honestly this would be so much better if it was restructured a little bit and had better pacing— the writing is so good and the narrator is a really dhonestly this would be so much better if it was restructured a little bit and had better pacing— the writing is so good and the narrator is a really distinct character, i just wish we got more of her actually consciously choosing to put her gf and her grief before herself...more
unfortunately i had to dnf this because i foolishly didn’t read the trigger warnings that the author posted before requesting an arc. i made DNF @ 46%
unfortunately i had to dnf this because i foolishly didn’t read the trigger warnings that the author posted before requesting an arc. i made it through a decent chunk of the book, however, and can say that while i wasn’t enjoying myself at first because sometimes i find flowery writing hard to get through, the story is phenomenally written.
i have ukrainian ancestry and a lot of matrilineal family history in odessa, and reading this book especially during this time and with the current situation being what it is felt somewhat comforting.
my favorite part out of everything that i read was marlinchen’s character. i’m someone that’s been saying for years how monotonous the “strong female protagonist” of fantasy stories has become. that often times the idea of a strong female character within fantasy surmises to just assigning traditionally male attributes to women and throwing in a healthy dose of internalized misogyny. if the tw’s given by reid don’t deter you, read this book to experience marlinchen’s interesting brand of strength that is often found in ukrainian women who lived through such situations. she reminds me so much of my grandmother in so many ways.
i hope that one day i’ll be able to finish this book because marlinchen and her story have become so inherently special to me, and the setting of victorian-era odessa made me weep.
please, if the trigger warnings aren’t things that will harm you, read this book. it’s so special.
thank you to netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review....more
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