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mtaylor270's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcohol
zober's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I really liked A Pale Light in the Black but was less impressed with this NeoG installment. The pacing and editing problems I took issue with in the last book were better! But unfortunately the plot wasn't nearly as good, and Wagers did the same weird thing where they identified all trans characters as trans without needing to. This book was also way less light-hearted than the first book, which I wasn't expecting.
I'll start with plot:
The plot points seemed less believable - I like to think that the intelligence agency of the NeoG can come up with a plan less likely to blow up in their face than they did, but I guess that wouldn't have made for a very good plot. But that means that I found some of the plot points unrealistic. And it's always frustrating to me when the plot revolves around poor communication or miscommunication, which was the case for the first half of the book. That's a plot crutch imo, and not the sort of drama I enjoy reading about. And lastly, the plot wrapped up so quickly. I noticed that there wasn't much of a conclusion in the first book, but it was worse here. It would be so easy to just include another chapter of wrap-up, where you show the effects on the main characters, how their relationships have evolved, whatever. But there is no falling action here - the climax of the book is the end of the book.
And now for the treatment of trans characters:
In the last book, I thought it was weird when the narration introduced a side character by referring to them as "a trans woman". Wagers does that again in Hold Fast through the Fire - not just once, but FOUR TIMES. I love that there are trans characters! Having characters (especially main characters) outside of cis & binary gender norms is a big part of why I like these books. I love a queer-normative world. Which is why it feels so backwards to be othering the trans characters like Wagers is doing. Just introduce the character as a woman! They don't identify other binary-gendered side characters as "cis women", or "cis men", just as men or women (or they don't specify gender but just give pronouns).
Examples:
I'll start with plot:
The plot points seemed less believable - I like to think that the intelligence agency of the NeoG can come up with a plan less likely to blow up in their face than they did, but I guess that wouldn't have made for a very good plot. But that means that I found some of the plot points unrealistic. And it's always frustrating to me when the plot revolves around poor communication or miscommunication, which was the case for the first half of the book. That's a plot crutch imo, and not the sort of drama I enjoy reading about. And lastly, the plot wrapped up so quickly. I noticed that there wasn't much of a conclusion in the first book, but it was worse here. It would be so easy to just include another chapter of wrap-up, where you show the effects on the main characters, how their relationships have evolved, whatever. But there is no falling action here - the climax of the book is the end of the book.
And now for the treatment of trans characters:
In the last book, I thought it was weird when the narration introduced a side character by referring to them as "a trans woman". Wagers does that again in Hold Fast through the Fire - not just once, but FOUR TIMES. I love that there are trans characters! Having characters (especially main characters) outside of cis & binary gender norms is a big part of why I like these books. I love a queer-normative world. Which is why it feels so backwards to be othering the trans characters like Wagers is doing. Just introduce the character as a woman! They don't identify other binary-gendered side characters as "cis women", or "cis men", just as men or women (or they don't specify gender but just give pronouns).
Examples:
She blinked again at the gorgeous trans woman in front of her, not quite sure she was seeing who she was seeing.
--> character is on page for 1.5 pages, then shows up again later in the book for another 1.5 pages.
The trans man behind Jenks shook his head with a roll of his eyes. "Hi Chae, Atlas Nash. Welcome to the NeoG."
--> character is on page for 1.5 pages
Commander Alice Trine of Avenging Heroes was facing off with Commander Janelle Pham of Sol Rising. The tiny trans woman was barely taller than Jenks, but Max already knew she hit like an asteroid and right now she stared up at Alice with her hands open but fury in her eyes.
--> character is on page for 2 pages. Also that's some poor editing - it's not clear which commander is "the tiny trans woman" because of the ambiguous use of pronouns. And who's staring up at Alice? is it Max, or the "trans woman Janelle Pham"? -_-
One of the TLF soldiers, a slender trans man by the name of Ro, choked back a laugh at Jenks's grin. "I like you already," he said, pointing a finger across the table.
--> that passage is the only one the character appears in.
I love that there are nonbinary MCs, but given that these trans side characters had no important plot relevance, it felt like they were just included so that the author can say "look my book has (non-enby) trans characters!"
I love that there are nonbinary MCs, but given that these trans side characters had no important plot relevance, it felt like they were just included so that the author can say "look my book has (non-enby) trans characters!"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Emotional abuse
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