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lilly1900's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
W o w.
It's raw, it's in your face, and it's so deeply personal. This book really goes for the gut.
It's urgent and passionate right from the beginning. After the prologue, the author switches back over to 2004 as a kind of flashback. It might seem kind of jarring, because you've just started to get comfortable with her lovely picture of the 1920s, but eventually I realized I couldn't appreciate 1921 until I'd seen 2004. Courtney's "present" gets increasingly ominous and there's a hint of something very wrong just outside what you can see. Things take a while to "explode" but once they did, I couldn't put it down. So many things were happening, so many friends and allies and enemies on the move, all of them introduced so smoothly and beautifully.
I think my favorite thing was how the author painted each time period. 2004 was dark and unsettling - like I said - but bright, somehow. Like, too bright, like something unpleasant. It was accented and flavored with a punk rock and alternative vibe, which made the college campus feel really nostalgic and relatable without making you want to *stay*. Then when you get to the 20s, it feels totally different - it's sunny and cheerful and warm, and you never want to leave. I felt like I'd come home. I want a squad like Sadie and Mary and Nettie! And Hazel! Oh, my. The heroine I need in my life. <3
I felt like the book ended when things were getting really really good and I didn't want it to stop! I want more! Not to be *that* girl or anything, but please give me more now!
It's raw, it's in your face, and it's so deeply personal. This book really goes for the gut.
It's urgent and passionate right from the beginning. After the prologue, the author switches back over to 2004 as a kind of flashback. It might seem kind of jarring, because you've just started to get comfortable with her lovely picture of the 1920s, but eventually I realized I couldn't appreciate 1921 until I'd seen 2004. Courtney's "present" gets increasingly ominous and there's a hint of something very wrong just outside what you can see. Things take a while to "explode" but once they did, I couldn't put it down. So many things were happening, so many friends and allies and enemies on the move, all of them introduced so smoothly and beautifully.
I think my favorite thing was how the author painted each time period. 2004 was dark and unsettling - like I said - but bright, somehow. Like, too bright, like something unpleasant. It was accented and flavored with a punk rock and alternative vibe, which made the college campus feel really nostalgic and relatable without making you want to *stay*. Then when you get to the 20s, it feels totally different - it's sunny and cheerful and warm, and you never want to leave. I felt like I'd come home. I want a squad like Sadie and Mary and Nettie! And Hazel! Oh, my. The heroine I need in my life. <3
I felt like the book ended when things were getting really really good and I didn't want it to stop! I want more! Not to be *that* girl or anything, but please give me more now!
txa1265's review
5.0
The problem with finishing a ‘first in series’ is that you immediately want MORE! When I started the book there was an intentionally jarring back & forth, but the main characters were so intriguing you are carried along for the ride. Then things change and there are more characters and I could only hope that we would get back to the others ... and by halfway through you are tracking the detailed arcs of more than a half-dozen main characters and organizations and side-plots and minor characters - and yet it all flows incredibly naturally.
Sometimes I almost fear the end of a book because I am not ready to leave the world and characters - but in this case I was anticipating the final chapters because I was excited how these amazing women would be set up for the next set of stories. Without spoiling, the conclusion was satisfying because while there is a lot left that they will learn and face, this book by itself is complete and had a great conclusion.
But again it all comes back to the relationships and the women who need to find the strength inside themselves they had been told didn’t exist. Courtney is a great character, but she is not alone in carrying the story. All of her close friends and the key adults have deep histories and worlds of adventure to discover.
This first book exceeded my expectations and is one of the best I have read this year - and I look forward with great anticipation to the rest of the series!
Sometimes I almost fear the end of a book because I am not ready to leave the world and characters - but in this case I was anticipating the final chapters because I was excited how these amazing women would be set up for the next set of stories. Without spoiling, the conclusion was satisfying because while there is a lot left that they will learn and face, this book by itself is complete and had a great conclusion.
But again it all comes back to the relationships and the women who need to find the strength inside themselves they had been told didn’t exist. Courtney is a great character, but she is not alone in carrying the story. All of her close friends and the key adults have deep histories and worlds of adventure to discover.
This first book exceeded my expectations and is one of the best I have read this year - and I look forward with great anticipation to the rest of the series!
sadeyebrows's review
5.0
I adore this book. If you like mystery, time traveling, Sapphic romance, and the 20s, you'll enjoy reading this. The main character, Courtney, in 2004, finds an old yearbook while working in Archives at her school. With this discovery, things in her life become more complicated and dark. You start to question if Courtney is meant to be in 2004 or in the 1920s.
elisa_menz's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Where do I even start?
First, and advice: you will grab this book, read the blurb, and think "This looks interesting." Then you start reading and you'll be mighty confused. Where is the time travel? Did it already happen and I missed it? Why does this college campus feel so... like a dream? Why is everyone (even the doggies!) so absolutely, appallingly cruel to Courtney?
I won't lie, the first third was slow-paced, baffling, and yet, utterly beautiful and heartwrenching. The plot sways back and forth between Courtney's present and... her past? Her dreams? Just don't fight it and enjoy the words.
Then the plot smacks you in the face with all the revelations, arcane powers, and parallel worlds, and suddenly everything makes sense! You have your answers and the loveliest heroines arise.
There's such a tangible dissonance whenever Courtney is in the "other" world. It felt so wrong but it was so masterfully written. It's a real pleasure to find books that elicit such a visceral response.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely, but read it with an open mind that sees beyond the page. You may be touched by some of the loneliness and pain in this book but, in the end, these girls' story is about courage, friendship, and love.
First, and advice: you will grab this book, read the blurb, and think "This looks interesting." Then you start reading and you'll be mighty confused. Where is the time travel? Did it already happen and I missed it? Why does this college campus feel so... like a dream? Why is everyone (even the doggies!) so absolutely, appallingly cruel to Courtney?
I won't lie, the first third was slow-paced, baffling, and yet, utterly beautiful and heartwrenching. The plot sways back and forth between Courtney's present and... her past? Her dreams? Just don't fight it and enjoy the words.
Then the plot smacks you in the face with all the revelations, arcane powers, and parallel worlds, and suddenly everything makes sense! You have your answers and the loveliest heroines arise.
There's such a tangible dissonance whenever Courtney is in the "other" world. It felt so wrong but it was so masterfully written. It's a real pleasure to find books that elicit such a visceral response.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely, but read it with an open mind that sees beyond the page. You may be touched by some of the loneliness and pain in this book but, in the end, these girls' story is about courage, friendship, and love.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Child abuse
whiteflowerose's review
3.0
Full disclosure: This book was sent to me for free by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Time traveller sorceresses sapphic flappers!
Caught your attention?
Well, it caught mine when @cassieyorke1921 first contacted me and I’m so happy I accepted reviewing her book.
Fantasy/Sci-Fi isn’t my cup of tea… but let’s be honest, I can’t resist anything sapphic.
Honestly, it took me a while to get into, I’ve been working on my PhD so I couldn’t read for long periods of time, and the timelines jump kept throwing me off.
But once I got into it and got the hang of things, it was amazing.
Truly original and unique and sooo funny.
It became my favorite escapism after working all day.
So thank you Cassandra for getting me through a week of literal hell.
Once again,
Time traveller sorceresses sapphic flappers!
Go read it!!
Time traveller sorceresses sapphic flappers!
Caught your attention?
Well, it caught mine when @cassieyorke1921 first contacted me and I’m so happy I accepted reviewing her book.
Fantasy/Sci-Fi isn’t my cup of tea… but let’s be honest, I can’t resist anything sapphic.
Honestly, it took me a while to get into, I’ve been working on my PhD so I couldn’t read for long periods of time, and the timelines jump kept throwing me off.
But once I got into it and got the hang of things, it was amazing.
Truly original and unique and sooo funny.
It became my favorite escapism after working all day.
So thank you Cassandra for getting me through a week of literal hell.
Once again,
Time traveller sorceresses sapphic flappers!
Go read it!!
y3llow_umbr3lla's review
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I loved the premise of this book and really wanted to love the story. But the main character was very judgy and shallow. The author brought in story pieces that could have had a huge impact on the story, like the main character coming from an abusive household, or the characters being lesbians in the 1920s but those things were never explored. There's also way too much casual mention of SA. I didn't feel connected enough to care about the characters. The setting was confusing and explained in a very slow paced, long-winded way. The plot was hardly existent at all. I wanted so badly to enjoy this story, but I just didn't find it enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Cursing, Murder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, War, Bullying, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
althea's review
5.0
4.5/5 Stars
I’d heard some really great things about his book before I picked it up, and the synopsis alone sounds absolutely fantastic, but nothing could have prepared me for what a fun, whirlwind of a ride this book was! Mary, Everything opens in 2004, and follows Courtney who is spending her Summer working in her university’s dusty archives. While out on her lunchbreak one day, she bumps into Sadie – who feels slightly out of place and is dressed in a seriously cool vintage outfit – and the two become quick friends. As Courtney’s work continues, she finds an old yearbook, dating from the 1920s, and she can’t help but think some of those faces are strangely familiar. As a psychopathic stalker starts zoning in on Courtney, and her life becomes more and more endangered, Courtney teams up with a sorceress who fought in WW1, a retired professor and two girls who claim to be her best friend and her true love, to try and make it back to where she truly belongs.
I was instantly sold by the tagline ‘sapphic flappers’, because, come on, who isn’t dying for some 1920s f/f with a bit of magic thrown in there! But I also felt that Cassandra managed to capture the essence of the early 2000s so perfectly; subverting the trope of the stuck up, preppy mean girl and instead making her a sweet yet tough girl who can stand up for herself in a fight, compliments girl’s outfits as she passes them on the street, and listens to punk music on her iPod on the way to work! It was an absolute joy to read from Courtney’s perspective – I loved her take no shit from men attitude, juxtaposed by her love of women and the kindness with which she treats them. I also really loved Sadie – she was a real darling – and I loved her eagerness and curiosity when it came to Courtney’s life. The little bits of 1920s slang peppered into the dialogue was such a nice touch, and I really think that we should bring some of it back (come on, ducky is just such an adorable word!)! Even the characterisation of the villains in the book was done so well – they perfectly emulated and personified what every woman fears about men, and so you felt Courtney and Sadie’s fear alongside them while reading.
The plot kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! I love time travel books, although I haven’t found too many that I click with, and I think Cassandra’s take on time travel was so inventive, instead taking the parallel-universe theory and different ‘strings’ of universes to explain Courtney’s story. The magic system which related to this time travelling was so interesting too (I don’t want to spoil anything about it, though, as I think it’s fun to discover it alongside Sadie and Courtney), and I can’t wait to learn more about it in the sequel! Furthermore, Cassandra’s writing is just absolutely stunning – the book is full of lush metaphors and gorgeous similes and you can’t help but want to bask in the beautiful wordplay that she has created!
I love, love, loved the inclusion of a sapphic love triangle in the book! They are so few and far between (a tragedy in itself) and I think it was a really fun addition to the book, although I’m not sure who I want to end up together as end-game – I love them all so much! The romance did take a slight back seat to the rest of the plot, however, so if romance isn’t really your cup of tea and you’re looking for a really fun, action packed story, then I think that this one will be really up your street!
Overall, this was a really fun historical-fiction-fantasy-sci-fi novel that I absolutely flew through, devouring Courtney and Sadie’s story from start to finish! It’s a real gutsy, feminist, sapphic story that I know is going to speak to so many people and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
TW: assault, sexual assault, rape threats, violence, guns, weapons, drug use mention, abusive parents, very mild gore
Thank you to the author for providing me a copy of this book! This did not impact my review and all views are my own!
I’d heard some really great things about his book before I picked it up, and the synopsis alone sounds absolutely fantastic, but nothing could have prepared me for what a fun, whirlwind of a ride this book was! Mary, Everything opens in 2004, and follows Courtney who is spending her Summer working in her university’s dusty archives. While out on her lunchbreak one day, she bumps into Sadie – who feels slightly out of place and is dressed in a seriously cool vintage outfit – and the two become quick friends. As Courtney’s work continues, she finds an old yearbook, dating from the 1920s, and she can’t help but think some of those faces are strangely familiar. As a psychopathic stalker starts zoning in on Courtney, and her life becomes more and more endangered, Courtney teams up with a sorceress who fought in WW1, a retired professor and two girls who claim to be her best friend and her true love, to try and make it back to where she truly belongs.
I was instantly sold by the tagline ‘sapphic flappers’, because, come on, who isn’t dying for some 1920s f/f with a bit of magic thrown in there! But I also felt that Cassandra managed to capture the essence of the early 2000s so perfectly; subverting the trope of the stuck up, preppy mean girl and instead making her a sweet yet tough girl who can stand up for herself in a fight, compliments girl’s outfits as she passes them on the street, and listens to punk music on her iPod on the way to work! It was an absolute joy to read from Courtney’s perspective – I loved her take no shit from men attitude, juxtaposed by her love of women and the kindness with which she treats them. I also really loved Sadie – she was a real darling – and I loved her eagerness and curiosity when it came to Courtney’s life. The little bits of 1920s slang peppered into the dialogue was such a nice touch, and I really think that we should bring some of it back (come on, ducky is just such an adorable word!)! Even the characterisation of the villains in the book was done so well – they perfectly emulated and personified what every woman fears about men, and so you felt Courtney and Sadie’s fear alongside them while reading.
The plot kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! I love time travel books, although I haven’t found too many that I click with, and I think Cassandra’s take on time travel was so inventive, instead taking the parallel-universe theory and different ‘strings’ of universes to explain Courtney’s story. The magic system which related to this time travelling was so interesting too (I don’t want to spoil anything about it, though, as I think it’s fun to discover it alongside Sadie and Courtney), and I can’t wait to learn more about it in the sequel! Furthermore, Cassandra’s writing is just absolutely stunning – the book is full of lush metaphors and gorgeous similes and you can’t help but want to bask in the beautiful wordplay that she has created!
I love, love, loved the inclusion of a sapphic love triangle in the book! They are so few and far between (a tragedy in itself) and I think it was a really fun addition to the book, although I’m not sure who I want to end up together as end-game – I love them all so much! The romance did take a slight back seat to the rest of the plot, however, so if romance isn’t really your cup of tea and you’re looking for a really fun, action packed story, then I think that this one will be really up your street!
Overall, this was a really fun historical-fiction-fantasy-sci-fi novel that I absolutely flew through, devouring Courtney and Sadie’s story from start to finish! It’s a real gutsy, feminist, sapphic story that I know is going to speak to so many people and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
TW: assault, sexual assault, rape threats, violence, guns, weapons, drug use mention, abusive parents, very mild gore
Thank you to the author for providing me a copy of this book! This did not impact my review and all views are my own!
abigailyardimci's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow - I’m quite a seasoned reader but I’ve never read anything quite like ‘Mary, Everything’ before. Time travelling, lgbtq+, sci-fi, romance, action, adventure, magical realism and more, I couldn’t help but get swept away by the mystical elements and the compelling story. I really loved it and feel amazed that the author wrote something so authentic and heartfelt yet still managed to build a fantastical world. I especially loved the strong strand of feminism running throughout. Brilliant!
mazza57's review
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this. I enjoyed the idea of time travel around ruptures in the timeline around Braddock College and the revelation of previous ability to cross from the 21st back to 20th century. I thought the idea of one time line being "right" was clever. However. I would question the narrative in the 1920's "everythings Jack" - that and some other phrases struck me as incongruoous.
I thought the author worked well to develop the characters and the narrative in view of future continuation of the series but I did not much like Courtney. For me the biggest problem in this book was that it denigrated into something from "The Avengers" film Franchise in its latter stages and just became a battle book.
Its not awful but I cannot see myself following the series
I thought the author worked well to develop the characters and the narrative in view of future continuation of the series but I did not much like Courtney. For me the biggest problem in this book was that it denigrated into something from "The Avengers" film Franchise in its latter stages and just became a battle book.
Its not awful but I cannot see myself following the series
ogwen's review
5.0
I discovered this book because someone in my social media feed mentioned “time-traveling sapphic sorceresses.” Uh, what? YES! Lemme at ‘em! I was not disappointed. Cassandra Yorke has created a wonderfully imaginative universe that drew me in immediately.
This really is a creative deep dive into some of my favorite subjects: lesbians, time-travel, magic, and kick-ass women!
Highly recommend. Looking forward to more, more, more from this author.
This really is a creative deep dive into some of my favorite subjects: lesbians, time-travel, magic, and kick-ass women!
Highly recommend. Looking forward to more, more, more from this author.