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A review by lillist
But For The Mountains by Erin Riha
4.0
I have received a digital copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!
4 stars - a dark but gripping tale of resilience
This is the (hopefully) first part of Arden's story - a girl who is born poor but given by her parents to a "benefactor": a rich man who takes in girls to sponsor and send them as candidates to the so-called "National Women’s Institute" every year. There they are to perfect their education and then to move into prestigious positions where they use their skill and knowledge to represent their country. At least this is the official story. When Arden hears she is one of the few chosen for the school she finally sees a way out of the grip of her benefactor's son CJ who is abusing his power over her in the worst way possible.
But in this school it seems that it is all about catching the prince. Or if not that, then at least another husband in a position of influence. Arden, who is not well prepared to be a candidate is very much an underdog- but anything would be better than to return to her old home, back to her abuser. All she wants is to be free to make her own decisions ...
Now, this was an absolutely gripping story I could barely put down, but it was darker than my usual fare. There is plenty of mention of abuse of different kinds, mostly rape, which is not easy to stomach. The descriptions were not graphic though, we are rather confronted with the aftermath of the emotional and physical scars abuse leaves and that still, it is possible to refuse to be the victim, to fight back - if one gets the means to do so.
Arden is a great heroine in that regard. Despite all that has happened to her she may be damaged but not broken. She does not put up with being treated poorly, she keeps fighting for what feels like it should not even be a privilge - the simple right to free decisions, particularly when it comes to your own body.
The book is at its strongest when it comes to analysing how power and privilege play out. How helpless those without power are to be moved around like pawns in a game of chess and how easy it is to use them for those who wield that power. It is also great in highlighting how blind privilege can make us to understanding the struggles of those who don't have it. The prince, Conrad, represents that perfectly - he is well meaning but in many ways a pampered boy and rather clueless. And in one case one of the girls in the school has to pay for his well-meaning cluelessness. He of course, doesn't.
Speaking of the prince: of course the story has to have some romance. And there's not only the fair prince, there is also his antithesis, a dark, handsome captain of a boat, no a SHIP, who comes from less privilege and who understands much more.
To be honest, I could really have done without the love triangle and the parts where Arden cannot seem to be able to decide who she actually likes. I felt that her behaviour in some of those scenes did not quite mesh with what we know about her, it seemed to just serve the trope. But maybe I'm just biased because I really didn't care for the fair prince whatsoever ...
Actually, I feel like the story would have been stronger without the romance altogether, if it had focussed more on Arden.
But really, that's my only gripe. At least I like one of the guys so I have someone to root for! In any case, I very much hope that the story will continue, it's one worth following.
4 stars - a dark but gripping tale of resilience
This is the (hopefully) first part of Arden's story - a girl who is born poor but given by her parents to a "benefactor": a rich man who takes in girls to sponsor and send them as candidates to the so-called "National Women’s Institute" every year. There they are to perfect their education and then to move into prestigious positions where they use their skill and knowledge to represent their country. At least this is the official story. When Arden hears she is one of the few chosen for the school she finally sees a way out of the grip of her benefactor's son CJ who is abusing his power over her in the worst way possible.
But in this school it seems that it is all about catching the prince. Or if not that, then at least another husband in a position of influence. Arden, who is not well prepared to be a candidate is very much an underdog- but anything would be better than to return to her old home, back to her abuser. All she wants is to be free to make her own decisions ...
Now, this was an absolutely gripping story I could barely put down, but it was darker than my usual fare. There is plenty of mention of abuse of different kinds, mostly rape, which is not easy to stomach. The descriptions were not graphic though, we are rather confronted with the aftermath of the emotional and physical scars abuse leaves and that still, it is possible to refuse to be the victim, to fight back - if one gets the means to do so.
Arden is a great heroine in that regard. Despite all that has happened to her she may be damaged but not broken. She does not put up with being treated poorly, she keeps fighting for what feels like it should not even be a privilge - the simple right to free decisions, particularly when it comes to your own body.
The book is at its strongest when it comes to analysing how power and privilege play out. How helpless those without power are to be moved around like pawns in a game of chess and how easy it is to use them for those who wield that power. It is also great in highlighting how blind privilege can make us to understanding the struggles of those who don't have it. The prince, Conrad, represents that perfectly - he is well meaning but in many ways a pampered boy and rather clueless. And in one case one of the girls in the school has to pay for his well-meaning cluelessness. He of course, doesn't.
Speaking of the prince: of course the story has to have some romance. And there's not only the fair prince, there is also his antithesis, a dark, handsome captain of a boat, no a SHIP, who comes from less privilege and who understands much more.
To be honest, I could really have done without the love triangle and the parts where Arden cannot seem to be able to decide who she actually likes. I felt that her behaviour in some of those scenes did not quite mesh with what we know about her, it seemed to just serve the trope. But maybe I'm just biased because I really didn't care for the fair prince whatsoever ...
Actually, I feel like the story would have been stronger without the romance altogether, if it had focussed more on Arden.
But really, that's my only gripe. At least I like one of the guys so I have someone to root for! In any case, I very much hope that the story will continue, it's one worth following.