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readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Child abuse, and Misogyny
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood, Alcohol, Murder, Animal cruelty, Child death, Vomit, Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
galliexyc's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Classism, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
linneak's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Classism, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Confinement
grey_jayne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
I have now read all of C.L. Polk's books to date. The Midnight Bargain was a bit too slow for my own taste, but I'm sure that won't be a problem for others.
This is a blistering feminist tale, dark and dangerous when you stop to think about the society this is occurring in. The magic is really cool too, although much of its discussion and use is clandestine so you really feel the craft being held away from women by men.
Not my favorite Polk novel while still being better than most books. I jumped into the audiobook 2/3 of the way and that was well done.
This is a blistering feminist tale, dark and dangerous when you stop to think about the society this is occurring in. The magic is really cool too, although much of its discussion and use is clandestine so you really feel the craft being held away from women by men.
Not my favorite Polk novel while still being better than most books. I jumped into the audiobook 2/3 of the way and that was well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Confinement
anjasshelf's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Classism, and Sexism
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Confinement, Pregnancy, and Sexism
bubbly_lara's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
I absolutely adored this!! This was such a fun read and I was equally happy and sad to have finished the story. Beatrice and Ysbeta's stories are deeply touching and unfortunately still relevant today. Highly recommend for an inspiring, captivating, magical read with a dash of romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Classism, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol
robin_reads's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A regency era fantasy novel about two women out in society, who are supposed to find husbands but don’t want that and try to find ways around it.
I like the main idea of the story but it felt like the characters were dense and dramatic for the drama of it all and I don’t like that very much. Same with the withholding of information and miscommunication that could’ve been solved so very easily.
The author has a good way of telling the story and I enjoyed the story for the most part. I was invested into the outcome, even when I got annoyed with the characters. It was partly predictable and the epilogue is very all-around happiness and Happy End, which I don’t always care for.
All in all, it was a solid read about women’s rights to their own bodies and magic and overcoming societal expectations.
I like the main idea of the story but it felt like the characters were dense and dramatic for the drama of it all and I don’t like that very much. Same with the withholding of information and miscommunication that could’ve been solved so very easily.
The author has a good way of telling the story and I enjoyed the story for the most part. I was invested into the outcome, even when I got annoyed with the characters. It was partly predictable and the epilogue is very all-around happiness and Happy End, which I don’t always care for.
All in all, it was a solid read about women’s rights to their own bodies and magic and overcoming societal expectations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Confinement and Pregnancy
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Miscarriage
blewballoon's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this. I liked the main characters and the writing. I liked the magic. I do think the fantasy sexism was a little over the top, that's my biggest complaint. I did find a lot of things predictable, but I don't necessarily mind that. I prefer it over the narrative not being cohesive. I listened on audiobook and Moira Quirk is a delight. I really liked her spirit voice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Classism and Injury/Injury detail
graff_fuller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
Downton Abbey mashed with Indian Bollywood mashed with Djinns.
This is the way that I saw it as I was reading it. It may not be totally representative, but I think it is close.
As a father of two grown daughters...this book made me SO frustrated as I was reading it (not in the way it was written, but because of the actions of some of the supportive characters and the world that Beatrice was living in). If it had been a physical book...it might have been flung across the room. Ugh. The Obtuseness of Beatrice's father, Henrietta, one of the men that could be seen as the main antagonists for the sequence, etc.
As you can see, I enjoyed the book overall, but I felt fatherly affection for the main protagonist, Beatrice and her two main counterparts (un-named here, so as not to spoil any of the great scenes that provided their friendships).
Also, the minor spirit Nadi was such a breathe of fresh air, though at times, as Beatrice also felt, she needed to be reigned in...for her natural desire was to devour every new experience, whether that was cake, alcohol, or experience (without tact, most of the time). She (at least it seemed to have a femine voice, though I'm not totally sure that was said) seemed unbridled by convention of the times.
The wordbuilding was done gradually, but with a deft hand. I was invested in Beatrice's plight. I could see my own daughters in her role...and how I, at this moment in time (and when we were raising them) that we didn't not hold them back, but exhorted them to be WHATEVER they desired, be damned the world and its restrictions.
One of the devices that quells the ability of female magic made me furious. Since I am a HUGE fan of The Wheel of Time...the Seanchan have a "similar" device...and my rage against the idea of this, let alone the implimentation of it...made my blood boil.
And lastly, I want to say that the speech and the way it was done was genius. Also, the response of the collected male Mages was perfect. Ironic in a way.
So well written...and with its ability to "get to me", it was perfectly written for me.
In some ways, I wish there was a sequel, but maybe if there was a sequel...it might diminish the awesomeness of how it ended.
This is the way that I saw it as I was reading it. It may not be totally representative, but I think it is close.
As a father of two grown daughters...this book made me SO frustrated as I was reading it (not in the way it was written, but because of the actions of some of the supportive characters and the world that Beatrice was living in). If it had been a physical book...it might have been flung across the room. Ugh. The Obtuseness of Beatrice's father, Henrietta, one of the men that could be seen as the main antagonists for the sequence, etc.
As you can see, I enjoyed the book overall, but I felt fatherly affection for the main protagonist, Beatrice and her two main counterparts (un-named here, so as not to spoil any of the great scenes that provided their friendships).
Also, the minor spirit Nadi was such a breathe of fresh air, though at times, as Beatrice also felt, she needed to be reigned in...for her natural desire was to devour every new experience, whether that was cake, alcohol, or experience (without tact, most of the time). She (at least it seemed to have a femine voice, though I'm not totally sure that was said) seemed unbridled by convention of the times.
The wordbuilding was done gradually, but with a deft hand. I was invested in Beatrice's plight. I could see my own daughters in her role...and how I, at this moment in time (and when we were raising them) that we didn't not hold them back, but exhorted them to be WHATEVER they desired, be damned the world and its restrictions.
One of the devices that quells the ability of female magic made me furious. Since I am a HUGE fan of The Wheel of Time...the Seanchan have a "similar" device...and my rage against the idea of this, let alone the implimentation of it...made my blood boil.
And lastly, I want to say that the speech and the way it was done was genius. Also, the response of the collected male Mages was perfect. Ironic in a way.
So well written...and with its ability to "get to me", it was perfectly written for me.
In some ways, I wish there was a sequel, but maybe if there was a sequel...it might diminish the awesomeness of how it ended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Slavery