blacksphinx's review against another edition
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This extremely slow-paced gothic fantasy kept my attention the entire time. I am curious of how the overall story will turn out, and I do care about some of the characters.
But I cannot in good consciousness recommend it to anyone due to an important character being an offensive Magical Negro trope. I know this book is 20 years old, but at NO point did the author ever stop and go, "maybe describing the only Black character in my story as smelling like human feces every time she appears is offensive?" She has mystical powers that are considered immoral by the other characters! She speaks in broken english like a minstrel show character! Her hair is described as being tangled and dirty! She walks around topless and seduces a white man, promising to teach him magic in exchange for having sex with her! It's really bad.
But I cannot in good consciousness recommend it to anyone due to an important character being an offensive Magical Negro trope. I know this book is 20 years old, but at NO point did the author ever stop and go, "maybe describing the only Black character in my story as smelling like human feces every time she appears is offensive?" She has mystical powers that are considered immoral by the other characters! She speaks in broken english like a minstrel show character! Her hair is described as being tangled and dirty! She walks around topless and seduces a white man, promising to teach him magic in exchange for having sex with her! It's really bad.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Racism, Child death, Grief, Suicide, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Misogyny, Homophobia, Sexual content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Bullying, and Sexism
Minor: Pedophilia, War, Xenophobia, and Blood
amandabarylski's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
The buildup was good and there was a lot of suspense, but the ending wasn't very satisfying, more of a cliffhanger leading into the second book.
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Child death, Suicide, and Cursing
Moderate: Grief and Pedophilia
Minor: Homophobia, War, and Sexism
More...