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adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Classism
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
This was a really enjoyable read and my first by Mimi Matthews! The historical touches (the pretty horse-breakers, the Victorian spiritualism, etc.) added a lot to the story, and I loved our two main characters. The male main character is biracial and Indian, and the female main character is white, and Matthews navigates the difficulties of interracial marriages at this time - as well as the difficulty in simply existing in the kingdom of your colonizer as an Indian person in the late 1800s (particularly after the uprising of 1857). Matthews is also biracial and Indian and notes in the author's note how Ahmad's story reflects her own feelings of being caught between worlds and cultures. This is slower-paced and a felt a little too long for the central conflict to support, but I'll likely continue the series! This is closed-door, with lots of pining and slow-building tension that is truly delicious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Graphic: Death of parent, Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Sexual harassment, Colonisation
Minor: Violence, War
emotional
hopeful
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
This book made me so happy. It dealt with tough topics, and there was a fair amount on angst. It was emotional and I was worried things wouldn’t end happily. But I never should have doubted, because, Evie. Need I say more?
I love Ahmad. He’s such a strong character and I was pleased with his character arc. I also loved his cousin, Mira. She was such a nice supporting character.
Evie’s friends were fun, too. I’m excited to see Julie’s story in book two!
I read this book because I wanted a horse girl book. And this did not disappoint. There is always room for more horses, but there was also plentiful horse content and metaphors in this book that I enjoyed.
I love Ahmad. He’s such a strong character and I was pleased with his character arc. I also loved his cousin, Mira. She was such a nice supporting character.
Evie’s friends were fun, too. I’m excited to see Julie’s story in book two!
I read this book because I wanted a horse girl book. And this did not disappoint. There is always room for more horses, but there was also plentiful horse content and metaphors in this book that I enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Colonisation
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Misogyny, Colonisation, Classism
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
This was such a fun, lovely read! The author writes well, and played to her strengths. Her knowledge of period fashion—in particular the Victorian era—and of equestrianism shone in her meticulously and passionately detailed descriptions. I love that this book explored what it means to be mixed race—not really belonging to either world, but occupying some space in between—and pushed back a bit on the legacy of colonialism. Granted, these topics were within the context of a light romance and therefore didn’t delve exceedingly deep. That said, I think they were appropriately explored within the tone and context of the book.
My main qualm is that the sexual tension often felt a bit cringey and trope-y. I felt like I’ve read about blushes, heat pooling “low”, and swooning too many times. I understand Victorian society was incredibly repressed, but Ahmad was thirsty af 😂 It took me out of the book a bit, because of my secondhand embarrassment 😅
Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next in the Belles of London series in the new year.
My main qualm is that the sexual tension often felt a bit cringey and trope-y. I felt like I’ve read about blushes, heat pooling “low”, and swooning too many times. I understand Victorian society was incredibly repressed, but Ahmad was thirsty af 😂 It took me out of the book a bit, because of my secondhand embarrassment 😅
Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next in the Belles of London series in the new year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Classism
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Abandonment