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A review by r_j_setser
Saints and Monsters by Ellen McGinty
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"Sisters are worth fighting for."
The spirit of Saints and Monsters is unmatched with its dragon hearts, princess sisters deeply passionate for their queendom, and a storyline filled with assassins and political intrigue. It's a fast-paced adventure that will keep readers wondering what will happen!
I love how Meera is a main character with physical disabilities, as I feel that there are very few heroic fantasy stories given to this topic of representation. However, I do wish the story had highlighted her disability a lot more realistically and made the story more challenging for her. But because of the fast paced storyline, her disability seemed to come off as a mild inconvenience and insecurity, rather than the core of her life. Her maneuverability and speed throughout the story did not match what we would expect of a heroine with a deeply crooked and deformed back. She was able to outrun and outswim able-bodied male warriors, stab a dragon with a dagger, and not to mention how often she escaped agile assassins with little to no training. I loved her spunk and fearless attitude because she didn't stop to let her disability prevent her from doing what was right, but I do wish that her strengths would've offset her physical weaknesses rather than contradicted them, because most of the time I forgot that she was supposed to be disabled until she mentioned a pain in her back or something minor.
Overall, though, it's a fun story with meaningful messages of overcoming weaknesses and doing what's right. There are a few mildly detailed action scenes and plenty of assassination attempts. There's no cursing or vulgar language. And the romance is limited to a few mild kisses, nothing more on-page or implied.
I received this book from the author. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
The spirit of Saints and Monsters is unmatched with its dragon hearts, princess sisters deeply passionate for their queendom, and a storyline filled with assassins and political intrigue. It's a fast-paced adventure that will keep readers wondering what will happen!
I love how Meera is a main character with physical disabilities, as I feel that there are very few heroic fantasy stories given to this topic of representation. However, I do wish the story had highlighted her disability a lot more realistically and made the story more challenging for her. But because of the fast paced storyline, her disability seemed to come off as a mild inconvenience and insecurity, rather than the core of her life. Her maneuverability and speed throughout the story did not match what we would expect of a heroine with a deeply crooked and deformed back. She was able to outrun and outswim able-bodied male warriors, stab a dragon with a dagger, and not to mention how often she escaped agile assassins with little to no training. I loved her spunk and fearless attitude because she didn't stop to let her disability prevent her from doing what was right, but I do wish that her strengths would've offset her physical weaknesses rather than contradicted them, because most of the time I forgot that she was supposed to be disabled until she mentioned a pain in her back or something minor.
Overall, though, it's a fun story with meaningful messages of overcoming weaknesses and doing what's right. There are a few mildly detailed action scenes and plenty of assassination attempts. There's no cursing or vulgar language. And the romance is limited to a few mild kisses, nothing more on-page or implied.
I received this book from the author. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.