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A review by alex_wordweaver
The Waking Land by Callie Bates
2.0
Given this by a friend who said, "I had to read this with my own eyes. Now you must too." And I did. I sure did.
Was honestly expecting her to actually wed and bed a physical manifestation of the land for the majority of the book, not reenact the Great Rite of the Dagda and Morrigan at Samhain in miniature. Hell, was honestly expecting a Morrigan analogue--there was one of Cernunnos mentioned that appeared to be amalgamation of him and Herne--to make an appearance at some points with how the MC's narrative exposition kept going on about the rights of sovereignty/who's fit to rule.
The MC, Elanna, wasn't...too great either. Does she portray the aftermath getting out of a long-term abusive relationship somewhat well? Sure? Show some unlearning of internalized hatred of her own people? Yeah, that's the biggest crux of her arc as a character. Does she do it well/in a way that makes her likeable to the reader? ...Not really; she's pretty much a paranoid, horny-on-main ass throughout except to...maybe two people?
On a related note to both of the above sections, I honestly was waiting the entire book for her to get with either Sophy, Rhia, or a Goddess/Physical Embodiment of the Land. And yes, I realize with that last one that technically *she* is that physical embodiment as far as in-universe, but there's always a few spaces between the Avatar and the Deity Themself that allows for some interesting (and potentially sexual) relationships to form.
Queer feelings from the book: Overall, Elanna is brainlessly bi but can't see it because she doesn't stop to *think* about *anything* for long, Jahan is a disaster bi who shuns conventional ideals of marriage, Victoire, Sophy, and Rhia are semi-useful lesbians and the most likable of the characters in the entire book, and Finn is a himbo who isn't around long enough to fulfill any potential anyone might've seen in him. Much like the parts of the book in which characters actually get their shit together for a moment and the plot gets rolling and imagery gets exciting and interesting, which all happen in the last quarter. Mostly the last three-five chapters and the epilogue.
Rating: There was something missing for me a lot of the time. I don't know if it's because I'm Too Old(TM) for the age-range this book is supposed to be for and it's just now showing, but I can't help thinking that Elanna should be smarter, or if not smarter, act in a manner more fitting to her setting/status. Less self-centered, at least. By nineteen, most people have grown out of that stage of mental development. But I guess her internal growth was kind of stunted at age five for plot reasons, so there's that. There was potential here in this book, but sadly, more so, there was Disappointment(TM).
Was honestly expecting her to actually wed and bed a physical manifestation of the land for the majority of the book, not reenact the Great Rite of the Dagda and Morrigan at Samhain in miniature. Hell, was honestly expecting a Morrigan analogue--there was one of Cernunnos mentioned that appeared to be amalgamation of him and Herne--to make an appearance at some points with how the MC's narrative exposition kept going on about the rights of sovereignty/who's fit to rule.
The MC, Elanna, wasn't...too great either. Does she portray the aftermath getting out of a long-term abusive relationship somewhat well? Sure? Show some unlearning of internalized hatred of her own people? Yeah, that's the biggest crux of her arc as a character. Does she do it well/in a way that makes her likeable to the reader? ...Not really; she's pretty much a paranoid, horny-on-main ass throughout except to...maybe two people?
On a related note to both of the above sections, I honestly was waiting the entire book for her to get with either Sophy, Rhia, or a Goddess/Physical Embodiment of the Land. And yes, I realize with that last one that technically *she* is that physical embodiment as far as in-universe, but there's always a few spaces between the Avatar and the Deity Themself that allows for some interesting (and potentially sexual) relationships to form.
Queer feelings from the book: Overall, Elanna is brainlessly bi but can't see it because she doesn't stop to *think* about *anything* for long, Jahan is a disaster bi who shuns conventional ideals of marriage, Victoire, Sophy, and Rhia are semi-useful lesbians and the most likable of the characters in the entire book, and Finn is a himbo who isn't around long enough to fulfill any potential anyone might've seen in him. Much like the parts of the book in which characters actually get their shit together for a moment and the plot gets rolling and imagery gets exciting and interesting, which all happen in the last quarter. Mostly the last three-five chapters and the epilogue.
Rating: There was something missing for me a lot of the time. I don't know if it's because I'm Too Old(TM) for the age-range this book is supposed to be for and it's just now showing, but I can't help thinking that Elanna should be smarter, or if not smarter, act in a manner more fitting to her setting/status. Less self-centered, at least. By nineteen, most people have grown out of that stage of mental development. But I guess her internal growth was kind of stunted at age five for plot reasons, so there's that. There was potential here in this book, but sadly, more so, there was Disappointment(TM).