Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower

I loved the first half of this book, which made the ending all the more disappointing.

What’s good: the voice, the wit, the scenario, the narration

What’s bad: Floralinda does not become empowered to be her real self; rather, she is broken and hardened by events into someone who is no more, and perhaps far less, her “real” self than the spoiled princess she started as. In the end she has become someone who turns to violence first, regardless of need, who now willingly upholds the same violent institution that imprisoned her in the first place. I also am not at all comfortable with the implication that one cannot be a girl and also be strong, or damaged, or anything less than softly pretty and meek, and that being tough and deviating from mainstream beauty standards makes one a “monster.” And then there is the uncomfortable incident where Floralinda forces agender Cobweb to choose whether to be a boy or a girl. I assumed the book would circle back around to that by the end and correct things, but it never did.

This book started off so well. I wish it hadn’t let me down in the end.

Content Warnings

emmylux7's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.25

the princess saves herself with a help of a fairy who likes science. what's not to like. this book was hysterical from beginning to end. I highly recommend the audiobook!!

Content Warnings

andloveistoolong's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny fast-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

blewballoon's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I listened to this on audiobook because I loved reading Gideon the Ninth by the same author, and I wanted to get a feel for this narrator since I know she (Moira Quirk) narrates The Locked Tomb series. First of all, Moira Quirk is fantastic and I'd listen to just about anything she narrated. As far as the story, it's an interesting examination of fairy-tale tropes. As might be expected if you've read anything else by Tamsyn Muir, it can be quite dark while also being sarcastic and humorous.

Content Warnings

More...