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geekmom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
I was skeptical at first but this book sucked me in and was a brilliant and fun story.
Also, very happy to see that this book didn’t suffer from the “North American writer who gets the language wrong when writing books set in / featuring characters from other English-speaking countries” problem I’ve come across so often recently. Thank you, Emma Törzs (and editors) for allowing me to maintain my sense of immersion in this particular and important way.
Also, very happy to see that this book didn’t suffer from the “North American writer who gets the language wrong when writing books set in / featuring characters from other English-speaking countries” problem I’ve come across so often recently. Thank you, Emma Törzs (and editors) for allowing me to maintain my sense of immersion in this particular and important way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
heidi_grey's review against another edition
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Kidnapping and Abandonment
Minor: Confinement and Death
lexistwick's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
I loved this book! I haven't read fantasy in a long time, and this was a wonderful re-entry into a world of magic and mystery. It reminded me of Octavia Butler's Wild Seed and the Patternist series. The ending is queued up perfectly for even more story, which could begin a second after the first book ends - or an entire millennia. That's the joy of an expansive, world-creating story!
The writing was excellent, with particularly deft descriptions of the behaviors of cats and dogs and their relationships to their humans; witty, realistic dialogue; and a clear imagining of the somatic experience of an expanded magic-consciousness responsible for bringing mystical power to life.
It deals with themes of sisterhood, family belonging; colonization, assimilation, and the power and responsibilities associated with the capture and hoarding of knowledge. It takes place in a world where queer people exist, unlike so many books, so there isn't that exasperating moment when folks pair off into cishet pairings despite the electric chemistry elsewhere.
It also tackles the complexity of motherhood and does NOT tie up all the difficult questions of duty and abandonment at the end - just like in life. I appreciated that, and I yearn for more!
The writing was excellent, with particularly deft descriptions of the behaviors of cats and dogs and their relationships to their humans; witty, realistic dialogue; and a clear imagining of the somatic experience of an expanded magic-consciousness responsible for bringing mystical power to life.
It deals with themes of sisterhood, family belonging; colonization, assimilation, and the power and responsibilities associated with the capture and hoarding of knowledge. It takes place in a world where queer people exist, unlike so many books, so there isn't that exasperating moment when folks pair off into cishet pairings despite the electric chemistry elsewhere.
It also tackles the complexity of motherhood and does NOT tie up all the difficult questions of duty and abandonment at the end - just like in life. I appreciated that, and I yearn for more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Stalking
joannchristine's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
tigger89's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
This was a fantastic modern fantasy. I enjoyed the twists, even the ones I saw coming. I thought that the way the books worked was intriguing, especially how the knowledge had to be rediscovered by some of the characters. Once it gets going, the story moves along at a fast pace, leaving me desperate to know what happens next.
This book does contain blood magic. I've given it a good, hard look, and I think it avoids coming too close to invoking blood libel, for the following reasons. First, the magic doesn't have to involve the unwilling taking of someone's blood for the benefit of another. While it can take that form, in the form presented as good the blood is freely given and the magic is viewed as a positive thing of beauty. Second, while there are powerful people who take the magic for their own profit, they are not Jewish-coded in any way I noticed. And third, Jewish tradition is explicitly present elsewhere in the story and used as a source of positive strength. Obviously this is something each reader will have to decide their own comfort level on, that's just the reasoning I followed for my own feelings.
The only thing I didn't like was the romance. I didn't mind Esther's romance, though. I thought that was fine, and just messy enough to make me feel like she earned it. What really ground my gears was Joanna's romance. It's okay for characters to be single. She didn't need a man, and furthermore I never got any kind of vibe that he was particularly right for her. It felt like it was shoehorned in because the author thought she needed to end up with someone in order to be happy, and he was the most convenient guy.
Now, the most important part of the review: does the dog and/or cat die?There's a pet dog and a pet cat owned by different characters. Both are completely fine. This book is certified adorable for pet lovers!
This book does contain blood magic. I've given it a good, hard look, and I think it avoids coming too close to invoking blood libel, for the following reasons. First, the magic doesn't have to involve the unwilling taking of someone's blood for the benefit of another. While it can take that form, in the form presented as good the blood is freely given and the magic is viewed as a positive thing of beauty. Second, while there are powerful people who take the magic for their own profit, they are not Jewish-coded in any way I noticed. And third, Jewish tradition is explicitly present elsewhere in the story and used as a source of positive strength. Obviously this is something each reader will have to decide their own comfort level on, that's just the reasoning I followed for my own feelings.
The only thing I didn't like was the romance. I didn't mind Esther's romance, though. I thought that was fine, and just messy enough to make me feel like she earned it. What really ground my gears was Joanna's romance. It's okay for characters to be single. She didn't need a man, and furthermore I never got any kind of vibe that he was particularly right for her. It felt like it was shoehorned in because the author thought she needed to end up with someone in order to be happy, and he was the most convenient guy.
Now, the most important part of the review: does the dog and/or cat die?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
tallulahlucy's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery
litstyleguide's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a unique story, y’all. I really enjoyed this fantasy standalone. It was an interesting concept, kept me intrigued, and kept me gasping plenty. I figured out a few of the plot points, but that didn’t take away from enjoying the book. Familial secrets, separated sisters, lovable characters, magical books, and a dog named Sir Kiwi? Say less.
My only problem with this one was it started really slow. I was never bored, but it felt like it took a long time (~65% in) for it to pick up. Overall, really enjoyed this one though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Gun violence
Minor: Vomit and Injury/Injury detail
_teoeo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
It took me a few chapters to get into the story but after that I enjoyed it so much!! But I have to agree with another review here: Collins and Nicholas should've been endgame :// I didn't see any chemistry between Joanna and Collins except "oh I think they are attractive (also him being the first man I ever spoke to in my life besides my father), now I'm in love"
Cw: This book tiptoes the line of blood libel, especially with some of the protagonists being Jewish. That made me really sceptical at first! I think in the end it didn't fully cross the line but other opinions may differ. (Also, I'm not sure but I think the author is Jewish herself?) I'm certainly no expert in this and will still see this from a critical point of view!
Cw: This book tiptoes the line of blood libel, especially with some of the protagonists being Jewish. That made me really sceptical at first! I think in the end it didn't fully cross the line but other opinions may differ. (Also, I'm not sure but I think the author is Jewish herself?) I'm certainly no expert in this and will still see this from a critical point of view!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Antisemitism
mary_stormageddon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved this book from the second I first heard about it. I knew from chapter 3 that it would be a 5 star read for me. My top read of 2023 so far
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
4.75
Suspenseful and voicy! Part action thriller, part magical realism, part dark academia!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Gun violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Death of parent