Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by jce
Preacher, Prophet, Beast by Harper Fox
dark
emotional
sad
tense
Whew! So in my opinion this book should come with a big old warning at the front. It's a really different tone than the previous books in the series. There have been some story elements that were really distressing in past books, but this was a whole new level for me.
I think part of the issue is that one of the things I craved about this series is the feeling that it takes place in a fictional world, very different from my own. And so to have a lot of story lines about Trump and Brexit and a main story line around possible violence caused by horrible homophobic and xenophobic bigots felt like a punch in the gut. And on one hand I do think it's a powerful message? Like, yes it's fun to read about these people but in real life these are the problems they might face? But it also is just such a departure from what I expect in this series.
It was so agonizing to listen to at one point that I turned it off and listened to the final two chapters. Because I just couldn't handle not knowing that things would turn out alright, and it seemed impossible that would happen. It did have an HEA/HFN, though the plot device used to get there is a somewhat frustrating one for me. And I guess I'm just not sure why putting readers through all that agony was necessary for the story? I'm still just not sure what to think.
I was also very frustrated by the way mental illness was framed in this one. Calling a character struggling with mental illness a "certified nutcase" and a "lunatic" really rubs me the wrong way. I hated this character's story line. I was also really unhappy with Ellowen's story line. I really feel like she's ill treated by this series in a way I find off putting.
It isn't uncommon for the magical elements in Harper Fox's books to sometimes get a little far out for me, and that was the case here. It wasn't story ruining for me, but it did wear sort of thin. The saving grace is how much I care about all these characters, and my love for Harper Fox's writing style. I just love listening to her writing, it's so lyrical and lovely.
I guess I'm kind of glad that the last audiobook in the series wasn't a win for me, because I feel less sad that there aren't more. I'm ready for a break from this series I think, though at some point I will probably read the remaining books. There was a lot I really loved about the series. This book was a miss for me though.
I think part of the issue is that one of the things I craved about this series is the feeling that it takes place in a fictional world, very different from my own. And so to have a lot of story lines about Trump and Brexit and a main story line around possible violence caused by horrible homophobic and xenophobic bigots felt like a punch in the gut. And on one hand I do think it's a powerful message? Like, yes it's fun to read about these people but in real life these are the problems they might face? But it also is just such a departure from what I expect in this series.
It was so agonizing to listen to at one point that I turned it off and listened to the final two chapters. Because I just couldn't handle not knowing that things would turn out alright, and it seemed impossible that would happen. It did have an HEA/HFN, though the plot device used to get there is a somewhat frustrating one for me. And I guess I'm just not sure why putting readers through all that agony was necessary for the story? I'm still just not sure what to think.
I was also very frustrated by the way mental illness was framed in this one. Calling a character struggling with mental illness a "certified nutcase" and a "lunatic" really rubs me the wrong way. I hated this character's story line. I was also really unhappy with Ellowen's story line. I really feel like she's ill treated by this series in a way I find off putting.
It isn't uncommon for the magical elements in Harper Fox's books to sometimes get a little far out for me, and that was the case here. It wasn't story ruining for me, but it did wear sort of thin. The saving grace is how much I care about all these characters, and my love for Harper Fox's writing style. I just love listening to her writing, it's so lyrical and lovely.
I guess I'm kind of glad that the last audiobook in the series wasn't a win for me, because I feel less sad that there aren't more. I'm ready for a break from this series I think, though at some point I will probably read the remaining books. There was a lot I really loved about the series. This book was a miss for me though.