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peytiebear's review
- 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
3.5
I can't say I really *enjoyed* reading this book, yet I finished it, because I do really enjoy her world-building and character creation. I love the magic and imagination. But in terms of what's actually happening in the plot and how the characters are behaving, I found it frustrating and not very enjoyable.
I also don't know how Indigenous/First Nations people might feel about this book (I'm white). It's very heavily about colonialism, and there are fantasy Indigenous nations featured throughout. I could see it going either way -- that an Indigenous person might think it was cool to see themselves "represented", fantasy-style, but I could also see Indigenous folks finding this fantasy portrayal insulting and possibly playing into negative tropes, and/or triggering. I am not the authority on that! But some things gave me pause and I wasn't sure what impact this book might have. And I don't know what Rachel Hartman's heritage is, either -- I feel like it matters whether or not she herself is Indigenous.
Graphic: Colonisation and Racism
Minor: Rape
margaret_k30's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, War, Slavery, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Child death, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Cultural appropriation, Classism, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Genocide
Minor: Abortion, Gaslighting, Rape, Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse
guessgreenleaf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexism, Colonisation, and Racism
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Mental illness, War, Violence, and Slavery
eetishmeh's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Her intricate worldbuilding strikes again in In the Serpent's Wake, and, as expected from this series, the internal conflict and reflections of the characters are a major part of it.
I love how it tackles the issue of colonisation and the injustice to native people, along with other things like worries about gender + gender presentation, moral standing, and interpersonal relationships.
I'd recommend this series to someone who wants a reflective and insightful read, yet also adores fantasy settings and worldbuilding!
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Genocide, and Colonisation
Moderate: War, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Abortion, Alcoholism, Murder, Pregnancy, Vomit, Sexism, Alcohol, Child death, and Sexual assault
Please look up content warnings for this book! I may have missed a fewtheodinspire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation
Minor: War, Genocide, and Gore
latida94'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
4.0
Moderate: Miscarriage, Death, Racism, Chronic illness, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Child death
sophiesmallhands'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
4.25
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Slavery, Violence, Gaslighting, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Grief, Racism, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Genocide, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Classism, Animal death, Death, and Gore
ouroredux'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
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Rape
nytephoenyx'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
4.75
- No need to reread Tess of the Road. Hartman recaps the whole thing at the beginning of this book… in verse.
- There is so much representation in this book. As is true with all Hartman’s novels. I cannot speak as to the accuracy, but it is there.
- There is misgendering. It is directly addressed and condemned.
- There is patronization, colonization, and attempted genocide of indigenous people. This is directly addressed and condemned.
- You don’t have to have read any of Hartman’s other books to enjoy In the Serpent’s Wake, but previous understanding of the races and general world building elements make for a better experience.
Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Violence
Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
totallyshelfaware's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Colonisation, War, Racism, and Genocide
Minor: Rape