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critcritter2015's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
veggiestrawenjoyer13's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book was really good and had amazing characters/plot. I was hooked almost immediately and could really get into the writing style. I enjoyed Esther’s inner thoughts and the narration of everything. However, the reason it’s not rated higher is the length. I feel like I would’ve been more emotionally attached to the characters (much sooner) if there had been more. The book could have started with Esther’s backstory and her escape. I also could’ve done with a little more worldbuilding because (maybe it was just me) I didn’t fully understand until about halfway through. I liked the ending a lot, but there could’ve been more in the middle where we got to see more of the group. I still loved everyone, and this book got me out of a reading slump!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, and Homophobia
maddy_bw's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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? No
5.0
lee_noel's review
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? No
5.0
dreaming_ace's review
5.0
Another super interesting story by Sarah Gailey. I love their "western" style stories from their previous Hippo ones to this one where queer libraries save the world. If you want a quick but highly enjoyable read, read anything by Sarah Gailey.
sklus's review
5.0
My only complaint is that this book isn't long enough. And that's not because it skipped too many details or ended in a bad place, it's just because I could read at least a thousand pages about queer women (and non-binary people) riding horses and being against fascism.
Now to list some of my favorite things about the books:
1) They talked about horses. Enough said.
2) Cye is a non-binary character and I think they're given a well-rounded and fleshed out personality, which is grumpy sweetheart (my personal favorite).
3) The main character Ester is the level of clueless that I am. They really repped the book-smart without a lick of common sense girls, and for that I am thankful.
4) The whole premise of the book was mildly absurd in the best way possible. Upright Women Wanted is a serious book, with a decent amount of violence and heavy subject matters for only 200 pages. But the premise of a group of women called "Librarians" who ride from town to town on horses to deliver books, movies, and other forms of entertainment was funny compared to the image most commonly associated with librarian.
5) Probably the most important reason this book was amazing was the representation of LGBT+ and POC characters. During Pride Month, reading a book that says not being straight and cisgendered is okay serves as a reminder of how far we've come and how far we have to go. And I will always support a book that prominently features non-white characters, because everyone deserves representation (with the exception of people who are racist, homophobic, transphobic, and/or misogynistic because they deserve zero representation). Black lives matter.
Now to list some of my favorite things about the books:
1) They talked about horses. Enough said.
2) Cye is a non-binary character and I think they're given a well-rounded and fleshed out personality, which is grumpy sweetheart (my personal favorite).
3) The main character Ester is the level of clueless that I am. They really repped the book-smart without a lick of common sense girls, and for that I am thankful.
4) The whole premise of the book was mildly absurd in the best way possible. Upright Women Wanted is a serious book, with a decent amount of violence and heavy subject matters for only 200 pages. But the premise of a group of women called "Librarians"
Spoiler
who are mostly queer and all part of a resistance against a fascist regime5) Probably the most important reason this book was amazing was the representation of LGBT+ and POC characters. During Pride Month, reading a book that says not being straight and cisgendered is okay serves as a reminder of how far we've come and how far we have to go. And I will always support a book that prominently features non-white characters, because everyone deserves representation (with the exception of people who are racist, homophobic, transphobic, and/or misogynistic because they deserve zero representation). Black lives matter.
lifesarosch's review
adventurous
fast-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? No
4.5
I wish it was longer. The concept was so good (librarians battling fascists in an alternate US southwest) that I just wanted it to keep going and going.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexism
hollyn_middle's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
bc288's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5