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emptzuu's review against another edition
This book is not dark academia or gothic, despite having a library and a manor. The writing did not convey the atmosphere associated with these genres. The author's flowery and lyrical style clashes with the book's marketing as gothic and dark academia.
It falls in the same category as "Lessons In Chemistry" where the author creates an old-fashioned world just to make social issues seem more significant. This feels like a lazy plot device. The book oversimplifies everything, portraying all men as evil and all women as innocent. Moreover, the author seems to have done little research. The book features cars and passenger trains, land-line phones and coffee, but also typewriters and mimeographs, and women aren't allowed in university. The constant focus on misogyny and sexual assault in a fantasy book feels excessive and unnecessary. Elements like war and racism are there but have no impact on the plot.
Effy is a highly problematic character, displaying overt racism, misandry, and a severe lack of depth. She is depicted as a weak, whiny, and fearful woman who is perpetually passive, often getting dragged around by men. Her character feels reduced to being defined solely by her trauma, which is portrayed without any nuance or complexity. Trauma does not excuse her behavior.
She would say and think the most outrageous and insulting things about Preston's heritage without even knowing him. She was incredibly prejudiced and judgmental. Considering she herself had faced judgment and been called slurs, you'd think she would understand how wrong it is to act the way she did, but she didn't. She never faced any consequences for her behavior. Preston even coddled her. Why are they even together? Why does Preston forgive her for everything she said and did? It feels like a toxic romance to me. The author spends almost the entire book preaching about misogyny, yet the female main character is ultimately saved by the love interest. Sex solves everything.
She was so entitled that she thought she deserved to be in the literature department, despite being unable to provide a coherent, logical, or evidence-based analysis of the works of her favorite author. In fact, she admitted she had never written a formal paper, even though she was in college.
The only thing she could boast about was memorizing lines from her favorite author's works. She also couldn't accept any criticism, which would make her struggle in a literature class. She just wants to do literature because she is obsessed with Myrddin's work.
She is supposed to be more intelligent than most literature students, yet she is struggling academically in architecture. She is on the verge of flunking out but wins a prestigious opportunity to design for a famous author, beating many competitors.
She is the only girl in architecture, solely because she is not allowed in the literature school, which is illogical. Historically, women have studied literature and languages extensively; it is math and sciences that have had lower female participation.
Additionally, the portrayal of architecture as mere doodling is unrealistic.
It's baffling that some readers find this character relatable. I hesitate to imagine what kind of audience appreciates such a portrayal.
I could easily write three pages detailing how bad this book is, but instead, I'll summarize my thoughts. The book is riddled with plot holes, tackles topics poorly, and features one-dimensional characters along with underdeveloped world-building. Despite its gorgeous cover and beautiful title, the book fails to live up to its marketing promises.
Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Classism, Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Sexism
Minor: War
pinkhyxteria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Xenophobia
reddeddy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Sexism, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual content, Body shaming, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Classism, Confinement, Child abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, War, Animal death, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Blood, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Bullying, Car accident, and Deportation
maresuju's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Sexism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Confinement, Animal death, and Abandonment
writingandwhimsy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual content, War, Abandonment, and Alcohol
justnicole's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcoholism, Xenophobia, War, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, and Emotional abuse
daydaybookbay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Ava Reid writes beautiful phrases and sprinkles them throughout the chapters. Her artistic metaphors rest on the boundry of remaining applicable. The wording captures the reader, but any further, the intention would be lost. She uses imagery to convey emotion and the characters' mindsets.
The characters fell a bit flat for me. Each character was one dimensional and served only one purpose throughout the book. Preston exists to be an on-paper protective love interest. Effy is constantly reminding you how misogyny, sexism, and her beauty overshadow her genius. Every other character means nothing to me.
Effy's low-key racist. Her xenophobia is front and center, but we are
overlooking that? Why?! Time and time again, she shows her
academic rivalry" is really just her prejudice against Argantians.
I wanted more from the fairy-tale.
Is Effy a reliable narrator? Honestly, I'm left thinking the fantasy aspect is really part of Effy's imagination. She experienced great trauma from her mother, and her obsession with Myrddin's novel plays a role in her coping. I'm left to feel she really has mental health issues, and maybe the pink pills are good for her.
I wish there had been more development in the setting and the characters. The countries, the North and South, the school, the house, the land... I could never picture them. The only thing I was able to imagine was the door to the basement. There is this whole world Reid introduced in this book, but we never get a clear picture of what it's like.
I really wanted to love this book. Part of me feels I would have enjoyed it more as a physical book because I would get bored listening to it. I never got the feeling of being immersed in the story.
I love the moody vibes Reid is able to create. The feel and the way she conveys emotion is beautiful. I wish the attention to the setting had matched. I want to visualize where the characters are and how the North/South/Bottom Hundred look and compare to each other. I wanted to pull more from the text.
Moderate: Drug use, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Alcohol, Classism, Mental illness, Addiction, Misogyny, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Death, Child death, and War
mynameisrebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
lila_still_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, and Grief
graco's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Xenophobia and Sexual assault