ilishii's review
dark
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I want to start off with saying that even though I have a lot of complaints about this book, I'm still interested enough to continue the series.
- This was the slowest mf I've read in a while. The details are a little overboard especially when it's details about delivering mail. It's an odd mix of high stakes and mundane daily life. There were so many parts where I wanted to shake the characters so they would focus on things that I considered more important.
- The motivations for some of the characters are weak at best. Asia Crane, for example, bringing up her fictional character in her future tv show every 5 minutes as a reason for high-stakes espionage felt weak and dumb to me. She kept mentioning how it would make her very rich, but I don't understand how espionage at the level she was attempting wouldn't do the same thing.
- The Others falling in love with Meg just because she delivered the mail also felt silly. She made super powerful allies because she delivered some movies and bumbled along the entire way? OK.
- The number of times women were put down for being boring and talking too much was dumb. I can't remember how much of a problem it was in the first book, because I'm reading the second book now (where it is an even bigger problem that stands out to me even more) and the details are getting a little mixed up in my head. Just know that it happens and for what? I vote we all agree to stop putting women down for just existing.
- The control Meg has over beings that could fuck her up just because she has some dog cookies doesn't make sense to me.
Now that I'm done nit-picking, I will say that even though it is slow and cheesy I still want to know the rest of the character's stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
mimicry's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Overall it’s simplistic and cutesy, despite some darker themes. There’s a lot of repetition, and the worldbuilding is lazy. Characterization can get lazy also. For example, POV characters in the series all describe the ponies with the same words: grumpy faces, barrel chests, clompy dinner-plate sized hooves. No matter who they are or where they’re from they all eat dinner on a plate the size of an elemental pony’s foot, apparently.
I wouldn’t consider this book to have a diverse cast, unless you count the many types of Others as diversity. Among the humans it’s almost exclusively cishet white.
I wouldn’t consider this book to have a diverse cast, unless you count the many types of Others as diversity. Among the humans it’s almost exclusively cishet white.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Slavery, Self harm, and Addiction
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault, Torture, and Rape
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Animal death, Blood, Slavery, Self harm, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Confinement, Medical content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Colonisation, Cursing, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and War
greymalkin's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow! I really enjoyed this. I loved the world and the fresh take on supernatural creatures. It reminds me of Robin McKinley's Sunshine, where the predatory nature of supernatural creatures is much more believable and darker.
Spoiler
I thought that Anne Bishop did a great job capturing Meg's subtle character traits. She's kind and innocent but not a doormat. She's petite and fragile and not very strong but doesn't assume she should be treated as such. I absolutely bought how the other characters grew to like her. The relationship between her and Simon evolved very naturally, and the stuff with Sam is heartbreaking but so emotionally believable. I finished the book and immediately bought and started reading the next one. There aren't too many books where that's the case.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse and Cannibalism
Minor: Rape
qace90's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Reread Jan 5, 2023: gosh I really do adore this book and this world and these characters. The mystery and the community is all so good and as it got to the climax, even having vague recollections (it has been more than 6 years since I read it last!) I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see all the threads play out. This is just such a great book of community and learning to accept new people and change perspective, and the power of kindness and the ripple effects of a few “small” choices.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death
Minor: Gore and Rape
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