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A review by livibeni
Armed in Her Fashion by Kate Heartfield
dark
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I've seen this book praised for having a transgender character, but I wouldn't recommend this book to my trans or nonbinary friends. This book is dark, gritty... to the point where I kinda feel like it's overkill, especially in regards to the trans character, Claude. Heartfield really wants to drive home the point that This Is A Dark Book, so Claude experiences transphobia pretty much at every turn. He isn't spared by the main cast either- the main character is transphobic towards him as well. It was all just too much, to the point that it was uncomfortable enough for me, and I'm a cisgender woman.
It's such a shame too because I really wanted to like this book. The main character seemed so interesting, as did the plot. The transphobia ruined it for me, though. I hope that Heartfield is more tactful if she chooses to write in the future. I understand from a twitter thread she made back in 2018 that she's heard some criticisms from readers about this and has taken them into account, apologizing and accepting that she could have done better. I genuinely hope she does.
It's such a shame too because I really wanted to like this book. The main character seemed so interesting, as did the plot. The transphobia ruined it for me, though. I hope that Heartfield is more tactful if she chooses to write in the future. I understand from a twitter thread she made back in 2018 that she's heard some criticisms from readers about this and has taken them into account, apologizing and accepting that she could have done better. I genuinely hope she does.