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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
I'm utterly in love with this book. It deals with gender identity annd sexuality. There's so much beauty in the way it is written and how Mary finds herself. It's a dark romance. There can be triggering things, such as issues with gender identity and sexual assault. I love the way the story unfolds, how two timelines are used and come together beautifully into one. I could see myself reading this book again. Its delightful, dark, and sweet.
medium-paced
I received an advanced copy of The Unbinding of Mary Reade from Netgalley and Sky Pony Press in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVE anything pirates. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. Mary Reade and Anne Bonny? I dreamed about this stuff as a kid. I read other reviews before reading it and I know I shouldn't have now. So many bad reviews were given and I don't think they're really accurate.
If you're looking for pirate adventure, no you won't get it. But if you're interested in pirate life you'll get some of that. The book was more about the secret life that Mary lived as a man both before and during her pirate days. If you are okay with reading about this aspect, then the book is rather good! I was actually interested the entire time. The double life that Mary lived was fascinating.
I'm not against books with homosexual themes, or bisexual I should say. I just do not read much as my preferred genres are thrillers or historical fiction but I've been reading a lot of everything recently. I believe a lot of the nature argument of homosexuality. I'm not really sure anyone chooses to be gay or not. However, Mary falling in love with a girl seems a lot to do with nurture in this case. Mary's forced lifestyle as "Mark" led her down a path of a solely masculine lifestyle. She lived that life whether her choice or not and falling for Beth at 15 and then Anne at 17 seems as if it was because the life she lived. This portion was interesting to me. Her wanting for Nat as a child and at her older age though makes her a bisexual and it's as if the nurture argument is favored here.
Although lacking pirate adventure as noted, the pirate lifestyle still interested me and I really enjoyed the book. One thing that I found fault with was the writing style. Most of the book was written well and the pirate vernacular was used. I came to a line over halfway in that said "they were cool with each other". Ok, has I been reading a YA novel set in modern times, I wouldn't have looked twice but this line was so out of character to the book that I didn't like it. I know it was just one simple line but it felt so out of place like the author forgot what she was writing for a second. That was my only issue though.
I really wish people would look at the book for what it is more than wishing it was something else. I enjoyed it. If I want a pirate adventure, I'll read something else but this still has the backbones of a really great book and incorporates pirates which was interesting enough for me. I'm a tough critic and somehow again, I am going against popular opinion. I enjoyed the read!
I LOVE anything pirates. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. Mary Reade and Anne Bonny? I dreamed about this stuff as a kid. I read other reviews before reading it and I know I shouldn't have now. So many bad reviews were given and I don't think they're really accurate.
If you're looking for pirate adventure, no you won't get it. But if you're interested in pirate life you'll get some of that. The book was more about the secret life that Mary lived as a man both before and during her pirate days. If you are okay with reading about this aspect, then the book is rather good! I was actually interested the entire time. The double life that Mary lived was fascinating.
I'm not against books with homosexual themes, or bisexual I should say. I just do not read much as my preferred genres are thrillers or historical fiction but I've been reading a lot of everything recently. I believe a lot of the nature argument of homosexuality. I'm not really sure anyone chooses to be gay or not. However, Mary falling in love with a girl seems a lot to do with nurture in this case. Mary's forced lifestyle as "Mark" led her down a path of a solely masculine lifestyle. She lived that life whether her choice or not and falling for Beth at 15 and then Anne at 17 seems as if it was because the life she lived. This portion was interesting to me. Her wanting for Nat as a child and at her older age though makes her a bisexual and it's as if the nurture argument is favored here.
Although lacking pirate adventure as noted, the pirate lifestyle still interested me and I really enjoyed the book. One thing that I found fault with was the writing style. Most of the book was written well and the pirate vernacular was used. I came to a line over halfway in that said "they were cool with each other". Ok, has I been reading a YA novel set in modern times, I wouldn't have looked twice but this line was so out of character to the book that I didn't like it. I know it was just one simple line but it felt so out of place like the author forgot what she was writing for a second. That was my only issue though.
I really wish people would look at the book for what it is more than wishing it was something else. I enjoyed it. If I want a pirate adventure, I'll read something else but this still has the backbones of a really great book and incorporates pirates which was interesting enough for me. I'm a tough critic and somehow again, I am going against popular opinion. I enjoyed the read!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Rape
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
DNF very early in - rapid timeline hopping is a pet peeve of mine, especially when the chapters are this short and there's no chance to get to know anyone.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No