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A review by omp
The Mad Women's Ball by Victoria Mas
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
I wanted so much more from this bit of historical fiction with a Gothic lean. It's a time period of women who don't fit society's norms being shut away in asylums by the men in their lives. The doctors in charge are cruel and see these women only as fodder for experiments, and society, while fearing the women, also view them as entertainment. Throw in a bit of psychic wonder, and it should be a fabulous story.
However, it falls flat. There is no solid plot. The characters lack real development and depth. And the ending is so very predictable and lackluster.
There are a few poignant lines scattered through the text, though...
"The people who judged her, the people who have judged me... their judgement stems from their own beliefs. Unswerving faith in any idea inevitably leads to prejudice. Have I told you how calm I feel since I began to doubt? What is important is not to have beliefs, but to be able to doubt, to question anything, everything, even oneself. To doubt."
However, it falls flat. There is no solid plot. The characters lack real development and depth. And the ending is so very predictable and lackluster.
There are a few poignant lines scattered through the text, though...
"The people who judged her, the people who have judged me... their judgement stems from their own beliefs. Unswerving faith in any idea inevitably leads to prejudice. Have I told you how calm I feel since I began to doubt? What is important is not to have beliefs, but to be able to doubt, to question anything, everything, even oneself. To doubt."