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arlingtonchamberofgay 's review for:
The Wicked Bargain
by Gabe Cole Novoa
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
As a pirate, Mar has faced a variety of enemies and challenges, not least of which is fighting against Spanish colonizers. But there’s one threat that they never expected to be real, let alone face: el Diablo. Even with magia, Mar can’t stop el Diablo from sinking their father’s ship, taking his soul and the rest of the crew’s lives with it — except for Mar. The Wicked Bargain is more than a story about pirates and demon deals, it delves into the ways that we sometimes hold ourselves back from our potential and get in our own way.
It also deals with themes of grief and loss of family, found family, managing secrets and being closeted (in more ways than one). Though Mar is mainly perceived as a boy by outside perspectives, they’re an excellent representation of a transmasc nonbinary person straddling the lines of gender that society has drawn.
It also deals with themes of grief and loss of family, found family, managing secrets and being closeted (in more ways than one). Though Mar is mainly perceived as a boy by outside perspectives, they’re an excellent representation of a transmasc nonbinary person straddling the lines of gender that society has drawn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Dysphoria
Minor: Slavery, Transphobia