Reviews

Gilded Mountain: A Novel by Kate Manning

leweylibrary's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I'm so torn on my feelings about this book. On one hand, I felt like it was dragging on forever in so many places and just moving at a glacial pace with very few exciting moments to keep me going. There were also some parts though that felt so rushed and underwhelming when they shouldn't have been. The MC also got on my nerves a lot, mostly just making terrible decisions for horrible reasons. 

On the other hand, I did still find myself wanting to read it 🤷‍♀️ I kept waiting and waiting for this inevitable strike to happen and then once it did to see how it turned out, and honestly we never really see that lol the book leaves off with Sylvie's story instead. I did think the union parts were really interesting and her work with the paper and KT. I also liked the rough parts lol like

her father dying

and the grueling conditions they endured in the winter. Everything about the romance was so annoying lol big moments felt too rushed and cheapened--like why the heck did George react like that to finding out

there was someone else? Like he didn't even know who it was or anything, he just left and abandoned the strike effort there when it was so close to resolved

Lastly I'll say that there were some really well-written parts throughout, and I think that helped keep me going.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Murder, Body horror, Gore, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Police brutality, Sexism, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Grief

gracescanlon's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Violence, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Misogyny, Racism, Blood, Grief, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Death

Moderate: Hate crime, Sexual violence, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Slavery, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, and Vomit

Minor: Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, War, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, and Mental illness

m_anderhart's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

3.5

suzyk's review against another edition

I couldn't remain interested in this one. It dragged on and I had trouble connecting with the characters. 

pinknezu's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

3.75

elianna_n's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

mskikijones's review

reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

laurengrubbsshaney's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

janet_haviland's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.25

Really enjoyed this book, so much more than I thought I would. Adventure, history, a whole different world. Great characters, social commentary on issues that remain relevant. A sweeping, beautifully written historical fiction. 

kaimetcalfe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Racism

Moderate: Classism, Police brutality, Sexual content, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cursing, Death, Deportation, Infidelity, and Slavery

Minor: Mental illness, Confinement, Grief, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual content