Scan barcode
A review by cheye13
Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline Carey
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This one's on me and my misplaced expectations. And probably the modern retelling trend. Nowhere did this book imply it would alter anything of the source tale, and I already have mixed feelings about The Tempest in general.
For what it is, it's written exceptionally well. It builds a full story around Miranda and Caliban that's completely eclipsed in the original while never directly contesting events of The Tempest. That I finished it at all is much more of an endorsement than my rating; I knew where it was going and what it was doing, yet the story had built attachment for the characters and remained engaging enough that I refused to put it down.
For what it is, it's written exceptionally well. It builds a full story around Miranda and Caliban that's completely eclipsed in the original while never directly contesting events of The Tempest. That I finished it at all is much more of an endorsement than my rating; I knew where it was going and what it was doing, yet the story had built attachment for the characters and remained engaging enough that I refused to put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Child abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
while the most severe of the child abuse is physical, it's carried out magically, in one severe instance resulting in a coma and brain damage.