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bookreader460 's review for:
This Ravenous Fate
by Hayley Dennings
DID NOT FINISH: 44%
This is my first true DNF, a true intentional stop in the middle of a book. I just found it kind of boring and bad. The chemistry between the mains is Not That Good. The world building is very expository and not well integrated. The time period is not well integrated at all - the characters talk too modern. I honestly thought this was written by a British person or something because the American history stuff is done very poorly and was surprised when I found out it was written by an American. I would be surprised if the author researched the period beyond reading a few Wikipedia articles. Stuff like gangsters, the Mafia, and crime are talked about in a very shallow way. I found the way race was integrated - one of the main reasons I picked up this book and wanted to support it - was very badly done. People who would not be considered white - such as gangsters and mobsters - are considered white by the narrative & characters. The characters are in New York and do not focus on the struggles of black people in New York and instead of focus and talk about stuff happening in the south (one phrase in particular 'The Intolerant south' was a nuts phrase to pull out. The northeast was better but not great for black people at the time, so focus on the problems the characters would be facing. Show your audience that racism was done differently in different parts of the US). The Tulsa Race Riots are mentioned as though they just happened, but it seems like the author doesn't know that they happened 5 years ago according to when this book takes place. The Harlem Renaissance is barely a part of the story. I would be fine if the author decided it was like Bridgetton the TV show and racism was just magically gone, but it isn't that. This was sold as historical fiction, and it tried (and failed) to give me some history. The way reapers are used as a metaphor for the systemic issues of racism/oppression is Bad. The way reapers are integrated into history is also bad. How is America the only country with reapers? Do other countries in this timeline not have histories of oppression? How have reapers not been destroyed yet? The last witch trials in the US happened in the late 1800s and you are telling me that instead of of waging war on them and killing them that they have treaties?? You're telling me the same country that violated treaty after treaty to kill Native Americans respect a vampire treaty? That makes NO SENSE. The police know where they are! They are able to go to a reapers house and grab her for questioning. That doesn't make any sense. It would have been a better metaphor if it was instead used for queer expression or if that was the intention, if it was done better. Reapers can't be out in the open and instead have to hide themselves and blend in with humans. People know that they exist but not who they are. Boom! Fixed like 90% of the issues with the reaper world building & history right there. Maybe instead of having Layla turn at 13 - she could turn at 15/16 and Elise found out, and covered for her but didnt want her in her life anymore due to what happened to her sister. I know that would be bad in the sense that it would make one of the characters seem like an asshole but It adds stakes and in this world it feels like there are no stakes. Death happens all the time and no one cares - so why should the reader. The action scenes are also bad! And another thing, if the reapers ARE supposed to be a metaphor for queerness, Yikes!! Social contagion much. Anyway, I'm not going to be finishing it. Maybe at some point, I'll try to read it again but that will be a while from now.