blacksphinx's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Child death, Suicide, and Cursing
Moderate: Grief and Pedophilia
Minor: Homophobia, War, and Sexism
bookswithjk's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall, I did enjoy the story and am eager to hunt down the sequel. Someone described this as The Belgariad, but with faster pacing, and I would agree with that.
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Child death, Suicide, and War
cursedepub's review
- 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
5.0
The Bone Doll's Twin is told from rotating perspectives, giving the reader a uniquely detailed and three-dimensional view into the many moving parts of this world and story. I love a strong ensemble cast - the fact that we get a glimpse into nearly everyone's point of view, history, and motivations is one of the reasons I love this book. I also enjoyed how every character has regrets, flaws, and/or dark secrets, including our heroes, which I far prefer over wholly good characters. A testament to the strength of the writing is that there is no big plot twist or reveal for us readers, as the rotating perspective gives us pretty much everything, and yet this does nothing to lessen the tension and suspense of the novel. I had to stop and catch my breath after finishing it!
As much as I loved this book, I have to give the following caveats: As a transgender man, I am not 100% on the gender story being told regarding Tobin. It may have been more powerful if Tobin were straightforwardly a trans woman, rather than someone whose biologically female body is hidden under a biologically male body through magic, but it's a very bold move to make for the early 2000s. I also appreciate how there is a LGBT presence in the books, although the setting is not exempt from homophobia, and there is a pedophile gay stereotype character.
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Pedophilia, Misogyny, and Alcoholism