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A review by hobbithopeful
The Night Fox by Ashley Wilda
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Thank you Penguin for this ARC
This is NOT magical realism this is CHRISTIAN FICTION.
This is a common tactic done to appeal to secular audiences, try to market the media as something else and not disclose the fact it is religious. (Also a very popular Evangelist tactic too!)
God is mentioned 69 times in this book which is a mix of poetry and writing. 69 TIMES.
I am all for reading different faiths and culture, it's important to be exposed to such things, but in a book like this where the narrative is one belief or nothing.
Main character Eli is sent away to a cabin in the woods to process her grief and mourn and goes through VERY heavy handed religious symbolism thinly disguised (and poorly disguised) as magical realism. (Guys just say it's religious or are you afraid no one would read it if you did?) Over the course of the book we have lovely rhetoric and harm shoved down our throats every other chapter.
Would you like to know the "big reveal?" Turns out all she had to do was realize God loves her and her depression is cured! ALSO HER EX ISN'T EVEN DEAD HE JUST DIDN'T BELIEVE IN GOD! I'm not even joking! The book made is seem like he was dead!
Behold THIS HARMFUL QUOTE FOR THE REVEAL: "The voice echoes in my mind: I love you. If I am loved, then I-I am meant to be here. I am meant to be alive. On this earth. At this time. I am worth something, with or without you."
This is easily the most harmful and problematic book I've ever read in my lifetime.
Don't worry we also get some lovely purity culture and abstinence only education mentioned too! Luckily Eli and her ex "only kissed" even though she was worried they were moving too fast. And of course it mentions she hasn't had sex yet! Because that was necessary! (It wasn't!)
I worry what happens if a kid reads this and receives the message this book is trying to shove down people's throats. All you have to do is "accept God's love" and your depression will be magically cured.
That's not how that works, it's ableist and is going to cause lasting harm! You can't pray away depression or mental health LITERALLY THAT'S NOT HOW THAT WORKS! The number of mutuals who have trauma from this rhetoric (as do I) is numerous. Mental health and depression is NOT a choice.
Even in the author's note they say
Lastly, at the end of the day- there is Someone out there who loves you. Who doesn't want to fix you. Who doesn't think you need fixing. ..And if you listen you can hear it"
I am incredibly disappointed that this book is being marketed falsely, and incredibly angry in everyone involved in getting this harmful book published. Any child or teenager who reads this and believes if they just can hear God or believe enough or accept God's love, that they will be happy and then wonders why that doesn't happen? That's on y'all. You should be ASHAMED.
Any quotes come from an ARC and are subject to change before the book is released and finalized.
This is NOT magical realism this is CHRISTIAN FICTION.
This is a common tactic done to appeal to secular audiences, try to market the media as something else and not disclose the fact it is religious. (Also a very popular Evangelist tactic too!)
God is mentioned 69 times in this book which is a mix of poetry and writing. 69 TIMES.
I am all for reading different faiths and culture, it's important to be exposed to such things, but in a book like this where the narrative is one belief or nothing.
Main character Eli is sent away to a cabin in the woods to process her grief and mourn and goes through VERY heavy handed religious symbolism thinly disguised (and poorly disguised) as magical realism. (Guys just say it's religious or are you afraid no one would read it if you did?) Over the course of the book we have lovely rhetoric and harm shoved down our throats every other chapter.
Would you like to know the "big reveal?" Turns out
Behold THIS HARMFUL QUOTE FOR THE REVEAL:
This is easily the most harmful and problematic book I've ever read in my lifetime.
Don't worry we also get some lovely purity culture and abstinence only education mentioned too!
I worry what happens if a kid reads this and receives the message this book is trying to shove down people's throats. All you have to do is "accept God's love" and your depression will be magically cured.
That's not how that works, it's ableist and is going to cause lasting harm! You can't pray away depression or mental health LITERALLY THAT'S NOT HOW THAT WORKS! The number of mutuals who have trauma from this rhetoric (as do I) is numerous. Mental health and depression is NOT a choice.
Even in the author's note they say
Lastly, at the end of the day- there is Someone out there who loves you. Who doesn't want to fix you. Who doesn't think you need fixing. ..And if you listen you can hear it"
I am incredibly disappointed that this book is being marketed falsely, and incredibly angry in everyone involved in getting this harmful book published. Any child or teenager who reads this and believes if they just can hear God or believe enough or accept God's love, that they will be happy and then wonders why that doesn't happen? That's on y'all. You should be ASHAMED.
Any quotes come from an ARC and are subject to change before the book is released and finalized.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Religious bigotry