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and_im_ash 's review for:
Sawkill Girls
by Claire Legrand
"Stardust cares not for the agony of demons."
God this book is so gay. It's so gay. IT'S SO GAY. I am feeling so many feelings right now that I will have to come back to properly write a review, but this book is magic. It was written for me specially. The author knew exactly what my heart needed to read and then wrote it.
I will write a full review, because I want a record of my reading experience for this book, but for now, a few points:
- This book centres and explores the intricacies of female relationships, both platonic and romantic, so incredibly well. This is probably one of the best depictions of these relationships I've read in a long time. Each of the girls is complex and flawed and passionate and confused and learning and forgiving and thoughtful. They have depth and heart and soul and I love all of them. Marion and Zoey and Val. But I probably love Val the most. How she did terrible things because of the beast, but instead of hiding away, she faced them, and she fought them.
- I also loved the exploration of good and bad, and also redemption, that was carried through Val's character - can you be redeemed after you've done terrible things, even if those things were against your will, but you *did* have a choice, in the end, and you made the bad choice? When all of your options are bad, how do you choose the least bad one, and how do you know you've made the right choice? And even when there were factors out of your control, will you step up and be accountable for the choices you did make?
- This book is truly a win for queer rep, too, with an asexual character and a sapphic romance. And I loved that. I needed more of that when I was a teen. I needed to be able to devour this gorgeous girl love when I was a teen. But nevertheless, it is here now, and I love it.
- Also the magic system is something I, personally, have not really read before. I love the way Sawkill Island itself became a character of its own, and the details like the moths were really fantastic touches.
Ultimately, this book has a feel, or an atmosphere, to it that I can't really put into words that just made it work for me in every possible way. There was a minor bump for me about two thirds in, but it was quickly taken in a direction I felt worked quite well, and I ended up very happy. I think with a reread that bump would be ironed out easily anyway, because since finishing I have a different perspective on it.
This is about girls and monsters and magic and nature and I adored it wholeheartedly. 5 big big stars from a very full heart.
God this book is so gay. It's so gay. IT'S SO GAY. I am feeling so many feelings right now that I will have to come back to properly write a review, but this book is magic. It was written for me specially. The author knew exactly what my heart needed to read and then wrote it.
I will write a full review, because I want a record of my reading experience for this book, but for now, a few points:
- This book centres and explores the intricacies of female relationships, both platonic and romantic, so incredibly well. This is probably one of the best depictions of these relationships I've read in a long time. Each of the girls is complex and flawed and passionate and confused and learning and forgiving and thoughtful. They have depth and heart and soul and I love all of them. Marion and Zoey and Val. But I probably love Val the most. How she did terrible things because of the beast, but instead of hiding away, she faced them, and she fought them.
- I also loved the exploration of good and bad, and also redemption, that was carried through Val's character - can you be redeemed after you've done terrible things, even if those things were against your will, but you *did* have a choice, in the end, and you made the bad choice? When all of your options are bad, how do you choose the least bad one, and how do you know you've made the right choice? And even when there were factors out of your control, will you step up and be accountable for the choices you did make?
- This book is truly a win for queer rep, too, with an asexual character and a sapphic romance. And I loved that. I needed more of that when I was a teen. I needed to be able to devour this gorgeous girl love when I was a teen. But nevertheless, it is here now, and I love it.
- Also the magic system is something I, personally, have not really read before. I love the way Sawkill Island itself became a character of its own, and the details like the moths were really fantastic touches.
Ultimately, this book has a feel, or an atmosphere, to it that I can't really put into words that just made it work for me in every possible way. There was a minor bump for me about two thirds in, but it was quickly taken in a direction I felt worked quite well, and I ended up very happy. I think with a reread that bump would be ironed out easily anyway, because since finishing I have a different perspective on it.
This is about girls and monsters and magic and nature and I adored it wholeheartedly. 5 big big stars from a very full heart.