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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
librarianmage's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Body horror
Moderate: Death, Blood, Genocide, and Violence
Minor: Torture, War, and Cancer
bookwyrmknits's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed this second installment in the series, though not as much as book 1. It took me a while to figure out why: I enjoyed the plot, and Dame Grace was an interesting (if often clueless) MC to follow. The side characters were great. Took me a while to realize it's because I didn't like Avia as much as a love interest. (Unlike Tristan in book 1, whom I loved.) The hard-boiled reporter trope has never been my cup of tea, especially as a love interest, so this is very much a me-thing. Still an enjoyable read—especially since Avia loosens up part-way through, and I got to know her as a person instead of just as a reporter.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Terminal illness
romiress's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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
3.25
Did I like this? It's hard to say. I liked the mystery, and the idea of it, but in reality I didn't really like the book. The writing kind of lost me along the way, and I'm not sure I'll bother going for book three.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Genocide and Murder
Minor: Cancer and Torture
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 attemptmaryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Cancer
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
In the stunning, whirling politics of this series, we get to see a revolution in motion. In this one, the first cracks are showing in an old system, and both politicians and protestors scramble to react. Here, we follow Dame Grace Hensley, now the Chancellor, who only answers to the Queen. Overworked and trying to balance the demands of many factions, she reacts with poise and laser-sharp insight. Also, thanks to her brother Miles, she is trying to find a new, moral path for herself. The story addresses generational suffering and wealth as Grace tries to understand her own privileges. It also covers the debate between gradual vs immediate change in terms of civil rights policy.
Grace was an excellent, imperfect heroine. In certain aspects, she has seen the error of her ways, and in others, she clings to the familiar establishment that granted her and her family all their power and influence. She also gets a light, lovely sapphic romance with a determined reporter that weaves through the high stakes of the politics-- a luminous, hopeful ribbon in the chaos.
It's also a delightful gaslamp fantasy. I felt more immersed in this one than even the first. It was nice to feel fully prepared to approach the magic system and legal components without a gradual release of information to clue me in. I love the descriptions of fashion and also, oddly for me, modes of transportation. The first book gifted us with bicycle traffic, and this one upped the ante with transport via luxurious sled (snow goggles optional but recommended).
Grace was an excellent, imperfect heroine. In certain aspects, she has seen the error of her ways, and in others, she clings to the familiar establishment that granted her and her family all their power and influence. She also gets a light, lovely sapphic romance with a determined reporter that weaves through the high stakes of the politics-- a luminous, hopeful ribbon in the chaos.
It's also a delightful gaslamp fantasy. I felt more immersed in this one than even the first. It was nice to feel fully prepared to approach the magic system and legal components without a gradual release of information to clue me in. I love the descriptions of fashion and also, oddly for me, modes of transportation. The first book gifted us with bicycle traffic, and this one upped the ante with transport via luxurious sled (snow goggles optional but recommended).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content, Torture, and War
ehmannky's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
I think I liked Stormsong more than I liked Witchmark, which is saying quite a bit since I loved the first book in this installment quite a lot. I liked the departure from Miles to Grace, as I felt that it's a great way to acknowledge that Miles' emotional arc and growth is for the most part at an end in terms of the story and Grace needed the space to grow. It was super fun to see him and Tristan still there, being cute and still being active in the story (also, yay! Grace and Tristan are friends now). I liked Grace a lot. I liked how she reckoned with her privilege, and her growing awareness that while she did not cause the sins of her fathers, she is responsible for rectifying the ongoing wrong. And this is explicitly said in the text to Grace's face and she accepts it. It's wonderful to see.
Also, Grace and Avia's relationship is so beautiful. I love that Grace wants her for the same reason she wants to build a better family with Tristan and Miles--because she loves them and they make her a better person. It's just an all around gorgeous read.
Also, Grace and Avia's relationship is so beautiful. I love that Grace wants her for the same reason she wants to build a better family with Tristan and Miles--because she loves them and they make her a better person. It's just an all around gorgeous read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Death
Minor: Torture and Medical content