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A review by theakilahbrown
The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is a sci-fi book that somehow is ALSO a spoof of gothic romantic literature.
I liked all of the bits that spoofed gothic lit (of course). There's the brooding hero, the younger brother who is a dandy who loves POETRY and FEELS THINGS, and then the other brother who just wants to be freed from the shackles of familial responsibility. There's a moor and a heath and crashing waves and a hermitage and secret passageways. Oh, and a damsel (main character Haley), of course.
I liked the meta commentary that the world has rules that must be followed, and the way that played out in the story. I also liked the framing device for the book.
Oh, and I loved that the illustrator gave Haley a bonnet while she was sleeping. (Can we get more acknowledgement in media that black girls/women cover their hair when they sleep? Thanks.)
Some quotes I liked:
I liked all of the bits that spoofed gothic lit (of course). There's the brooding hero, the younger brother who is a dandy who loves POETRY and FEELS THINGS, and then the other brother who just wants to be freed from the shackles of familial responsibility. There's a moor and a heath and crashing waves and a hermitage and secret passageways. Oh, and a damsel (main character Haley), of course.
I liked the meta commentary that the world has rules that must be followed, and the way that played out in the story. I also liked the framing device for the book.
Oh, and I loved that the illustrator gave Haley a bonnet while she was sleeping. (Can we get more acknowledgement in media that black girls/women cover their hair when they sleep? Thanks.)
Some quotes I liked:
COMPLAINTS? Call your mom. Maybe she'll make you some nice soup.
Well, excuse us for existing on our own level of reality and not in your personal fantasy world.
"What do people in your universe do when reality starts springing leaks?"
"I'm not sure. Look at cat pictures until we feel better?"
As for what I didn't like: Listen, I am not a sci-fi person, and this book highlights what I don't like about sci-fi. Namely, that it's weird, and it has its own rules that I don't really care about that much. However, I think I didn't care that much for it because I didn't understand the *point.* I mean, I get it in the story, but it also felt like this could have also just worked as a fantasy where Haley just needed to get home.
I'm including that as a last bit because I enjoyed and finished the story in spite of it, so it didn't bug me THAT much, but just enough that I have to note it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying