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A review by raisingself
Indebted by Amy A. Bartol
1.0
I’m not a fan of angel lore, but the mix of interesting fairytale and mythology in this book is it’s singular nearly saving grace. I’m struggling with this series for many reasons detailed below, but I started the series and I’m forcing myself to finish. This book is a solid one star because:
- The main female protagonist, who is arguably more powerful than 99% of the strongest friends and foes, is constantly the victim. Her youth and beauty is uncomfortably fetishized. She is constantly sexually victimized and her consent is almost never required. The thing that is consistently keeping her alive is that she is a Helen of Troy archetype to a mostly heterosexual male cast of abusive, possessive, manipulative, megalomaniac males.
- Women in general are diminished and stereotyped in this book. The only other main female narratives in the series: two angels that are blonde, high pitched and mostly naked are so damn hyper-sexual and share nearly identical personalities and looks. They are almost what I imagine soft core porn characterizations would be by that one creepy guy in your office (that all the women knew to avoid before the #metoo movement happened and he was finally fired).
-The use of slang and youth culture vernacular is like hearing your white grandpa trying to be “down” because your friends are over. Imma need the writer to start listening to pop and hip hop mixes on Spotify and start following youth culture focused folks on social media if she is going to center every other book on semi-real 18 year old girls.
- The shear lack of character diversity is embarrassing, most male characters are some iteration of a militarized Eurocentric male model. The only barely dynamic female character is the main protagonist, you know you’re weak female lead when you can’t have any other competition and nearly every male has to be irrationally focused on you.
The book is weak AF. I hope modern teens are not scooping up this garbage and internalizing any of this on a subconscious level. But beyond not being woke, its poorly executed on multiple literary levels.
Random Note:
-This Reed character is overrated
-Brenus is an abuser, who even after changing slightly is still a serial rapist and killer.
-Russell is alright, I find him to be the most viable and intriguing romantic possibility, either give him a chance or let him have a side piece as well in this game of trifling soul mates.
- The main female protagonist, who is arguably more powerful than 99% of the strongest friends and foes, is constantly the victim. Her youth and beauty is uncomfortably fetishized. She is constantly sexually victimized and her consent is almost never required. The thing that is consistently keeping her alive is that she is a Helen of Troy archetype to a mostly heterosexual male cast of abusive, possessive, manipulative, megalomaniac males.
- Women in general are diminished and stereotyped in this book. The only other main female narratives in the series: two angels that are blonde, high pitched and mostly naked are so damn hyper-sexual and share nearly identical personalities and looks. They are almost what I imagine soft core porn characterizations would be by that one creepy guy in your office (that all the women knew to avoid before the #metoo movement happened and he was finally fired).
-The use of slang and youth culture vernacular is like hearing your white grandpa trying to be “down” because your friends are over. Imma need the writer to start listening to pop and hip hop mixes on Spotify and start following youth culture focused folks on social media if she is going to center every other book on semi-real 18 year old girls.
- The shear lack of character diversity is embarrassing, most male characters are some iteration of a militarized Eurocentric male model. The only barely dynamic female character is the main protagonist, you know you’re weak female lead when you can’t have any other competition and nearly every male has to be irrationally focused on you.
The book is weak AF. I hope modern teens are not scooping up this garbage and internalizing any of this on a subconscious level. But beyond not being woke, its poorly executed on multiple literary levels.
Random Note:
-This Reed character is overrated
-Brenus is an abuser, who even after changing slightly is still a serial rapist and killer.
-Russell is alright, I find him to be the most viable and intriguing romantic possibility, either give him a chance or let him have a side piece as well in this game of trifling soul mates.