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kell_xavi's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.5
When the devil puts up walls, men smash them, and if they cannot smash them, they despair, or they walk away. But women must trickle through the cracks, they find a way through, because they have no choice, because they have nowhere to go, and nothing to smash with. (238)
Speculative elements tied to an atypical historical setting and plucky, endearing characters that came together in a sort of chimera and mostly worked well!
A courageous and creative book that includes varied women, each of whom are strong in their own way, though difficult and different in concert, a trans man who knows himself though many others are unsure, and a background of transformed beast-people with weapon, instrument, and animal parts melded with their former human bodies: a definition of character, soldier, actor somewhere between grotesque and cool.
I want only desperate men beside me.(229)
Some flaws in editing, missed periods and typos, and one page—with the bishop’s verdict on revenant property—entirely missing! I consider this a fair price to pay for original, non-romance, queer historical fantasy… but it was in addition to not quite being the novel I wanted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Body horror, Terminal illness, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Transphobia, Dysphoria, and Child death
Minor: Sexual assault
bookbrig's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was a random shelf discovery, and I'm really glad I picked it up. First, the audiobook reader was excellent and then I fell in love with so many of the characters. They're prickly and stubborn and weird-just interesting to read about. I think maybe Claude and Margriet were my favorites, and I enjoyed how their respective stories wrapped up. But there wasn't a character perspective I didn't like reading, and I feel like this strange little story is going to stay with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Body horror
Moderate: Transphobia, War, and Misogyny
Minor: Animal death and Antisemitism
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