So I finished reading THE RAKESS (out 4/28) last night. I wasn’t sure what to expect because I saw polarizing reviews/reactions from friends.

I loved it. I would not recommend it to everyone (see my GR for CWs), but it spoke to me. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3186177049

It’s a weird thing, because the book makes so many plot decisions that I Do Not Like. If I’d read a summary beforehand, I would’ve passed on it.

But... I really loved it? I do think there are excellent critiques to be made, but the overall experience was so enjoyable.

I’m trying to stop saying that “X person is a good writer” bc it’s a lazy shorthand. Good writer how? But I think SP is remarkably talented at writing on a technical level. Like I would stop reading occasionally and just *admire* the plotting/character arcs.

Before reading, I saw some comments about how the violence/other CWs are gratuitous. After reading, I think I have to disagree with that.

It’s 100% okay to dislike certain content, but that doesn’t make it gratuitous. Everything was handled with the appropriate gravity.

What I loved most is how *fearless* the book is. I’ve read many historicals that are labeled as feminist. What I usually end up getting is a watered-down version of feminism where the heroine attends a protest for a chapter.

Which is not to say that this book is perfect, either. It obviously focuses on issues that are impt to white British feminists. But I admired how it upped the stakes to impossible and risky heights. I felt genuine fear and anxiety that things wouldn’t be okay.

So my preferences in UK historicals gravitate toward angst (my fave authors are Sherry Thomas + Meredith Duran).

Scarlett Peckham is 10000x more angst than those authors. Intensely raw and emotional and angsty. I had to put the book down at several points bc it was too much.

Anyway. I have other thoughts but I don’t want to discuss plot choices before others have read it. I have Opinions and Qualms, but those will have to wait. My main takeaway is how I appreciate the author taking certain risks, even (*especially*) if they won’t work for everyone.