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madzie's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
Bell crafts a story with great theme development which deals with women and queer history as well as the morals of oppression and crime. Bell says a lot in this book, wrapping up deep ideas about what love is and how others will use social standing to perpetuate hate - lessons still oh so applicable to daily life. She highlights a strong and realistic ace voice that is often never shown in media, giving life and understanding to the daily struggles of being asexual in an allonomative world. Everything Louisa thinks about her sexual orientation is definitely something I have thought at least once, and her constant navigation of love and relationships is very true to the asexual experience, reminding the world that different understandings of love are vital for all people and should never be silenced. Her tackling of sapphic characters and themes also develops similarly, demonstrating the cruel reality of the history of being queer while also offering hope of how people have continued to exist when they were told and forced not to.
Further, Bell demonstrates an insightful feminist commentary on how women have been treated throughout history and continue to be treated today. Her use of history is authentic and makes her work come to life. She highlights small points of the time period that make it feel like you are truly back in time. However, most notable is her use of mystery, always leaving the audience to guess what is going to happen next. Get out your notebook, though, because you may need to write down these characters who constantly interact and influence one another and how society has left them. Bell proves she can wind an irresistible complex plot and character cast flawlessly. Her main relationship between Ada and Louisa further invokes authentic life and gives a deeper look into how opposite viewpoints can support us and make us stronger, while love can bridge all sorts of gaps.
Bellโs prose is satisfying, beautifully using free indirect discourse and modern prose to be an easy read. My only complaint is some moments feel forced and unrealistic to recap events to the audience. Nevertheless, these moments are little in a novel that tackles great themes with well-rounded characters. Overall, I very much enjoyed this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Infidelity, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Racism and Abortion
Bell tackles many social issues prominent in the historical period her novel is set, developing themes over the oppression of women and queer people. However, the novel offers hope of how oppressed people navigate society and often live happy and fulfilling lives. She gives a voice to oppressed and marginalized people, always suggesting the types of oppression listed above are harmful for everyone involved and never acceptable. The plot is set around infidelity and domestic abuse that ends in murder.motaki's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Abandonment, Police brutality, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
sarah_bell's review
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
Book Twitter told me it was alright to rate my own book ๐คทโโ๏ธ
Anyway, thank you to anyone who has read & reviewed ๐
And to anyone who's considering reading, here's a breakdown. If any of the following catch your attention, you might just enjoy it:
โ 1912 Yorkshire
๐ญ Sapphic
โ ๏ธ Ace rep
๐ Logical bookish one + impulsive artsy one ๐จ
๐ค Female camaraderie
๐ฌ Sarcasm aplenty
โ A murder victim who had it coming
๐ Investigating despite being warned off
โ Legality v morality
Anyway, thank you to anyone who has read & reviewed ๐
And to anyone who's considering reading, here's a breakdown. If any of the following catch your attention, you might just enjoy it:
โ 1912 Yorkshire
๐ญ Sapphic
โ ๏ธ Ace rep
๐ Logical bookish one + impulsive artsy one ๐จ
๐ค Female camaraderie
๐ฌ Sarcasm aplenty
โ A murder victim who had it coming
๐ Investigating despite being warned off
โ Legality v morality
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Abortion, Death, Infidelity, Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Racism, Grief, Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Please note a lot of the warnings above relate to information the characters learn about in regards to their investigation and it is described to them, rather than it directly happening to them in the narrative.
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