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A review by elatedbooks
The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
WHY IS THERE ROMANCE IN THIS BOOK
It was entirely unconvincing & irrelevant to the plot - it just felt like it was written as an editing checkbox. Because here’s the thing: Sara is our typical feminist POV right? Except it feels like she finally escapes her worth dictated by her husband & runs straight into her worth as the romantic interest of Arent. WHY. AREN’T. THEY. JUST. FRIENDS. Why can’t a man genuinely value her as an equal instead of randomly getting a bit giddy when she kneels in front of him to tend his wounds.
I’m sad because I absolutely loved Stuart Turton’s energy in the dedication & afterword, just absolutely hated the way this book was written. It needled me in all the wrong places & I wanted to punch all of the characters, particularly the men, as if they wouldn’t absolutely flatten me in 2 seconds max.
It was entirely unconvincing & irrelevant to the plot - it just felt like it was written as an editing checkbox. Because here’s the thing: Sara is our typical feminist POV right? Except it feels like she finally escapes her worth dictated by her husband & runs straight into her worth as the romantic interest of Arent. WHY. AREN’T. THEY. JUST. FRIENDS. Why can’t a man genuinely value her as an equal instead of randomly getting a bit giddy when she kneels in front of him to tend his wounds.
I’m sad because I absolutely loved Stuart Turton’s energy in the dedication & afterword, just absolutely hated the way this book was written. It needled me in all the wrong places & I wanted to punch all of the characters, particularly the men, as if they wouldn’t absolutely flatten me in 2 seconds max.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape