Reviews

Alyson does it again with this exceptional book. I read this while having the worst period of my life, cramping up a storm and totally bedridden, and I'm so glad it was my companion. It's such an interesting dissection of the problems of violently toxic masculinity, dysphoria, and it has a truly unique solution to the former and an interesting perspective on the latter. The characters all grow so much in this book, it's hard not to be rooting for each and every single one of them. Dorley made me realize how badly I was waiting on certain pieces of my transition, which I've now started on. I have it to thank for that. Dorley made me realize how much I yearned for sisterly affection, which I'm now receiving. I have it to thank for that too. It's hard to express how much this book means to me and how much of a breadth of the trans experience it showcases. And the goddamn mugs!! They are just a hoot! I'll just say that my perspective on forced feminization as a rehabilitation tactic has changed dramatically as a result of this series :) I also LOVE that this book has the trope of 7 plotlines going on simultaneously that all converge and flash through each other rapidly right at the climax of the book.

The one reason this isn't 5 stars for me: I don't feel like the books in the series end well. I totally get that this is to play into the next book in the series, but it feels like there is so much trauma that's backloaded right at the end. It's hard to get through and a really sour note to end the book on.

diamond_dynamo's review

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emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I absolutely adore this story. Full disclosure, I read the chapters of this book on the AO3 version, not my physical copy, but to my knowledge they're the same.

I continue to be enraptured by this series. It continues to be the best trans story I've read to date.

I do think that compared to the first book, the story feels a bit less focused, but that's because the story moves to more of an ensemble piece, and by the end of the book (and certainly by the chapters that have come out since), I adjusted to it and am now onto it.

I'd still recommend this story for any trans person, and I'm still very curious what a cis person would think of it.

tbrnichols's review

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

I found the "secrets" part to be a bit busy. Like there's so many simultaneous crises and it can be a bit hard to keep track of and I thought the places where Val's story interleaved at the end were a bit odd and inconsistent. Do very much love the characters, and I like the way the flashbacks really dive into a character.

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