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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm quite torn on this one. It's basically "What if Jane Eyre's early life was just a little more awful and Mr. Rochester had substance to go with his angst?"
I am all for the second part, and I loved Jane's murdering. What I didn't love was the ending.
I also wasn't pleased that the negative consequences of the ending fell on the non-white characters alone. Not to mention that after pages and pages about Jane's languishing in anguish over her unrequited love, the novel's treatment of gay characters isn't great. It's pretty gross to elicit the specter of centuries of pain endured by women forced into the closet just to help the straight MC feel good about herself.
I am all for the second part, and I loved Jane's murdering. What I didn't love was the ending.
Spoiler
Everything came together far too neatly: The Inspector turns out to be anachronistically feminist, the Director of the EIC is on their side, Jane's inheritance means she is not financially dependent on Charles, and Jane's bastardy means she doesn't need to worry about fighting Charles for ownership of the house.I also wasn't pleased that the negative consequences of the ending fell on the non-white characters alone. Not to mention that after pages and pages about Jane's languishing in anguish over her unrequited love, the novel's treatment of gay characters isn't great.
Spoiler
We learn late in the novel that Jane's estranged childhood friend Clark is in love with her. The fact that Clark is just as in love with Jane as Jane is with Charles is used to help Jane realize that she is fundamentally lovable... and that's about it.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Absolutely loved this
Best review would be the summary I used to convince others to read this: it’s a meta Jane Eyre but if she was chill with murder. Absolutely gorgeous, following the basic plot of Jane Eyre but with the very welcome additions of realistic sexuality and POC characters. All of the agency you’ve ever wanted for a heroine is present in this book.
adventurous
funny
fast-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
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 stars? I actually really enjoyed this as pulpy Victorian parody, but the last third began to drag...a bit too much tidying up loose ends and making sure our happy ending is a bit saucy. I enjoyed the first two thirds. The exploration of colonialism and Sikh culture was also an interesting choice. Sardar was my favorite character and I'd love to see his adventures. Same goes for Quillfeather. The other men in this story I could do without.
There's always a bit of a problem when your work of literature relies on another. It invites comparison to, in this case, Jane Eyre. It can feel very gratuitous at times. We get it Jane, you're be Jane Eyre with attitude. Please stop beating me over the head with epigraphs.
I found this to be a fun afternoon read, but there's a few explicitly dark elements. Murder, sexual assault, casual laundanum use, domestic violence... it's mostly a fade to Black or not seen but recounted later. But if that bothers you, I'd avoid. If not, enjoy.
There's always a bit of a problem when your work of literature relies on another. It invites comparison to, in this case, Jane Eyre. It can feel very gratuitous at times. We get it Jane, you're be Jane Eyre with attitude. Please stop beating me over the head with epigraphs.
I found this to be a fun afternoon read, but there's a few explicitly dark elements. Murder, sexual assault, casual laundanum use, domestic violence... it's mostly a fade to Black or not seen but recounted later. But if that bothers you, I'd avoid. If not, enjoy.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
funny
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:
Yes
3.5, rounded up.
I started this book a lifetime ago - and just didn’t get in to it. I didn’t DISLIKE it, but I also couldn’t get myself to choose it. So I finally finished it and when it gets to like the last 25% of the book: what a change. The rest of the story was necessary to set up the ending - but once it got to that point: wow. Love the way the storyline wrapped and regret not spending more time with the story years ago.
I started this book a lifetime ago - and just didn’t get in to it. I didn’t DISLIKE it, but I also couldn’t get myself to choose it. So I finally finished it and when it gets to like the last 25% of the book: what a change. The rest of the story was necessary to set up the ending - but once it got to that point: wow. Love the way the storyline wrapped and regret not spending more time with the story years ago.