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A review by queer_bookwyrm
Impostor Syndrome by Mishell Baker
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, death, blood, suicide mention, death of a parent mention, self harm, discussions of various mental illnesses
Imposter Syndrome by Mishell Baker is the final book in The Arcadia Project series. I have loved every book in this series! It's so underrated, I never see it on Instagram, but it needs to be talked about. We have a bisexual FMC with borderline personality disorder and a physical disability, and many other mental illnesses are represented. This is a great urban fantasy with some solid themes.
We pick up with Millie after the events of the last book. The Arcadia Project has split into two factions, with LA and New Orleans being on the side of not enslaving spirits in spell work, and everyone else clinging to the status quo they have been indoctrinated into. Millie feels like she is in an impossible situation trying to get everyone to see reason, and trying to make alliances with various Seelie and Unseelie fey. We get a heist! A couple of heists actually, but naturally, nothing goes the way it's supposed to, and things get a lot worse before they get better.
Millie gets a lot of personal growth in this book, and I love that the author lets us see how Millie interacted with the world as a disabled borderline without making it the central plot. Millie is constantly fighting her borderline dysphoria and the imposter syndrome that she isn't able to actually do something good. Magic never 'cures' Millie. The ending was kind of bittersweet, we don't really get to see a happy ending for Millie personally. We get to see more of Brand the manticore, which I loved. He's such a great character. I also loved seeing more of Elliot and the new spirit friend, Caveat.
If you're looking for an urban fantasy with fey, portals, magic, spirits, and a revolution, with lots of diversity and queer characters, pick up this series.
Imposter Syndrome by Mishell Baker is the final book in The Arcadia Project series. I have loved every book in this series! It's so underrated, I never see it on Instagram, but it needs to be talked about. We have a bisexual FMC with borderline personality disorder and a physical disability, and many other mental illnesses are represented. This is a great urban fantasy with some solid themes.
We pick up with Millie after the events of the last book. The Arcadia Project has split into two factions, with LA and New Orleans being on the side of not enslaving spirits in spell work, and everyone else clinging to the status quo they have been indoctrinated into. Millie feels like she is in an impossible situation trying to get everyone to see reason, and trying to make alliances with various Seelie and Unseelie fey. We get a heist! A couple of heists actually, but naturally, nothing goes the way it's supposed to, and things get a lot worse before they get better.
Millie gets a lot of personal growth in this book, and I love that the author lets us see how Millie interacted with the world as a disabled borderline without making it the central plot. Millie is constantly fighting her borderline dysphoria and the imposter syndrome that she isn't able to actually do something good. Magic never 'cures' Millie. The ending was kind of bittersweet, we don't really get to see a happy ending for Millie personally. We get to see more of Brand the manticore, which I loved. He's such a great character. I also loved seeing more of Elliot and the new spirit friend, Caveat.
If you're looking for an urban fantasy with fey, portals, magic, spirits, and a revolution, with lots of diversity and queer characters, pick up this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Mental illness and Self harm
Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent