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A review by ellar_pfalz
Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
5.0
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I literally cannot say how awesome this book was, for so many reasons. First off, though, I will have to caution that this is a continuation/spinoff of Hartman's Seraphina duology, and it would be far easier a read to start with those books and then continue on with this one, as the world-building isn't really that explained in Tess as it is in the first two books. I read the first two books a few years ago, and so I forgot a few things about the world, which made it a bit tricky to read Tess, but I managed.
Tess is a thoroughly incredible character. She's strong and sassy, full of love and is quick to help those around her even at her own expense. However, she's been beaten down because of the society in which she lives. I won't say too much about her backstory, because it's something that is beautifully discovered throughout the book, but she's had a hard time of it, and having a character work through her past like this was a really unique focus for a book, and I think it's one that definitely should be explored more. The themes of femininity, womanhood, agency, redemption, healing and finding your own place in the world are dealt with heavily through this book, and honestly I think it's a book that every young woman (or even adult woman) should read. I got teary-eyed several times.
I expected it to be more about adventure and less about the internal struggles of Tess, the main character, but I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed everything this book had to offer. Tess is Everywoman, out on a journey to discover herself and reconcile the parts of her past that she regrets or that have left indelible scars on her soul.
I literally want everyone to read this book, so go do it!!
I literally cannot say how awesome this book was, for so many reasons. First off, though, I will have to caution that this is a continuation/spinoff of Hartman's Seraphina duology, and it would be far easier a read to start with those books and then continue on with this one, as the world-building isn't really that explained in Tess as it is in the first two books. I read the first two books a few years ago, and so I forgot a few things about the world, which made it a bit tricky to read Tess, but I managed.
Tess is a thoroughly incredible character. She's strong and sassy, full of love and is quick to help those around her even at her own expense. However, she's been beaten down because of the society in which she lives. I won't say too much about her backstory, because it's something that is beautifully discovered throughout the book, but she's had a hard time of it, and having a character work through her past like this was a really unique focus for a book, and I think it's one that definitely should be explored more. The themes of femininity, womanhood, agency, redemption, healing and finding your own place in the world are dealt with heavily through this book, and honestly I think it's a book that every young woman (or even adult woman) should read. I got teary-eyed several times.
I expected it to be more about adventure and less about the internal struggles of Tess, the main character, but I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed everything this book had to offer. Tess is Everywoman, out on a journey to discover herself and reconcile the parts of her past that she regrets or that have left indelible scars on her soul.
I literally want everyone to read this book, so go do it!!