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A review by eevee
The Dangerous Kingdom of Love by Neil Blackmore
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I struggled a bit with this! As unreliable narrators go, its a satisfying narrative. I just didn't spark anything in me.
I love historical fiction. I believe that it can tell us things about the past that are otherwise impossible to access. I don't feel like I gained insight into many pieces of truth here. Francis Bacon's experiences of homophobia are painfully similar to modern day experiences, in a way that I felt was a bit shallow and false. This was epitomised by the use of modern slurs. I felt similarly in regard to some of the secondary characters, who often seemed like pantomime villains in their bigotry. I can really love anachronism, but this didn't do it for me.
I love historical fiction. I believe that it can tell us things about the past that are otherwise impossible to access. I don't feel like I gained insight into many pieces of truth here. Francis Bacon's experiences of homophobia are painfully similar to modern day experiences, in a way that I felt was a bit shallow and false. This was epitomised by the use of modern slurs. I felt similarly in regard to some of the secondary characters, who often seemed like pantomime villains in their bigotry. I can really love anachronism, but this didn't do it for me.