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sun_shadow's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Ableism
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and War
Minor: Child death and Pregnancy
slee907's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, War, and Confinement
friends2lovers's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, War, Panic attacks/disorders, and Homophobia
Minor: Racism, Grief, and Child death
mallorypen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
When Harper Fox is good … she is so good.
Immediately, the concept of archeologist-turned army captain-turned shell shocked veteran made for a compelling character; add in Rufus’ self-recrimination, repression, and trauma, and he was the kind of hero I wanted to hug and shield from all the bad things of the world. To see him find such a wonderfully soft place to land with Archie and the archeological wonders of the church and its labyrinth was delightful.
I loved the cosy warmth of the book, despite the tough subject matter of post-WWII PTSD, raging homophobia, misogyny and small-village in-fighting. I fell in love with Archie’s character just as Rufus did, and I adored the tenderness with which Harper Fox treated their love story.
The side characters are almost as wonderful as the MCs - Alice, with her grief and drinking juxtaposed with her love for life and her sweetness; Mrs. Nettles with her kindness and absolute bullish defense against snobbery; Drusilla and Elspeth’s strange mysticism; the vile inn’s landlady; the doctor so obsessed with morality; even Pippin! They all made for well-rounded champions and villains and antiheroes in their own right.
The archeological elements were enjoyable and believable.
What WASN’T so believable - and took me slightly out of the story - was the amazing gender-affirming labyrinth. I thought including a trans character like Giles was amazing, but magically giving him a man’s body felt a little on the nose.
All said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am so happy to roll right into Book Two!
Immediately, the concept of archeologist-turned army captain-turned shell shocked veteran made for a compelling character; add in Rufus’ self-recrimination, repression, and trauma, and he was the kind of hero I wanted to hug and shield from all the bad things of the world. To see him find such a wonderfully soft place to land with Archie and the archeological wonders of the church and its labyrinth was delightful.
I loved the cosy warmth of the book, despite the tough subject matter of post-WWII PTSD, raging homophobia, misogyny and small-village in-fighting. I fell in love with Archie’s character just as Rufus did, and I adored the tenderness with which Harper Fox treated their love story.
The side characters are almost as wonderful as the MCs - Alice, with her grief and drinking juxtaposed with her love for life and her sweetness; Mrs. Nettles with her kindness and absolute bullish defense against snobbery; Drusilla and Elspeth’s strange mysticism; the vile inn’s landlady; the doctor so obsessed with morality; even Pippin! They all made for well-rounded champions and villains and antiheroes in their own right.
The archeological elements were enjoyable and believable.
What WASN’T so believable - and took me slightly out of the story - was the amazing gender-affirming labyrinth. I thought including a trans character like Giles was amazing, but magically giving him a man’s body felt a little on the nose.
All said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am so happy to roll right into Book Two!
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Violence, Homophobia, Transphobia, Sexism, Sexual content, and Suicide
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