Lo único positivo que puedo decir de esta historia es que fue gratuita. Bueno, y también de que no hubo ningún romance o personaje masculino obligatorLo único positivo que puedo decir de esta historia es que fue gratuita. Bueno, y también de que no hubo ningún romance o personaje masculino obligatorio que entorpeciera la trama.
**spoiler alert** I thought I was going to dislike this one, but Jude's personality was actually a refreshing change from all the "soft"/ninnies YA pr**spoiler alert** I thought I was going to dislike this one, but Jude's personality was actually a refreshing change from all the "soft"/ninnies YA protagonists out there. The book suffers from YA syndrome, so some subject matter is treated still in a juvenile way (which makes complete sense for the age range) and some characters can't escape the tropes they're supposed to represent (Cardan).
I actually found her quite likeable and not that power-hungry! Then again, my version of "likeability" (and that pesky "reliability") is: showing universal human traits and psychology, not being "nice" or perfectly moral at all times. "Nice" is boring, "Kind" is boring, "Soft" is boring, and protagonists/heroines that have nothing else going for them but JUST these flat traits are boring. Jude can be petty, mean, and she's completely scared of the Faeries; she also can be kind (she cared enough to try and rescue that human girl, even if she failed), but this is presented as an action, not as a personality trait. Everything she does makes sense for her situation and what she wants. Her wanting power and safety are universal human traits, traits that usually female characters aren't allowed to have.
I should probably stop here since I know the Cardan/Jude romance is coming, and I'm not really invested in that....more
It’s not the worst I’ve read, enjoyable at certain parts (mostly the beginning) but also really forgett I’m unsure if I should rate this 2 or 3 stars.
It’s not the worst I’ve read, enjoyable at certain parts (mostly the beginning) but also really forgettable. Maia is nothing like Mulan, personality-wise, so the comparison is really misleading. She’s too passive and at times dim-witted for my liking, and the only times she takes action is in relation to Edan and their rushed relationship (I know that I shouldn’t expect anything else from YA). The second part of the book, the “journey”, was extremely rushed too.
Still, their romance was sweet, in a childish, juvenile way. There are much worse YA love interests out there.
I was much more interested in the story and personality of Lady Sarnai. Her forced marriage and the political maneuvers she has to make to postpone the wedding, her background and skills, her relationship with Lord Xina... just give me more Lady Sarnai and political intrigue!
I’m probably gonna read the second book, I’m curious to see how the story ends. ...more
I genuinely enjoyed the proto-forensic science and the medical descriptions, despite the mystery behind the killings being somewhat pred1.5 to 2 stars
I genuinely enjoyed the proto-forensic science and the medical descriptions, despite the mystery behind the killings being somewhat predictable. I didn’t mind the anachronisms or Audrey’s feminist ideals either—I did mind that she never really walked the talk.
The feminist themes were perfunctory: Audrey was annoying because she still relied on men to get all of the answers (she barely did any detective work), was never in control of her emotions, and was the only female character with a smidge of plot importance… but when we have people in 2022 still screaming at the top of their lungs that any female character or real-life woman who enjoys things that are considered “masculine” by the society and mores of the time (in this case, forensic medicine) is trying to be “like a man”, or that use the term “Feminazi” without irony, the bluntness of her rants are almost tolerable.
Thomas Cresswell, while not the worst love interest out there (not when anything written by J.L Armentount exists) is just another “smart” toxic man who thinks too highly of himself and has zero social skills. His inductive reasoning, poor understanding of the scientific method, and his leaps of logic come across as laughable; he’s nothing but a discount version of Sherlock Holmes, lacking in personality and intelligence. Thomas spends half of the time “flirting” in inappropriate ways with Audrey, and the other half insulting her intelligence because she doesn’t have plot armor like him. Their “romance” basically boils down to boring banter and Audrey pretending she hates Thomas (which she should, honestly) while swooning over him on the inside.
The murder mystery was quite standard, and the twist at the end, while predictable, was also unbelievable. We’re also supposed to believe Audrey is of British Indian descent, but this is barely mentioned in the text outside of a couple of paragraphs, and actually has no effect on her character. or her family.
Pre-review
Tempted to give this more stars just because of a moronic review (yes, I am that petty) calling the heroine a “feminazi” all while praising the charmless void that is Thomas Cresswell for being “witty”. Gotta “love” that internalized misogyny....more
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