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samantha_randolph
DNF at 85 pages, skimmed the ending.
So I usually don’t post many negative reviews (for a number of reasons), but I really need to talk about this one.
The first 40-50 pages were rocky but really fun. The pacing is quick, the central problem (murder of two royals) is set up, and there’s strong imagery. There were definite moments where I was like uhhh....wait what? But it has a genuinely fun feel, so I kept going. But then the problems got bigger and bigger, and kind of more ridiculous.
In short, this reads like a book that, as other reviews have said, has so much potential but then wrecks it all. So much happens in the first 80 pages (around where I stopped) and it all seems to happen in one day? No one is breaking for food or sleep? There are several outfit and location changes? It’s rare that a plot over-paces itself, but this one does. It sacrifices every other component of the book (characterization, relationship development, plot build up, etc) for action. There’s literally no time for anything else, especially as this is a shorter length novel.
Had the above been the only (?) issues, I probably would have marked it as finished, not rated it, and went on my way. But the harmful representations and tropes in this book need to be called out. I can’t even call it problematic because it honestly soars past problematic in a lot of areas. Tollan, one of the main characters, is gay. We are shown this through very negative and hypersexualized queer stereotypes. SPOILER: This also falls into the dead gays trope. It seems the author tried to subvert that trope by having Tollan being *surprise* alive in the epilogue, but that’s just it- it’s in the epilogue. We get *several* chapters believing Tollan, who has just found love, is dead.
Another part that is troublesome is the sex representation overall. It seems to be striving for sex positivity, especially in contrast to the “Above” world, but it fails in this regard to.
I know I’m rambling at this point, so I’ll cut off here. In short, this is an extremely harmful book that began with great potential and ended in disappointment.
So I usually don’t post many negative reviews (for a number of reasons), but I really need to talk about this one.
The first 40-50 pages were rocky but really fun. The pacing is quick, the central problem (murder of two royals) is set up, and there’s strong imagery. There were definite moments where I was like uhhh....wait what? But it has a genuinely fun feel, so I kept going. But then the problems got bigger and bigger, and kind of more ridiculous.
In short, this reads like a book that, as other reviews have said, has so much potential but then wrecks it all. So much happens in the first 80 pages (around where I stopped) and it all seems to happen in one day? No one is breaking for food or sleep? There are several outfit and location changes? It’s rare that a plot over-paces itself, but this one does. It sacrifices every other component of the book (characterization, relationship development, plot build up, etc) for action. There’s literally no time for anything else, especially as this is a shorter length novel.
Had the above been the only (?) issues, I probably would have marked it as finished, not rated it, and went on my way. But the harmful representations and tropes in this book need to be called out. I can’t even call it problematic because it honestly soars past problematic in a lot of areas. Tollan, one of the main characters, is gay. We are shown this through very negative and hypersexualized queer stereotypes. SPOILER: This also falls into the dead gays trope. It seems the author tried to subvert that trope by having Tollan being *surprise* alive in the epilogue, but that’s just it- it’s in the epilogue. We get *several* chapters believing Tollan, who has just found love, is dead.
Another part that is troublesome is the sex representation overall. It seems to be striving for sex positivity, especially in contrast to the “Above” world, but it fails in this regard to.
I know I’m rambling at this point, so I’ll cut off here. In short, this is an extremely harmful book that began with great potential and ended in disappointment.
Our Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real About Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America
Hannah Moskowitz, Amy Reed, Tracy Deonn Walker, Sandhya Menon, Ellen Hopkins, Amber Smith, Sona Charaipotra, Somaiya Daud, Stephanie Kuehnert, Julie Murphy, I.W. Gregorio, Tracy Deonn, Anna-Marie McLemore, Martha Brockenbrough, Christine Day, Jaye Robin Brown, Aisha Saeed, Alexandra Duncan, Jenny Torres Sanchez, Brandy Colbert, Maurene Goo, Nina LaCour
I love how unique and messy this story is. Rather than being limited to one primary characterization, as many canonical female characters are, this book demonstrates how someone can fulfill many roles in her life, at times being a Snow Queen or a Sleeping Beauty or a Frog Princess. As she journeys, she doesn’t leave behind one identity for another but carries them all and grows.
Some parts were a little confusing, especially the logistics of the world building, but as long as you give in to the suspension of disbelief, this is a lovely, gritty tale.
Some parts were a little confusing, especially the logistics of the world building, but as long as you give in to the suspension of disbelief, this is a lovely, gritty tale.
What I loved:
-Medusa’s emotional journey, especially her transition from victim to survivor
-The premise!!!
-Medusa X Hermès for life
-Hades and Persephone being adorable
What I didn’t enjoy as much:
-The repetitive writing (so. much. blushing.)
-Medusa’s passivity- On one hand, I understand her lack of action post-monster life, given that she taught to revere and/or respect the gods, but it was also very frustrating at times. I just wanted more action from her.
-The Jackson section- Purposefully removing the reader from the scene of action was...weird. Especially since it went there after some high intensity scenes.
Overall: Really cool premise with fun characters and a highly shippable romance! Not the strongest writing, but I’m still eager to read more from the author.
-Medusa’s emotional journey, especially her transition from victim to survivor
-The premise!!!
-Medusa X Hermès for life
-Hades and Persephone being adorable
What I didn’t enjoy as much:
-The repetitive writing (so. much. blushing.)
-Medusa’s passivity- On one hand, I understand her lack of action post-monster life, given that she taught to revere and/or respect the gods, but it was also very frustrating at times. I just wanted more action from her.
-The Jackson section- Purposefully removing the reader from the scene of action was...weird. Especially since it went there after some high intensity scenes.
Overall: Really cool premise with fun characters and a highly shippable romance! Not the strongest writing, but I’m still eager to read more from the author.
