karcitis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Colonisation, Murder, War, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, and Body horror
Moderate: Vomit, Animal death, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Dysphoria, Confinement, Child abuse, and Cannibalism
josb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There were less pacing issues than Witch King but the main problem still remained, there was a lot more tell rather than show. Many of the big revelations happened through conversation which I find more interesting if the conversation follows maybe a series of hints, maybe the MC kindof having an inkling of the reveal.
There were parts where Wyatt was coming to realizations while in quiet moments with his family. This is certainly more realistic, but sometimes I just want to watch cool fantasy people do cool things. The last 30% was very good and did keep me on the edge of my seat. I wish that the book would have been structured so that what happened at the 60-70% mark happened earlier so that there would be more time for natural discovery.
I enjoyed the discomfort around the disruptive agenda of the novel. Certainly not something I would recommend unless you want to challenge your perspective on current systems and how they treat anyone not "preferred" within it. One thing to note is that Wyatt tends to use a lot of gen z/millennial references. I tend to struggle with pop culture references, it was not so bad I couldn't get the meaning through context but if that is not your thing be aware.
There were a few chapters where the perspective shifted and I really saw Edgmon's skill as a writer. While I wasn't completely in love with the delivery for the Witch King Series I am excited to try future works by the author.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
Minor: Murder and Cannibalism
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Fae Keeper by H.E. Edgmon is book two in The Witch King series. This book was just as good as the first one! For a book that covers a lot of intense and serious themes, Edgmon has done an excellent job of not making the story too heavy.
We pick up with Wyatt where the last book left off. Emyr has abolished and dismantled the Guard, and is now trying to navigate how to get more equality for the witches among the Fae. Our gang learns pretty quickly that systematic oppression doesn't just go away over night, nor does the generations of learned bigotry go away so easily. Wyatt and Emyr try to get the other Fae kingdoms to follow their lead and abolish their own Guard and implement equality for Witches.
Wyatt gets some much needed character growth this book. As much as I love that angsty little goblin, he tends to be a self centered, sarcastic asshole. He and Briar get into it, and he gets a reality check. Wyatt also finally gets a handle on his powers, but I do wish we had spent more time on that. I felt like he figured it out too quickly without trying too hard. I love the revelations the inhabitants of Faery bring! Turns out the witches aren't an accident of nature (just like queer people aren't an accident), but instead were created to compliment and balance out the Fae magic. Fae magic takes away, while Witch magic brings it back.
Edgmon has created a dynamic world with amazing and diverse characters, and tackles some difficult topics with grace and enough dry humor and sarcasm to make the story feel lighter. I don't think this series is getting another book, but I would love one just about Faery. Just read this queer, angsty book.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, and Animal death
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Cannibalism, Transphobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Homophobia
sliceofsav's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Racism, Violence, Death, and Car accident
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Cannibalism, Grief, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
bookwormbi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Violence, Cursing, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
the_vegan_bookworm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The book lost 0.25 stars, because some elements of the plot (like Emyr and Wyatt's relationship, and the addition of the changelings) felt unecessarily complicated and caused the plot feel slow-moving at times.
Spoiler
The inclusion of sexual violence against Tessa was completely unnecessary, and I am really disappointed in the author for featuring it. It didn't add to the plot in any meaningful way short of showing how evil Clarke is (which was not needed - we already knew that when she killed her brother and ate his heart). Tessa just becomes collateral damage to show how depraved someone else is, and the author deliberately chooses to never even examine the harm that it causes her. For such an otherwise progressive read, I felt a little betrayed by this careless inclusion.Graphic: Death, Dysphoria, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Violence, War, Body horror, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Genocide
Minor: Racism