An Honest Critique of CRESCENT CITY by a Sarah J Maas Fan | booktalk
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
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SPOILERS I also totally forgot to mention that the humans' rebellion is treated as terrorism when they are literally fighting to not be second class citizens and to have the same rights as the Vanir. Yikes.
I think thats a statement shes bringing up in the next book.
I think that's kind of a simplistic way to put it. What the human 'rebellion' is doing is by definition terrorism. They use bombings on civilian targets to spread panic and unrest as to provoke an uprising. It is terrorism. Their cause might be just, but terrorism is not about being right or wrong. It's about fanaticism and being so dedicated to a belief that you justify doing terrible things to get to your goal. You literally spread terror in a population to cause a needed reaction. CC actually starts delving in the moral ambiguity of a rebellion that does unforgivable things for a right cause. There are several moments where Hunt debates on that and when we see Briggs in prison (being tortured for the rest of his life) Hunt and Bryce both have mixed feelings on how he's technically right, but his dedication to wanting equal rights for humans (a fair and just cause by all means) warped into something corrupted, made him into a fanatic that would bomb a club full of young innocents just to get to his goal.
Considering everything that's happening in the states with the BLM movement and the riots, I feel like all of this was so incredibly important and spot on.
The human's cause might be right, but they are terrorists and their means are wrong, which creates a very dangerous, moral grey area.
It’s bc they are killing and bombing people- that is terrorism.
this is really telling considering that she’s a zionist and idolizes her grandmother who volunteers for the idf. of course she would portray a group of people trying to fight for their rights as terrorists- its the same anti-palestinian propaganda that she internalized as a kid and freely espouses now.
Heckkk songsss are you potentially doing a Bryce/Danika song? Loved Silver and Gold
Yes!!!
I finished CC last night I loved it like all of Maas's books she is a f*cking queen and needs more credit Hunt Bryce Connor and Danika are my favorite characters from CC and at the end when Danika and the pack come back I was crying it was definitely one of my favorite scenes I can't wait for the next book
Very balanced review. I was getting tired of the pointless hate other people were flinging. I feel like if you’re going to crap on SJ Maas you have to do the same to pretty much every other heterosexual fantasy writer but people single her out 🙄 I’d like to see her improve too in some ways, but that doesn’t make her a monster
Totally agree with how she’s progressing and isn’t as problematic as people put her out to be. Loved how clear and thorough this review was! I personally loved the book, I cried so much towards the end. The friendship factor really hit me hard with me in this book. I’m really excited to reread and for the next one.. 🤗
Can you make a song for it? PLEASEEEEEEE!
Same
Bro I agree so much, I could not finish the third book in ACOTAR!! Throne of glass was just better!!
Who else’s hates fury but she is also their favorite character? Just me ok.... Also did anyone else notice that in the library there was the walking dead from throne of glass and the book of breathings from acotar?
YESSSS I noticed that!
I like this book. I love the characters. Especially Lehabah, Danika and Connor. Ruhn I also like very much.
One thing that disrupted me a lot was, that Bryce and Hunt told each other everything about themselves. She told him things she never entrusted her family or friends. But she told Hunt, who she had only known for a few weeks.
I don't think that's realistic.
Sorry about my English, I'm from Germany
"light it up" I was crying, it was a magnificent scene. I love romance novels, tragic romances, whatever - BUT no tragic moment in those romances has EVER made me feel so much as that scene where Bryce was making the drop. And it was a relationship between two BFFs, like, wow.
Yes I finished the books last night and was full blown crying I love Danika may she and the rest of the pack rest in peace
Hey, Victoria! I often don’t watch book reviews because I’m scared it will ruin a book I loved and enjoyed, but I absolutely love getting your opinion on SJM books. She is one of my favorite authors and I like getting another point of view on her books. Her books actually helped me get through a period where I was being emotionally and mentally abused and helped me find strength in female characters. I don’t think she deserves all the crap she gets, but I do think she has a long ways to go before she has a great representation of diversity in her books. Hopefully, it’ll be better in the sequel to House of Earth and Blood. As always, you have a really open mind and your opinions are never phrased as to put someone down for thinking differently about any aspects. I admire you and I hope you’re doing well in crazy times like 2020!
Aww thank you! 💕
Lack of diversity is the LEAST of this book's problem. To me this book was a massive book of potential that wasn't executed well.
Not gonna lie that part about Hunt overthrowing his enslavers came out of no where for me. I don't think at any point in the book it was hinted.
What you said about SJM's lack of diversity: I agree, it's ultimately the author's choice to include it. But the fact that sarah wrote several books with themes like hierarchy, oppression, slavery, etc. And refused to make a single main character black? Or even poc? That was... a choice. A purposeful one. And to me, it says alot about someone's character if they completely erase real world issues under the guise of "fiction" and "fantasy".
I immediately think of Nehemia. She probably had more groundwork laid for her character then Celaena herself 🙄
But why does she describe them as having gold/brown skin and then go on to say they’re white, I do not believe hunt is white I alway imagined him as middle eastern or South American
I agree that SJM mishandled Nehemia’s character and could do better with diversity (especially LGBTQ representation). But at least with ToG, it’s important to remember that the story is heavily inspired by the Roman Empire. Slavery in Ancient Rome wasn’t race based and more frequently had to do with nationality and socio-economic status, and race was viewed entirely different from the way it has been in recent history or to this day. You were more likely to be discriminated against for wearing pants, having tattoos, beards, and worshipping the wrong gods than having darker skin. Sex workers were forced to wear blonde wigs in order to distinguish them from others making them easier to target. You were also more likely to be shunned for having earrings as a man than being gay. There is also a lot of inspiration from the Catholic witch hunts in Europe which were leveled at mostly other Europeans, particularly women. If you desire a story that parallels modern themes of hierarchy and oppression, that’s fine but you can’t fault at least ToG for not meeting that standard when it’s clear that’s not what SJM intended. Personally, as a religious witch and a former sex worker, I found the themes of religious persecution and the Lysandra character really hit home for me and that’s not something I find a lot in fantasy. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy this series now just as much as I did when I was in high school
I'm glad you liked it. And anyways, Lehabah is our queen. Let it be known.
Am I the only one who pronounces Danika as “Duh-Neeka”
Adias was easily my favorite, he's so interesting. Bryce just casually summons him and is like, "oh Hunt I'm friends with a powerful demon overlord lul." Loved it.
But to be honest, I didn't care for Bryce or Hunt. Hunt was kinda just dull imo, but Bryce could maybe grow on me in the next book. Right now, she has the sassy qualities I love, but she's just not very bright and I often found myself yelling at the book. Like her brushing off so suddenly about Hunt lying to her about rebelling even after becoming more intimate, I found problematic.
As for Ruhn, I can see how his actions could come off as sexist, but I don't believe it was his intention. Bryce was desperate to save Hunt and sold herself to the actual worst being on the planet who would do unimaginable things to her that she wasn't considering at the time. Ruhn did the only thing he could think of to guarantee to get her out of that situation, even knowing she would hate him for it, and I doubt any sibling would do differently. Obviously if he tried to take advantage of the claim in the next book like keeping her from marrying or moving or whatnot, it would be wrong, but the only reason why he laid the claim was to save her life from needlessly sacrificing herself for a guy she hadn't known a year before.
As an older sibling, I completely understood why he did what he did, personally I could never have stood by and watched my little brother do the same thing when there was something I could do about it.
Other than those point, I agree SJM has grown a lot and though this is my least favorite of her books, I'm still excited to see where it goes.
I can't watch it rn cause I'm out, but I'm really excited for this!!!! (100% did not disappoint)
A drug that grants super strength at the cost of one’s reasoning…
…
Did SJM watch Zootopia before writing this?
Honestly I don't like Hunt because of how aggressive and alpha-ish he is. It's why I like Aidas, he seems so calm and cool
Can’t believe you completely glossed over Bryce taking on a 100 million dollar debt and selling herself into slavery TO SANDRIEL for hunt, against his wishes, while going deep into hunt for just beating up a bully. I get calling out hunt, but Bryce had some horrible alpha hole moments too.
Your super honest, it's refreshing, don't change! Your one of the only reveiwers I still like-for obvious reasons, you rock!!!☺🙃
Personally, I think that Fury and Juniper's relationship was a secret as fury is a merc and so any personal facts about her could be used against her...
So excited I’m finally on time
Thank you so much for pointing out all this problematics things. I really had a hard time reading about Hunt regretting his rebelion and Bryce becoming a super powerful Vanir. In my opinion, this book is not that different from Sara's previous works. I would really like to see a queer main characters in her books.
I just messaged my friend that now you've read House of Earth and Blood after initially not wanting to, that now you just need to write songs about it - only to later that see that you are going to write a song for it for a music video! I so hope you will write more! I love your music so much!
Ok, can I just point out that your nails match the cover sooo well😊
It was a happy accident! They were Halloween themed hehe
LIGHT IT UP!!
I never understood why people said she specifically is so problematic. Yeah there are problems she’s certainly not perfect and there are things I wish she would do differently, but I don’t think she’s doing anything worse than any of the other YA authors she just gets more hate for some reason.
Oh no, I love Ruhn sooo much, even much more than Hunt :-D It's hard for me to listen someone has mixed feelings about him, but I guess it's meant to be so. And he HAS to be heterosexual - I'm expecting a lot of smut scenes in CC 2! :D
Wow
ToG had a good plot and good characters (Aelin isn't really that bad). There were a lot of issues (Manorian is basically stating that love = sex), wasted plotlines, etc, but it was hopeful and bittersweet and nearly utopic.
ACOTAR is about Feyre and some hot guys
ACOTAR is about how people justify and excuse domestic violence and hope for those who escape those types of relationships
I agree, there was not much of anything or plot to ACOTAR. ToG did have a plot and in my personal opinion it better than ACOTAR
SONG SONG SONG SONG!!!!
please?🙃
I agree that Throne of Glass reigns supreme over ACOTAR
Why does it sound exactly like her other books lmao
I personally like Crescent City the least of her 3 series, probably because I'm more of a fantasy setting girl, but I agreed with a lot of what you said. Especially the sexism part. When I first read Ruhn claiming he owned Bryce I legitametly almost tossed the book into a wall. And with her lack of representation, I kind of feel bad I never noticed it before. When I read Crescent City, and Fury revealed she and Juniper were dating, I was so confused, because you're right it was out of the blue and felt like she only put it there just because. Same with Mor in ACOTAR. Thank you for making this it was very informative and helped me see Crescent City in a new light!
TOG all time fav ♥️🔥
When I read HOEAB I was also kind of confused by the narrative choice to make Juniper and Fury secret lesbians given how the world didn’t seem homophobic. When I thought about it though, I came up with a scenario that made sense to me: the CCB ballet company is so heavily influenced by real world ballet that SJM straight up uses the French word “ballet.” I was a professional ballet dancer and can tell you that even though the culture is very accepting of gay men, the same cannot be said of gay women. It’s honestly especially discriminatory against lesbians. So I thought maybe that’s why the relationship was a secret. I also thought that since Fury is an assassin with many enemies, she may have wanted to keep her relationship with June secret to protect her.
Then I read HOSAB. And June and Fury are out and living together as a couple like it’s no problem. There was literally no apparent reason for them being in a closeted relationship for over 2 years. I know SJM is genuinely trying to write more inclusive stories but what the hell was that?
Also, I hate both June and Fury. Fury is an emotionally unavailable alpha-hole who abandoned one of her closest friends for 2 years only to show up and be even more insufferable. And while Bryce shouldn’t have pulled strings without asking if June was ok with it, she is so utterly self centered when she threw a hissy fit for Bryce helping her get promoted. June was penalized professionally for trying to help humans during the demon invasion, an invasion where Bryce was savagely attacked by Danika’s murder, drugged, battled monsters, watched her boyfriend nearly die, watched Lehaba die, and watched Danika’s soul die. Then she was outed as the Autumn King’s bastard daughter. So much is out of Bryce‘a control. Nothing about what has happened has been fair. It’s no wonder Bryce wants to use one of the few perks to help June get the promotion she deserves. And when June blows up at Bryce, she knows that her friend is involved with some deadly conspiracies. But instead of having some sympathy, it’s all about this moment in her career is tainted. And I say this as a former professional ballerina. I broke my body and missed countless family events and opportunities to focus on my career and I still think June’s reaction was absolutely outrageous.
I literally gave up reading this book in the middle for a while. Also ACOTAR is like the worst, no offense to anyone 😬
I agree, I could not finish ACOTAR series