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A review by tiffany_sostar
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
2.75
I really wanted to enjoy this book so much more than I did. The characters are great! The mystery is engaging! The spice is hot!
But I’m constantly irritated by authors who write magical alternative histories and include the worst parts of our own history. In this case, so much homophobia. Just trust that your characters can still have conflict and struggle even without oppression! Also patriarchy. Why. It’s a magical alternative world, why is this necessary?! And also so much whiteness and some racism that I can’t tell if the author recognizes or not. The homophobia and patriarchy she’s obviously aware of and having her characters frustrated with it, but the racism just seems to be there unquestioned. It’s not necessary.
The parts outside of the oppressive systemic issues were great and without the inclusion of totally unnecessary homophobia, patriarchy and racism, I would have given this a 4.5. But it did have those parts and they really wrecked it for me.
But I’m constantly irritated by authors who write magical alternative histories and include the worst parts of our own history. In this case, so much homophobia. Just trust that your characters can still have conflict and struggle even without oppression! Also patriarchy. Why. It’s a magical alternative world, why is this necessary?! And also so much whiteness and some racism that I can’t tell if the author recognizes or not. The homophobia and patriarchy she’s obviously aware of and having her characters frustrated with it, but the racism just seems to be there unquestioned. It’s not necessary.
The parts outside of the oppressive systemic issues were great and without the inclusion of totally unnecessary homophobia, patriarchy and racism, I would have given this a 4.5. But it did have those parts and they really wrecked it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Death, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Racism and Misogyny