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A review by katewutz
Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Good things: bisexual representation, period details (rooms, clothes), servants treated as people, interesting mystery, fascinating courtesan character, absolutely off the rails in a fun way
Bad things: kill your gays, how does everyone just randomly accept that the Sight exists, anyone with hair that short would have been seen as ill or insane, and….
…has Raybourn written ONE ROMANTIC LEAD who is not mildly dangerous and threatening to women? Or one woman in particular? Stoker and Brisbane are both dark, brooding, piratical, and constantly threatening Veronica and Julia, respectively (e.g. “if you do that again I won’t be responsible for my actions”). I realize this is an archetype—Radcliffe Emerson, for example, is in this realm. It is, admittedly, a little sexy, and that’s probably the whole point. BUT.
It makes an odd kind of sense that these men would be unfailingly courteous to women in general and actively threatening the one woman they’re actively attracted to. And at least Stoker and Emerson apologize once in a while and Veronica and Amelia aren’t bothered by their bluster.
Julia, on the other hand, IS frightened by Brisbane, he never apologizes, and he’s actively and intentionally hurt her—a woman who actually has experienced domestic violence before. Julia should run screaming.
Bad things: kill your gays, how does everyone just randomly accept that the Sight exists, anyone with hair that short would have been seen as ill or insane, and….
…has Raybourn written ONE ROMANTIC LEAD who is not mildly dangerous and threatening to women? Or one woman in particular? Stoker and Brisbane are both dark, brooding, piratical, and constantly threatening Veronica and Julia, respectively (e.g. “if you do that again I won’t be responsible for my actions”). I realize this is an archetype—Radcliffe Emerson, for example, is in this realm. It is, admittedly, a little sexy, and that’s probably the whole point. BUT.
It makes an odd kind of sense that these men would be unfailingly courteous to women in general and actively threatening the one woman they’re actively attracted to. And at least Stoker and Emerson apologize once in a while and Veronica and Amelia aren’t bothered by their bluster.
Julia, on the other hand, IS frightened by Brisbane, he never apologizes, and he’s actively and intentionally hurt her—a woman who actually has experienced domestic violence before. Julia should run screaming.