Reviews

Ha'penny by Jo Walton

trashthatmatters's review

3.0

So depressing 

sarahd3's review

4.0

Better than the first book in the series. I think it was because I like Voila's character more than the woman in the first book.

sunflowerjess's review against another edition

challenging tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The author did a fabulous job writing from two different characters' perspectives - first person for Viola and third person for Carmichael. Each had their own very unique voice, and flipping between these two characters really helped keep the tension mounting throughout the book. It's scary to think what could have happened if WWII had gone differently; this series is a thought-provoking study of one possible world. I will definitely read the third installment to this series. 

leavingsealevel's review against another edition

3.0

Addicting. Even though I actively dislike most of the characters, and even though the premise is completely disturbing.

marmoset737's review

5.0

I read the first in this series pre-Trump America and I liked it but wow - reading this series in our current political climate is a whole other experience. A chilling look at how apathy shapes society - but also a really great mystery with a compelling central character.

ginnikin's review

2.0

I love an AU when it's well done, and there's nothing wrong with this one. I didn't all that much care for the return of the daughter of powerful family who's cast out by her actions. Once okay, but twice?

Also, I'm not entirely comfortable with the "relationship"; there was just enough hint at some affectionate entanglement that the whole thing became icky. If it'd been just having some fun, I might've been better with it.

linneahedvig's review

5.0

Also so good! See my review on Farthing.

ielerol's review

4.0

Why do I keep reading alternate histories about Nazis taking over the UK (and the US is straight-up allied with Hitler) when here we are in actual history? Well, in one way it's comforting to read these books and know that the current crop of fascist assholes are so much less competent than the ones portrayed (though in another it's frustrating because they're so incompetent and yet also they're NOT OUT OF POWER). But in a larger sense, the stories are looking at historical change: when can a small-seeming nudge tip the balance of power, or public opinion? And what kind of events gather a momentum that eventually becomes much harder to stop? One thing I definitely keep thinking about in regard to the current moment is, how do we tell when we're balanced at a tipping point, and how do we tell when we're too far gone for anything but a long, slow slog to bring us back? These aren't questions I look to a work of fiction to answer, but I do find fiction useful to help me think through what the possible answers are.

And then there's a certain compulsive readability I find in most of Walton's writing. I know, I know these books can't end the way I want them to, and yet. I can't help but be sucked into hoping. It's like Hadestown, I guess, which I also adore. It's a sad song, we all know how it's going to end. But we're still gonna sing it again.

gillothen's review

4.0

Frankly, this is feeling less and less fictional - a world in which peace was made with Germany in 1941, and fascism became the dominant political force in Britain.

heatherjm's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0