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A review by donnyeatsbooks
Lion's Legacy by L.C. Rosen
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
πππ ππππβπ ππππππ ππ² π.π. ππ¨π¬ππ§ is the queer communityβs answer to ππ§ππ’ππ§π ππ¨π§ππ¬. If ππ§ππ’ππ§π ππ¨π§ππ¬ spent the entirety of πππ’πππ«π¬ π¨π ππ‘π ππ¨π¬π ππ«π€ sulking, whining, and lecturing the audience about the ethics of stealing from other cultures. (Iβm sure we can all agree that colonization is morally reprehensible, but do we need to be reminded in every other paragraph?)
Iβm gay and a massive fan of ππ§ππ’ππ§π ππ¨π§ππ¬, as well as the ππ§ππ‘ππ«πππ games, so the idea of a gay adventurer uncovering queer history instantly appealed to me. I mean, I impulse-bought this book at four in the morning because the premise immediately captured my heart! But when I reached the midway point of the novel and realized that absolutely nothing of interest had occurredβthat Iβd been reading over a hundred pages of the main character (named Tennessee) complaining about his cheating boyfriend, absent father, and the erasure of queer history on an endless loopβmy hopes for a daring, romantic exploit through ancient ruins began to dwindle.
The bookβs themes of cultural appropriation and queer erasure are certainly relevant, not to mention necessary, and a young adult book exploring such themes makes my heart swell; itβs just that the author lacks the tact and nuance to do them proper justice. His writing is flat and lifeless, leaving little room for imagination (which is my problem with YA, in general), and his delivery of the themes is repetitive to the point of annoyance. Seriously, not a single page goes by in which the author doesnβt beat you over the head with his commentary. (I actually started to get a headache after a certain point.)
All of this isnβt to say that this book is without its merits, however (despite my harshness): The relationship between Tennessee and his father is somewhat complex, and injects a bit of heart into an otherwise bland story; and the Sacred Band of Thebes being the focal point of this little escapade is a refreshing take.
I only wish it had been explored to its fullest potential. And perhaps by a more experienced author.
Iβm gay and a massive fan of ππ§ππ’ππ§π ππ¨π§ππ¬, as well as the ππ§ππ‘ππ«πππ games, so the idea of a gay adventurer uncovering queer history instantly appealed to me. I mean, I impulse-bought this book at four in the morning because the premise immediately captured my heart! But when I reached the midway point of the novel and realized that absolutely nothing of interest had occurredβthat Iβd been reading over a hundred pages of the main character (named Tennessee) complaining about his cheating boyfriend, absent father, and the erasure of queer history on an endless loopβmy hopes for a daring, romantic exploit through ancient ruins began to dwindle.
The bookβs themes of cultural appropriation and queer erasure are certainly relevant, not to mention necessary, and a young adult book exploring such themes makes my heart swell; itβs just that the author lacks the tact and nuance to do them proper justice. His writing is flat and lifeless, leaving little room for imagination (which is my problem with YA, in general), and his delivery of the themes is repetitive to the point of annoyance. Seriously, not a single page goes by in which the author doesnβt beat you over the head with his commentary. (I actually started to get a headache after a certain point.)
All of this isnβt to say that this book is without its merits, however (despite my harshness): The relationship between Tennessee and his father is somewhat complex, and injects a bit of heart into an otherwise bland story; and the Sacred Band of Thebes being the focal point of this little escapade is a refreshing take.
I only wish it had been explored to its fullest potential. And perhaps by a more experienced author.