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alphabetseeds's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
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
4.5
After being thrown wildly back into the plot of Witchmark, the pace barely lets up as Grace wrestles her way to the forefront of the story. Her whole life has been prepared for her in a very particular way - but try as she might to stay in the middle between the status quo and radical change, her choices at the end of Witchmark became the catalyst for her personal growth in this book.
Her views are challenged and she's constantly being undermined and manipulated by her father and former fiance, but that doesn't stop her from running circles - literally and metaphorically - around the major issues threatening Aeland and her people. Grace is a well realized person, and her transformation in this book felt perfect and well earned.
I'm charmed and breathless after this book. I need to get to the library ASAP.
Her views are challenged and she's constantly being undermined and manipulated by her father and former fiance, but that doesn't stop her from running circles - literally and metaphorically - around the major issues threatening Aeland and her people. Grace is a well realized person, and her transformation in this book felt perfect and well earned.
I'm charmed and breathless after this book. I need to get to the library ASAP.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: War
raptorq's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Murder and Confinement
Minor: War, Forced institutionalization, and Violence
meganpbell's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
I didn’t catch all of the court intrigue—it’s not what I come to this series for. I love the gas lamp aesthetic, the magic system, the representation, the main characters’ sincerity, and above all, these books’ interest in liberation. This second novel follows Dame Grace Hensley as she confronts the crimes her father committed, her own privilege, the debate between incremental vs radical change, and her attraction to the journalist Avia Jessop.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Murder
novella42's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was way more enjoyable than I thought it would be, and did a good job of convincing me to care about a rich girl developing her ethics and sense of justice. Especially considering all that Grace had to answer for in the first book, I thought it was ambitious of Polk to tackle her as a protagonist. And it was ambitious, but for all the right reasons, and written with the same poise and determination that Grace shows through the whole story. I was a little stunned by just how many threads came together by the end, and how hard Polk worked to earn the changes in these characters. Some things weren't quite earned, but at the scale of this book I can forgive that, especially since I enjoyed it so much.
I enjoyed the queer romance and could've used more of it and less political intrigue, but what's on the page is still fun. Grace and Ava have good chemistry together, and it was fun to imagine them together.
Huge props for the graceful and respectful depiction of disability, specifically an ambulatory wheelchair user. In most cases the tension around the disability came from the inaccessible environment and the worry of caretakers. The character in question still had agency, motives, skills, and a role to play in the story that wasn't really focused on the disability. As a lifelong ambulatory wheelchair user myself, this was very refreshing!
I enjoyed the queer romance and could've used more of it and less political intrigue, but what's on the page is still fun. Grace and Ava have good chemistry together, and it was fun to imagine them together.
Huge props for the graceful and respectful depiction of disability, specifically an ambulatory wheelchair user. In most cases the tension around the disability came from the inaccessible environment and the worry of caretakers. The character in question still had agency, motives, skills, and a role to play in the story that wasn't really focused on the disability. As a lifelong ambulatory wheelchair user myself, this was very refreshing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, War, Death, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Confinement, Body horror, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Violence, Grief, War, Colonisation, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Genocide, and Torture
Minor: Cancer, Torture, and Terminal illness
purplepenning's review against another edition
3.5
Still a fascinating series. Book 2 is just a lot more political intrigue than I usually enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Colonisation, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, and Murder
Minor: War and Cancer
therainbowshelf's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It was great getting a story focused on Grace! The political intrigue, romance, and world building were a lot of fun, and the flow of action was excellent. I did wish Miles and Tristan had been fleshed out a bit more, though. They felt like flat side characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Xenophobia
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Blood, and Mental illness
Minor: War
Murder attempt
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