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meliflowers's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.5
Regardless of all that, it's a fun and cute read with an exciting setting (despite some of the horrific themes).
Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racism and Violence
Minor: Kidnapping
Although the abuse is very apparent in the story and actually fucked up, it's still a lighthearted story. Like the author doesn't really focus on the impact of all the abuse has on psychology and mostly focuses on developing the plot.gemstonejasper's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Was this book well written? No. Did it have good worldbuilding? No. Did I feel like I was in the early 1900s? No. Was it 100 pages too long? Yes. Could I predict the entire plot? Yes. But could I put it down? No.
I read this in three days (and it's around 500 pages). That's saying something because I have dyslexia and am a really slow reader. The story follows the love story of Jack and Wilhelm, the assistants to two rival magicians performing at the same fair in 1909. I personally think that's all you should go in knowing.
If I were a critic and rating this book solely on technical aspects, I would give it a 2.5-3 star rating. The writing is nothing special. It seemed like the characters repeated the same thing too many times. Therefore it could have probably been 100 pages shorter. I got immensely frustrated with every major character. It didn't even come close to making me feel like it took place in 1909 Seattle. I could predict the entire plot from a mile away (except for how exactly they defeated the villian).
That being said, I'm not a critic. I'm a general reader who picked up this book to be entertained. So I chose to rate it based on my enjoyment level. 4.5 stars. I can't pinpoint exactly why, but I really did enjoy this book and would read it again. I literally couldn't rip myself away. Maybe it was the two adorable queer romances. Maybe it was the magical feel of the world. Maybe I was genuinely terrified of the villian. Maybe I even grew attached to the two main characters and wanted to see them succeed.
There is one reason I'm not giving this a 5 star and that is because of a conscious choice the author made. The story takes place in 1909, meaning no person of color would have been treated as mildly as Ruth was treated by the white characters. There is also no way that the two queer couples (one of which is interracial) could have been out in the open without severe consequences. The author's note at the back of the book explains his reasoning behind this. He wanted to write a happy queer story. While I respect the decision he made, I also would not have chosen that direction myself. Because of this, I had a hard time immersing myself in the story. I had to take half a star for that decision.
2nd Reading Edit
I think I was too harsh in my first review. I don't think I was quite fair. During my first read-through, I read the physical book. It felt long and sluggish and like it was repeating things over and over. This time around, I listened to the audiobook and I think that's the way to go. The audio felt so much smoother and worked much better for me. That being said, the guy who voiced Wilhelm's chapters didn't feel right. He just didn't seem to match his personality. He was a good voice actor, just not quite right for Wilhelm in my opinion. The guy who read Jack's chapters matched pretty well
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
hannahs_library_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
robin_reads's review against another edition
- 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
The constant abuse of both protagonists was difficult to read at times, not gonna lie but still it was wonderful.
If I could wish for anything it would be two more pages, thanks
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Found familytkhenry99's review against another edition
3.5
the story was fun and everything, but i felt like the characters relationships developed really fast for no reason. everyone jack meets he immediately becomes besties with? and he was supposed to have a familial bond with lucia and evangeline, but
i often thought the dialogue was weird and forced, like the author was trying too hard to be poetic.
the end also starts to drag, i found myself skimming a lot just to get to the end. the dual POV didn’t help
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
johnnyharker's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Kidnapping, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
nugat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
bookstosoothethesoul's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Child abuse
cecilia895's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Blood, and Gaslighting
eleven_hummingbird's review against another edition
On digital storefronts, this book is marketed as "turn-of-the-nineteenth-cenury." This is inaccurate. The story starts in 1909, being rather the turn of the twentieth century. I hope the print copy did not fail to miss such an oversight. That digital marketplaces have not amended this mistake is, frankly, gross negligence.
Another complaint on the digital edition is the contents page. Rather than being listed in any sort of useful structure, the chapters are simply listed in an alternating crescendo of "Jack; Wilhelm; Jack; Wilhelm;" and so forth.
These were the first red flags, and we've not even started reading the book yet. Unfortunately, things do not improve.
The prose is nothing more than serviceable, and the dialogue is just disinteresting.
The historical setting is not utilized in any interesting nor creative way beyond aesthetics, and even these are not described in an engaging manner.
The narrative itself is not impressive either. Orphan narratives can be told well, but these boys are just abused and taken advantage of for little reason other than to make one feel sorry for them.
Wilhelm is physically and verbally abused. He is forced to wear a restraint, yet he apparently has the magical power to teleport at will. While the complexities of an abusive relationship might keep him from escaping for psychological reasons, it makes no sense for him to suffer the restraint. Further, it is not explained why Wilhelm feels he has to keep his talent a secret.
Unfortunately, the characters are just not likeable, rather leaning more towards insufferable. Jack is introduced as a calous heartbreaker. He is taken up under the Enchantress, who seems like a mysterious, intelligent, and daring lady, but on introduction is shown to be shallow, manipulative, and mean. Wilhelm does not have much to say, nor think. His abuser, meanwhile, is described as "plain, forgettable even." The cast expands early on with the introduction of Ruth. She is pleasant enough, but is sexualized and plagued by white-saviorism.
I hope this book gets better, but these are my impressions fifteen-percent through, and I am not inclined to continue further.
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
Minor: Racism