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natashaleighton_'s review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Fantasy loving, theatre nerds are going to ADORE this refreshingly inventive Fae related fantasy that explores Shakespeare’s London (and its gritty, unsavoury underbelly) to perfection!
As a fan of Fae based stories and all things Shakespeare, I practically leapt at the chance to read this
It’s set in 1605, (two years after the Death of Elizabeth I) and follows sixteen year old Joan Sands, whose Orisha-blessed ability to control metals has made her an expert swordsmith for The Globe Theatre—working alongside Shakespeare himself!
But,when a pact between the Fae and the Yoruba spirits (which had protected the human world for centuries) is broken, Joan inadvertently finds herself at the centre of the cities’ conflict.
For London has become the hunting ground for the newly freed Fae and Joan’s gifts make her the only one who can stop them.
I thought this was quite an engaging read with a fiercely independent (and loveable) protagonist that readers will no doubt be rooting for from the start. The complexity of Joan’s character, and the internal struggles she faces— both as a queer black woman grappling with self identity, and as one of the magic-blessed, whose powers are soo strongly tied to the Orisha (Ogun) , were handled really well.
The pacing is a bit of a whirlwind at times, which meant some characters weren’t as in depth as others but Brittany N. Williams’ sharp wit and attention to the historical details was really enjoyable (like Joan, as the daughter of a goldsmith living in Cheapside, a street famed for its gold workers. I also can’t stop imagining The Cheapside Hoard belonging to them.)
I think she also did a fabulous job in using the well documented chaos of the era to firmly establish and cement the mischievous (and historically bloodthirsty) Fae into the narrative. Further helped by tying their antics to several well known figures/ historical events (I won’t give any spoilers, but I was intrigued to see one infamous plot from a more magic/supernatural perspective.)
If you’re at all familiar with Shakespeare’s works (especially A Midsummer Night’s Dream) then you’re gonna be delighted by the many references (and character cameos) we encounter alongside the Bard, whose own role was actually larger than I had initially imagined.
Overall, an adventurous (but incredibly fast paced) read that will appeal to historical fantasy and Shakespeare aficionados. Just be sure to check the TWs first.
Also, thanks to The Tandem Collective and Faber & Faber for the gorgeous finished copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexism, Death, and Misogyny
Minor: Gore, Animal cruelty, and Alcohol
mattyb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Racial slurs, Confinement, Classism, Death, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Vomit, and Police brutality
maregred's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Blood, Violence, and Gore
Minor: Alcohol
rorikae's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
'That Self-Same Metal' by Brittany N. Williams is an exciting YA historical fantasy that brings the Fae into Shakespearean England.
Joan works behind the scenes for The King’s Men, Shakespeare's theater company. She is a skilled craftsperson but she also has the gift of being able to manipulate metal. In this version of Shakespearean London, magic abounds through connections with the Fae world and with Orisha. The human and Fae have lived in relative harmony but Fae attacks are on the rise. Joan gets pulled into the upheaval after she saves the son of a well-off man. But what is causing these issues and how can Joan help to set them right?
Williams has created an engaging world that takes the reality of Shakespearean London and injects it with a little bit of magic and Fae political intrigue. Joan is instantly likable and it's both fun and fascinating to follow along on her adventures. A historical note at the end helps to showcase how Williams seamlessly weaves the reality of that time (including real people) with magical worldbuilding. I also really appreciate how she pulls on Shakespeare's plays to fill out the Fae lore. This is an excellent start to a new series and one that I will definitely be following.
Joan works behind the scenes for The King’s Men, Shakespeare's theater company. She is a skilled craftsperson but she also has the gift of being able to manipulate metal. In this version of Shakespearean London, magic abounds through connections with the Fae world and with Orisha. The human and Fae have lived in relative harmony but Fae attacks are on the rise. Joan gets pulled into the upheaval after she saves the son of a well-off man. But what is causing these issues and how can Joan help to set them right?
Williams has created an engaging world that takes the reality of Shakespearean London and injects it with a little bit of magic and Fae political intrigue. Joan is instantly likable and it's both fun and fascinating to follow along on her adventures. A historical note at the end helps to showcase how Williams seamlessly weaves the reality of that time (including real people) with magical worldbuilding. I also really appreciate how she pulls on Shakespeare's plays to fill out the Fae lore. This is an excellent start to a new series and one that I will definitely be following.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Racism
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Misogyny
heather667's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Sexism, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, Racism, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol and Misogyny
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Animal cruelty, and Sexual assault
eternallyicarian's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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
4.75
So a fun fact about this book is that when I was at a Leigh Bardugo book signing early this year, she recommended this book to the people there. So naturally, I requested it on NetGalley once I saw the audiobook, despite it being a form of reading I am not yet accustomed to. However, despite it taking me a lot longer to read than a book typically takes, it was a great book. I loved reading about all of the characters, and I am very glad that this book did not fully fall into the all-to-common trope of making William Shakespeare himself a fraud, although the character is definitely a real person. The book also does a good job of acknowledging the racism of the times and condemns it without holding these characters to today’s morals in the way that a lot of books do.Also there is a queerness and not just for the fae, for everyone, as I have a personal hatred for when the fae are queer in a way that seems as if they are queer to distinguish them as something other than human, as opposed to showing queerness as a human trait. I mean, the fae are still equally queer which is also good, but it's everyone this time. There is also a high chance that the books may end with the main character in a polyamorous relationship, so I am really excited for that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Cultural appropriation, and Violence
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