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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I listened to an interview with Alix E. Harrow on the Coode St. podcast that definitely enriched my enjoyment of this one. She pointed out that it's tough to try to incorporate historical accuracy without being really grim - touche!
Nevertheless, it was fun to adventure with the Eastwood sisters in 1890s America (*tweaked to be more inclusive, thank you 2020 writers).
Witches tend to feel gratifying + hopeful to me, since their powers grant women with way more agency than they ACTUALLY had in whatever era I'm reading about; and this was absolutely the case for The Once and Future Witches.
Nevertheless, it was fun to adventure with the Eastwood sisters in 1890s America (*tweaked to be more inclusive, thank you 2020 writers).
Witches tend to feel gratifying + hopeful to me, since their powers grant women with way more agency than they ACTUALLY had in whatever era I'm reading about; and this was absolutely the case for The Once and Future Witches.
It drags on far too long and the character arcs aren't compelling enough for it. There are a few good emotional moments, but for the most part, it feels like a meandering history instead of a well-constructed, punchy plot. The inclusion of the names of actual suffragettes is cool, but gender-bending the Brothers Grimm doesn't exactly feel like a feminism win, the allegory itself has its limits (with its freshness wearing off the longer the book drags on), and the portrayal of marginalised struggles outside of the author's experience is always a little imperfect, as well-intentioned as it may be.
Still, I feel an affinity with the writing here. And the writing itself is well done. Harrow's plot is a little meh, but she can write the hell out of a scene, and the story is gripping enough, which is all you really need in the end.
Still, I feel an affinity with the writing here. And the writing itself is well done. Harrow's plot is a little meh, but she can write the hell out of a scene, and the story is gripping enough, which is all you really need in the end.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
The writing made the story feel slow.
I wasn't really into any of the characters and the sisters dynamic, you would think they would have been more bondedor truama bonded at least but they were so self centered and willing to stop talking to each other, even though they had no support.
The story also tried to take on so much of women's liberation when this book is set in the 1920s.
I wasn't really into any of the characters and the sisters dynamic, you would think they would have been more bonded
The story also tried to take on so much of women's liberation when this book is set in the 1920s.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes