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brookhorse 's review for:
The Hanged Man
by K.D. Edwards
So, I'm not surprised that I liked this book more than the first one. As in my previous review, I found Brand and Rune intolerable until they suddenly weren't, and I had the hope that they going forward they would continue to endear me. I was not quite prepared for how much that was to be true, though.
This book was rough in a lot of ways. As the previous book, it tackles a lot of hard topics. The thing that impresses me about Edwards is he's able to do this without it seeming like he's reveling in the horror or violence, the way a lot of other series seem to (coughGoTcoughTheMagicianscough). I wouldn't call it sensitive, exactly, because it's fairly brutal and in your face. But it feels honest, and Edwards knows where the lines are. I don't know anything about his history, and I wouldn't presume to guess. But I will say that I trust him to handle trauma in a way I usually only trust other trauma survivors. I think this book would still be too much for a lot of people--I advised my partner, who was in tears trying to finish the first book, not to read it. For me, it wasn't too much, but I've also got therapist-level training in separating myself from my empathy, so YMMV.
The world was delicious, as always. We get more snippets of background, and get to explore various locales that would make for an excellent point-and-click or other exploration-adjacent video game, hint hint studios. Vivid and bustling with life as always. I would like to know a little bit of... what the fuck is going on with the rest of the world, but I suppose it's not too much of a flaw that we don't get to see it. Rune and Brand are kinda busy being wrapped up in their own thing. Still, I wonder what the human world is up to. Are they, like, okay? I'm just curious.
The cast of characters expands to include some lovely new faces, and one very nasty one that makes for a great villain. But more importantly, the relationships between familiar characters deepen and become more complex in the best way. Rune and Brand's relationship is so settled that it could have been jarring to try and shake it up, but instead it seemed like a deft reflection of the ways they already relate to each other. Rune and Addam's relationship is not developing quickly, but that's okay--it's sweet and tender in the best way, and you get to see the quiet progress that's happening in the background even if Addam isn't a major player in this book. I think that's fine, though I can see why some people were disappointed he didn't play a bigger role. Sometimes that's the way it is with relationships, though, so I didn't mind. And of course, Rune and Brand's relationship with Max. Between that and everything going on with Anna etc., the found family is strong in this one. My heart.
Also excited about disability rep with Addam. I'll be really curious to see how Edwards handles it going forward. I'm hoping that it's not treated as "everything's fine and he's not disabled/hindered at all now 'cause magic" but from the hints I've seen, I don't think that's likely. Please give me all the annoying details about dealing with his new prosthetic. I want every awkward moment. Every "oh fuck I forgot I can't grab things that small anymore." Every day trying to make sure your clothes match your assistive device. Every annoying sound it makes. Every weather-related malfunction. GIVE IT TO ME EDWARDS PLEASE
Anyway, this was an excellent installment. I can't wait for the next one, but I have to. Fuck.
This book was rough in a lot of ways. As the previous book, it tackles a lot of hard topics. The thing that impresses me about Edwards is he's able to do this without it seeming like he's reveling in the horror or violence, the way a lot of other series seem to (coughGoTcoughTheMagicianscough). I wouldn't call it sensitive, exactly, because it's fairly brutal and in your face. But it feels honest, and Edwards knows where the lines are. I don't know anything about his history, and I wouldn't presume to guess. But I will say that I trust him to handle trauma in a way I usually only trust other trauma survivors. I think this book would still be too much for a lot of people--I advised my partner, who was in tears trying to finish the first book, not to read it. For me, it wasn't too much, but I've also got therapist-level training in separating myself from my empathy, so YMMV.
The world was delicious, as always. We get more snippets of background, and get to explore various locales that would make for an excellent point-and-click or other exploration-adjacent video game, hint hint studios. Vivid and bustling with life as always. I would like to know a little bit of... what the fuck is going on with the rest of the world, but I suppose it's not too much of a flaw that we don't get to see it. Rune and Brand are kinda busy being wrapped up in their own thing. Still, I wonder what the human world is up to. Are they, like, okay? I'm just curious.
The cast of characters expands to include some lovely new faces, and one very nasty one that makes for a great villain. But more importantly, the relationships between familiar characters deepen and become more complex in the best way. Rune and Brand's relationship is so settled that it could have been jarring to try and shake it up, but instead it seemed like a deft reflection of the ways they already relate to each other. Rune and Addam's relationship is not developing quickly, but that's okay--it's sweet and tender in the best way, and you get to see the quiet progress that's happening in the background even if Addam isn't a major player in this book. I think that's fine, though I can see why some people were disappointed he didn't play a bigger role. Sometimes that's the way it is with relationships, though, so I didn't mind. And of course, Rune and Brand's relationship with Max. Between that and everything going on with Anna etc., the found family is strong in this one. My heart.
Also excited about disability rep with Addam. I'll be really curious to see how Edwards handles it going forward. I'm hoping that it's not treated as "everything's fine and he's not disabled/hindered at all now 'cause magic" but from the hints I've seen, I don't think that's likely. Please give me all the annoying details about dealing with his new prosthetic. I want every awkward moment. Every "oh fuck I forgot I can't grab things that small anymore." Every day trying to make sure your clothes match your assistive device. Every annoying sound it makes. Every weather-related malfunction. GIVE IT TO ME EDWARDS PLEASE
Anyway, this was an excellent installment. I can't wait for the next one, but I have to. Fuck.