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ksschrag's review against another edition
3.0
It’s a decently written book. Told in a historical setting of Spanish conquest of Peru. The main characters are female and inevitably in love with each other (hence the reason for controversy by book banners, I’m sure). There’s swearing, talk of the brothel and a demon symbol claimed by the bad guy. None of these things seemed relatively out of character for a YA book found in a high school (KNOWING the kind of things said and talked about by students this age).
the_leaving_moon's review
2.0
DNF 60%
At least us Queer folks can publish mediocre books now, too.
Even though I had the audiobook, I can tell this book was a hundred pages too long.
At least us Queer folks can publish mediocre books now, too.
Even though I had the audiobook, I can tell this book was a hundred pages too long.
flacabeans's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
swordofichor's review
3.0
3.5 stars! This book was pretty good, a little slow at the start and the wrap-up was a bit rushed, but overall a nice fantasy with two sword-carrying women in love.
TW: Blood, Violence, death, parent death(past), sibling death (on page, graphic), suicide, child abuse, implied rape, branding, gore
TW: Blood, Violence, death, parent death(past), sibling death (on page, graphic), suicide, child abuse, implied rape, branding, gore
vaniavela's review
5.0
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By day, young and correct ladies of the 17th century. By night, elegant vigilantes.
Positive aspects:
Being inspired by the real life Valiant Ladies of Potosi, I loved reading this story of two heroic girls falling in love and fighting the forces of evil.
The characters were so brave and determined in their own way, despite coming from different backgrounds. I loved getting to know their unique ways of looking at the world.
Likewise, the relationship between Kiki and Ana was very strong. Their relationship meant everything to each other, and together they fought for what was right.
Negative Aspects:
I would have liked to see the romance develop on the page, rather than showing all those feelings from the beginning.
Likewise, the dialogue felt more appropriate to current times. I'm not asking for really accurate words, as it would be tedious, but having dialogue that resembles that century wouldn't have hurt anyone. Also, the setting did not feel like a 17th century Peruvian story. The details did not give us an authentic feel of the period.
Overall, Valiant Ladies was a book I enjoyed. If you like historical fantasy and action-packed stories about armed girls looking for an assassin, this book is for you.
rep: spanish-peruvian sapphic female mc, biracial dutch-peruvian (indigenous) lesbian female mc, spanish cishet male sc with gout who uses a walking aid, spanish and peruvian cast, mute peruvian female side character who uses sign language.
tw: alcohol consumption, blood, body horror, colonisation, cursing, death, grief, injury detail, kidnapping, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, misogyny,murder, sexism, suicide, violence, past death of parents, chronic illness, fire/explosion, forced institutionalization, gun violence, pregnancy mention, religious bigotry, sexual content.
By day, young and correct ladies of the 17th century. By night, elegant vigilantes.
Positive aspects:
Being inspired by the real life Valiant Ladies of Potosi, I loved reading this story of two heroic girls falling in love and fighting the forces of evil.
The characters were so brave and determined in their own way, despite coming from different backgrounds. I loved getting to know their unique ways of looking at the world.
Likewise, the relationship between Kiki and Ana was very strong. Their relationship meant everything to each other, and together they fought for what was right.
Negative Aspects:
I would have liked to see the romance develop on the page, rather than showing all those feelings from the beginning.
Likewise, the dialogue felt more appropriate to current times. I'm not asking for really accurate words, as it would be tedious, but having dialogue that resembles that century wouldn't have hurt anyone. Also, the setting did not feel like a 17th century Peruvian story. The details did not give us an authentic feel of the period.
Overall, Valiant Ladies was a book I enjoyed. If you like historical fantasy and action-packed stories about armed girls looking for an assassin, this book is for you.
rep: spanish-peruvian sapphic female mc, biracial dutch-peruvian (indigenous) lesbian female mc, spanish cishet male sc with gout who uses a walking aid, spanish and peruvian cast, mute peruvian female side character who uses sign language.
tw: alcohol consumption, blood, body horror, colonisation, cursing, death, grief, injury detail, kidnapping, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, misogyny,murder, sexism, suicide, violence, past death of parents, chronic illness, fire/explosion, forced institutionalization, gun violence, pregnancy mention, religious bigotry, sexual content.
lezreadalot's review against another edition
3.0
When Kiki pulls her hand back, it’s as though she takes a part of me with her, a little piece of my heart suspended on a string.
3.5 stars. Or like, 3.25? Not gonna lie, a lot of the enjoyment I got out of this stems from the fact that I knew it was based on real women, and that was super fascinating to me. The Valiant Ladies of Potosi, teen lesbian vigilantes in 17th century Bolivia who went around fighting bandits, seems like something a baby dyke would dream up, but they were real! I did mostly enjoy the plot of the book and what the author did with their story, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing.
Which is a complaint that I have about a lot of historical fiction, particularly when it comes to the dialogue. If I'm reading historical fiction, I want to feel immersed in the time and the language. And half the things that came out of these characters' mouths seemed like they belonged in 21st century America, not 17th century Bolivia. It was modern to a degree that just felt annoying and jarring. Granted, I don't know a lot about Latin American Spanish, and I guess you could make the argument that what we're reading is just a translation of what would have been said in Spanish. I guess. But I still just didn't like the writing much. Some of the plot events seemed so haphazard, and it was a little difficult to connect with some of the decisions they made. I guess there needed to be come conflict in the romance, but the way it was drawn out seemed to artificial and stilted, even more so because they eventually resolved it with so little fanfare. I also felt like... idk, this would have been a lot more effective without the constraints of being a YA book. It's not that I wanted it to get super graphic about the fights and the other types of violence that the girls witnessed, but I really felt like the book was perpetually holding itself back.
It wasn’t hell, I think . The phantom sensation of her skin against mine that tormented me so after she kissed me in the orange grove. It was heaven all along.
But there was a lot to like in the book. I really loved the two main characters, how stubborn and strong and headstrong they both were. Friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes, and even though the way the romantic arc was written wasn't my favourite thing, I still loved all the mutual pining, and how they were both so desperately gone for one another from day one. Lots of little things in the plot weren't particularly difficult to figure out, but it was still pretty entertaining. Lots of exciting moments. And again, I loved that they were both so capable. They did make mistakes and get themselves into bad situations, but they got themselves out, without anyone to save them but each other. That was great.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Almarie Guerra and Frankie Corzo, and it was really good. I loved both narrators and their renditions of the characters. Even though the book wasn't a new favourite, I still feel like I'm not ready to leave these characters, so they definitely made an impression on me. I'd definitely check out other books about the Valiant Ladies, if they're ever written.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
death, blood, violence and gore, sexual violence and rape (off page, implied and not explicit“I’m with you,” says Ana. “Every step of the way.”
a1102ng's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
this was very sweet… i think teen me would’ve loved to read something like this when i was younger. the plot does kinda go sideways and the ending is a bit handwavey… but like i will excuse it bc it’s YA sword lesbians. like it’s a fun time and there’s something nice about a happy ending where you wouldn’t expect one considering the historical context!
mariahreadit's review
4.0
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
]3.5 Melissa Grey really said sapphic latinx sword wielding vigilantes huh. The gall.
Follow Kiki and Ana's exciting adventures in the town of Potosí, as they fight to stop crimes (though they comit a few minor ones of their own oops), solve a murder, try to find their lost friend and crush the patriarchy. They even find enough time to fall in love along the way.
]3.5 Melissa Grey really said sapphic latinx sword wielding vigilantes huh. The gall.
Follow Kiki and Ana's exciting adventures in the town of Potosí, as they fight to stop crimes (though they comit a few minor ones of their own oops), solve a murder, try to find their lost friend and crush the patriarchy. They even find enough time to fall in love along the way.
aki_menzies's review
4.0
give me more women wielding swords, attacking the patriarchy, and falling in love
zorawitchin's review
3.0
I am beginning to think maybe I overread and don’t actually care about some of the books I’m taking cracks at and I plan to slow it down in the new year.