfamiliar with, I pretty much guarantee you'll be hungry at some point - gorgeous princess clothes, and a simply amazing garden sequence that borders on dreamlike... even if it quickly deteriorates into an equally intense nightmare. This stark contrast (from the teenage hormone-fueled rush of joy and excitement in a wonderland of flowers and glittering pretty things to the sudden drop into harsh realities of brutal caste systems, casual abuse, and deadly ignorance that can leave memories of the sweetest fruits rotten on the vine) might be the most memorable in the book. The shift is... nauseating. But necessary.
The much happier counterpart to the impact of this devastating injustice and its associated specters - damaging systems, secrets, old shame, new fears, adversity, grief - that hang over the story, are the brighter, warmer presences of the friends and found family who stand around Queen Shulamit as she makes her emotionally vulnerable but determined way. Their interactions, their personalities and their love - for their country and each other - just ring true. And very real. They feel like friends, and eventually family. To each other and the reader.
I keep trying to think of a better way to put it, and I keep coming back to 'warm.' Reading the books of the Mangoverse feels 'warm.' It feels like coming home, even if Perach in no way resembles anywhere you've ever been. It feels like a place you would like to call home. More than that, it feels like a place that might let you. In this increasingly frightening world, this is a very important thing indeed. If you have need of a place like this (and I know a lot of readers do, particularly young LGBTQA and otherwise marginalized readers) I highly recommend giving the Mangoverse series a try.
unwise_samwise's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
mplj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
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
5.0
nyx_knight's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.25
maximum83's review against another edition
5.0
Ahhhhhh! Such a good book! So heartbreaking when it is meant to be! Heart warming when it's meant to be! Plus again with all the glorious representation! I love this world!
emnantel's review against another edition
5.0
Shira Glassman's books always feel like home. Picking up her new book after months away from her universe felt like reuniting with old friends. Her characters feel like real people, and I want to give them all a hug.
I really like how the queen solves mysteries hands-on, instead of hiring people to do it in her place - it makes her more accessible.
I also loved seeing the contrast with another culture, a fantasy-Portugal. It was really interesting, and Shira has a knack for describing places - especially flora.
I fell in love with the new characters at once - five pages into Hadar & Halleli's storyline, I was already so attached they brought me to tears.
I really like how the queen solves mysteries hands-on, instead of hiring people to do it in her place - it makes her more accessible.
I also loved seeing the contrast with another culture, a fantasy-Portugal. It was really interesting, and Shira has a knack for describing places - especially flora.
I fell in love with the new characters at once - five pages into Hadar & Halleli's storyline, I was already so attached they brought me to tears.
undertheteacup's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so happy these books exist because sometimes you really, deeply need some feel-good f/f fantasy fluff, and being able to depend on these books to fulfill that need contributes considerably to my wellbeing.
It was interesting to see a different kingdom than Shulamit's (it's been a long time since the City of Red Clay) and know for sure that the informality of Perach's court is a conscious authorial choice rather than resulting from lack of skill. Carolina's court was very appropriately icy-feeling.
It was interesting to see a different kingdom than Shulamit's (it's been a long time since the City of Red Clay) and know for sure that the informality of Perach's court is a conscious authorial choice rather than resulting from lack of skill. Carolina's court was very appropriately icy-feeling.
mousegoddess's review against another edition
4.0
The Mangoverse is like eating chicken soup when you're sick, comforting, filling, and just what you need. Not the worse analogy since I'm starting to wonder if my friend's toddler got me sick. oh well.
There were some pacing issues here and there in the story (mostly flashback bits, and I feel like authors have problems with those in general) but overall it was just what I was in the mood for. As always I find myself caring more about the characters than any twisty bits in the plot. Recommend.
There were some pacing issues here and there in the story (mostly flashback bits, and I feel like authors have problems with those in general) but overall it was just what I was in the mood for. As always I find myself caring more about the characters than any twisty bits in the plot. Recommend.
elianamargalit's review against another edition
5.0
It's always such a breath of fresh air to visit Shira Glassman's Perach. I usually think of reading her books like watching a Disney movie, except it's a Disney movie about Jewish LGBT people. The Olive Conspiracy did not disappoint--it was full of characters that made me smile and lines that made me laugh, and I loved every minute of it!