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A review by lizshayne
Into the Dark Lands by Michelle Sagara West
3.0
I have complicated feelings about this book, both because it took a while for me to get into AND because the narrative arc is one I both love and hate. The Beauty and the Beast story is one of the narratives that turns the keys to my heart and yet it is so easy to slip into making the Beast a monster (yes, yes, I know).
The story really revolves around the idea of woman/lover as sacrifice, which is super icky...but also very Jesus-y and I don't know if the vision of Erin as Jesus makes it better (as a feminist) or worse (as a Jewish woman). But the story, especially once she meets Stephanos and becomes Sara, is gripping and my favorite part. The tragedy mamba of the first part was a bit of a slog to read...and that in and of itself says something about me.
I feel like there's more to say about this trope of love as redemption intertwined with the trope of good (or god) entering the dark world to redeem it through sacrifice.
Obviously I'm going to read the next. I'm just going to keep feeling weird about it.
The story really revolves around the idea of woman/lover as sacrifice, which is super icky...but also very Jesus-y and I don't know if the vision of Erin as Jesus makes it better (as a feminist) or worse (as a Jewish woman). But the story, especially once she meets Stephanos and becomes Sara, is gripping and my favorite part. The tragedy mamba of the first part was a bit of a slog to read...and that in and of itself says something about me.
I feel like there's more to say about this trope of love as redemption intertwined with the trope of good (or god) entering the dark world to redeem it through sacrifice.
Obviously I'm going to read the next. I'm just going to keep feeling weird about it.