beforeviolets's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
TW: blood, blood magic, sexual harassment, sexual assault (brief, though sudden), sacrifice, gun violence, violence, death, fire, murder, self harm (for magic), magic performed on others without consent (helpful and harmful), slavery, torture, mind control, misogyny (externalized and internalized), outing, slut shaming, toxic relationship, suicide (offscreen, past, brief), substance addiction (mention), alcohol, underage drinking (brief), alcoholism (mention), vomit (mention) death of father (offscreen, past), death of mother (past, childbirth, mention), fatphobic description
This work as a whole was an interesting and entertaining fantasy story. The setting was unique, the plot twists were interesting, and as a whole it was an easy read. However, my negative thoughts outweighed my enjoyment of reading this work.
As a retelling, this book just really isn't one. I can see the connections to the Tempest (especially with some of the names) but with the way that this book veers so drastically from the original text, those connections mostly hold the story back or make it confusing (such as the fact that in the Tempest, Miranda is Prospero's daughter but in this book, her counterpart's love interests - yes, INTERESTS, and not in a polyamorous way but in a poorly written love triangle way - are his grandchildren which creates some odd circumstance of indirect incest). The names should have just been changed more and it could have just been comped as "the Tempest meets Great Gatsby" in terms of vibes instead of material.
As a fantasy story, I also think this book fails. The first person POV detracts from the story, especially since a large element is the atmosphere. It felt as though it limited the author from being able to use descriptions and atmospheric choices to the fullest. The pacing is all over the place from the very beginning of the book, making it hard to grasp onto a narrative rhythm. This book takes place over the course of a day and needed a more steady pace to make that feel like a compelling choice. There was literally a part where the characters spent THIRTY PAGES walking to lunch, yet all the climactic scenes happened so swiftly and abruptly that I barely was able to process them. Things are just introduced and then the story just moves along too swiftly, so there's no room for twists or speculation or tension.
I also felt really icky about the way this book approached the MC's character arc and development. It seemed to be revolved around the idea of the MC learning to stand up for herself or to not be so passive in her life. But a lot of the specific language around this was worded in such a way that it seemed that it was on her to learn to "not let things just happen to her/not let people take advantage of her," which I didn't like. She has literally never interacted with a single person outside of this family that manipulates and belittles and abuses her, and yet the narrative tone tells us that she is essentially failing as a person by fawning and not standing up for her self? As if she hasn't essentially been emotionally beaten into passive and silent behavior to keep herself safe? It felt very much like victim-blaming to me.
I also just felt utterly disgusted by the fact that EVERY single man in this story had to make at LEAST a pass on the MC, and at most literally sexually assault her. Her love interests were still awful and emotionally manipulative and kind of violent, yet because they weren't literally trying to SA her, they were considered good? Why is the bar this low?
And last but not least, there was ONE queer character and it seemed as though her queerness only existed so that she could be outed as a plot point. Was not a fan.
TW: blood, blood magic, sexual harassment, sexual assault (brief, though sudden), sacrifice, gun violence, violence, death, fire, murder, self harm (for magic), magic performed on others without consent (helpful and harmful), slavery, torture, mind control, misogyny (externalized and internalized), outing, slut shaming, toxic relationship, suicide (offscreen, past, brief), substance addiction (mention), alcohol, underage drinking (brief), alcoholism (mention), vomit (mention) death of father (offscreen, past), death of mother (past, childbirth, mention), fatphobic description
This work as a whole was an interesting and entertaining fantasy story. The setting was unique, the plot twists were interesting, and as a whole it was an easy read. However, my negative thoughts outweighed my enjoyment of reading this work.
As a retelling, this book just really isn't one. I can see the connections to the Tempest (especially with some of the names) but with the way that this book veers so drastically from the original text, those connections mostly hold the story back or make it confusing (such as the fact that in the Tempest, Miranda is Prospero's daughter but in this book, her counterpart's love interests - yes, INTERESTS, and not in a polyamorous way but in a poorly written love triangle way - are his grandchildren which creates some odd circumstance of indirect incest). The names should have just been changed more and it could have just been comped as "the Tempest meets Great Gatsby" in terms of vibes instead of material.
As a fantasy story, I also think this book fails. The first person POV detracts from the story, especially since a large element is the atmosphere. It felt as though it limited the author from being able to use descriptions and atmospheric choices to the fullest. The pacing is all over the place from the very beginning of the book, making it hard to grasp onto a narrative rhythm. This book takes place over the course of a day and needed a more steady pace to make that feel like a compelling choice. There was literally a part where the characters spent THIRTY PAGES walking to lunch, yet all the climactic scenes happened so swiftly and abruptly that I barely was able to process them. Things are just introduced and then the story just moves along too swiftly, so there's no room for twists or speculation or tension.
I also felt really icky about the way this book approached the MC's character arc and development. It seemed to be revolved around the idea of the MC learning to stand up for herself or to not be so passive in her life. But a lot of the specific language around this was worded in such a way that it seemed that it was on her to learn to "not let things just happen to her/not let people take advantage of her," which I didn't like. She has literally never interacted with a single person outside of this family that manipulates and belittles and abuses her, and yet the narrative tone tells us that she is essentially failing as a person by fawning and not standing up for her self? As if she hasn't essentially been emotionally beaten into passive and silent behavior to keep herself safe? It felt very much like victim-blaming to me.
I also just felt utterly disgusted by the fact that EVERY single man in this story had to make at LEAST a pass on the MC, and at most literally sexually assault her. Her love interests were still awful and emotionally manipulative and kind of violent, yet because they weren't literally trying to SA her, they were considered good? Why is the bar this low?
And last but not least, there was ONE queer character and it seemed as though her queerness only existed so that she could be outed as a plot point. Was not a fan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Slavery, Torture, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Vomit, and Fatphobia
More...