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bigbookslilreads 's review for:
The Sandman, Vol. 4: Season of Mists
by Mike Dringenberg, Neil Gaiman
I think this might be my favourite of the series so far! The plot itself binds most of the issues together (except for one), which I appreciate. It's definitely the most cohesive volume I think I've seen so far in the series. There were also plenty of good moments: .
But don't get me wrong, I have a lot to vent about still. While this volume is well-constructed and filled with precious little gems of world-building and odd-but-pleasing character interactions, I don't think Gaiman took it quite as far as he could've. He played it safe in my opinion. Dream's 'growth' was lacklustre at best, too quick and mostly spurred by... brotherly shame? Also, so much build-up for a confrontation, with no actual pay. And I feel this has been a theme in the story. I'm always expecting something big to happen, and then I'm just left feeling "eh". I am more interested in the angels' story than anything else at this point.
Something else that has p*ssed me off in the series, and that made me reach a tipping point in this one, is the blatant overssexualisation of female characters, and that is clearly a Neil Gaiman trend, sorry to burst anyone's bubble. Whenever there's a female character appearing on page, there needs to be some comment on her body, on how she'd be like in bed, breasts and the overall female form are always accentuated, and I'm pretty sure it's him stressing that out on page, because damn, his American Gods novel is filled with it. Want an example from this volume?. Sure enough, in every volume there's at least one example of him sexualising or patronising women. But alas. No one online seems to care, as far as I could find.
As I said, I reached a tipping point, but please consider that this is one of the best in series so far! So don't exclude it just because of what I wrote above.
Spoiler
like the Endless siblings gathering, Lucifer having had enough and having a heart-to-heart with Dream as he's packing up his things in Hell, the dinner with the deities, Dream vs Azazel, sunsets...But don't get me wrong, I have a lot to vent about still. While this volume is well-constructed and filled with precious little gems of world-building and odd-but-pleasing character interactions, I don't think Gaiman took it quite as far as he could've. He played it safe in my opinion. Dream's 'growth' was lacklustre at best, too quick and mostly spurred by... brotherly shame? Also, so much build-up for a confrontation, with no actual pay. And I feel this has been a theme in the story. I'm always expecting something big to happen, and then I'm just left feeling "eh". I am more interested in the angels' story than anything else at this point.
Something else that has p*ssed me off in the series, and that made me reach a tipping point in this one, is the blatant overssexualisation of female characters, and that is clearly a Neil Gaiman trend, sorry to burst anyone's bubble. Whenever there's a female character appearing on page, there needs to be some comment on her body, on how she'd be like in bed, breasts and the overall female form are always accentuated, and I'm pretty sure it's him stressing that out on page, because damn, his American Gods novel is filled with it. Want an example from this volume?
Spoiler
Just read over the appearances of Fae Nuala, and even Bast. Better yet! Maybe that principal's dead mom and her weird sexual stories. Oh, and let's not mention that weird never-born embryo ghost baby that had to appear and talk?? That seems like a not so disguised political position? Oh! And can we discuss that Nada redeeming thing?? Seriously? Dream submitted you to torture for 10 thousand years, and after an "I'm sorry" you kiss him and it's all good? You both got issues, smhAs I said, I reached a tipping point, but please consider that this is one of the best in series so far! So don't exclude it just because of what I wrote above.