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A review by beforeviolets
Uncommon Charm by Emily Bergslien, Kat Weaver
UNCOMMON CHARM is a really unique story. A queer, Jewish, gothic, historical fantasy, this novella features a quiet, slice-of-life style narrative set amidst 1920's London.
I really enjoyed all the elements of this book: ghostly seances, Jewish magical philosophy, mlm/wlw solidarity, family politics, and even a positive portrayal of protective mothers.
Though the edges of this tale at times struggled against the confines of its structure, its elements and themes sometimes fighting for dominance in a way that muddied the chronicling of timelines and train of thought. As I'm finding quite often nowadays, I think the folly of this story is perhaps its need for a stronger editorial hand.
But it did indeed contain an uncommon charm.
(A quick aside to scream about this gorgeous cover by Marlowe Lune, my favorite cover illustrator! This alone made this book's purchase more than worth it.)
CW: incest, grooming (implied), antisemitism, alcohol, chronic pain, sexual assault (past, implied), hospitalization (past), murder (past), gun violence (past), illness (mention), blood (mention), injury detail (mention), war (past)
I really enjoyed all the elements of this book: ghostly seances, Jewish magical philosophy, mlm/wlw solidarity, family politics, and even a positive portrayal of protective mothers.
Though the edges of this tale at times struggled against the confines of its structure, its elements and themes sometimes fighting for dominance in a way that muddied the chronicling of timelines and train of thought. As I'm finding quite often nowadays, I think the folly of this story is perhaps its need for a stronger editorial hand.
But it did indeed contain an uncommon charm.
(A quick aside to scream about this gorgeous cover by Marlowe Lune, my favorite cover illustrator! This alone made this book's purchase more than worth it.)
CW: incest, grooming (implied), antisemitism, alcohol, chronic pain, sexual assault (past, implied), hospitalization (past), murder (past), gun violence (past), illness (mention), blood (mention), injury detail (mention), war (past)