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thebookishmutant's review against another edition
4.0
Real rating: Hmmm...I’d say about 4.25 stars. Only 4 stars doesn’t quite give it justice.
I heard about “The Black Coats” on EpicReads, where it was featured on a list of “feminist books to dismantle the patriarchy”.
Dismantle the patriarchy? SAY. NO. MORE.
Out of all of the books on the list that I hadn’t yet read (or that I hadn’t already put on my to-read list), this one caught my eye the most. Surprisingly, it was already available, so I immediately put it on hold.
My expectations were...fairly average. I wasn’t expecting anything mind-blowing, but from the “Roses are red/Violets are blue/If you hurt us/We’re coming for you” hook, I got pretty excited. And honestly? “The Black Coats” exceeded my expectations in almost every respect.
There was so much time and attention to detail put into this book, especially when it came to the Black Coats themselves. Everything was so intricately designed, and no stone was left unturned when it came to the details. I love how each team was named after a different kind of butterfly (and, no spoilers, but the butterfly thing comes with a major twist about 75% of the way through), each of the Presidents were named after an actual U.S. president (which begs the question...why Nixon?), and so on. There’s mounds of little clues and Easter Eggs hidden in and around the most random and unsuspecting of parts, but as insignificant as they seem, they ALL come back to haunt you. Every one of them. So keep your eyes peeled and be sure to remember everything-you might be surprised.
The characters were so incredibly real, so full of heart, humanity, and ferocity. I loved Team Banner, and especially how they all played off of each other and stuck together no matter what. They seemed like a teensy bit of a motley crew at first, but each one had their individual-and crucial-role to play.
The theme of “The Black Coats” was also incredibly important, and also very relevant to this day and age. I loved how this book explored all sides of the topic, without leaning exclusively to one side or being overly preachy. A+, Mrs. Oakes.
Lastly, this was a perfect read for International Women’s Day AND Women’s History Month. I’m so glad I checked this book out when I did. :)
In short, an action-packed, feminist novel full of heart, wit, and ferocity. I highly recommend it.
I heard about “The Black Coats” on EpicReads, where it was featured on a list of “feminist books to dismantle the patriarchy”.
Dismantle the patriarchy? SAY. NO. MORE.
Out of all of the books on the list that I hadn’t yet read (or that I hadn’t already put on my to-read list), this one caught my eye the most. Surprisingly, it was already available, so I immediately put it on hold.
My expectations were...fairly average. I wasn’t expecting anything mind-blowing, but from the “Roses are red/Violets are blue/If you hurt us/We’re coming for you” hook, I got pretty excited. And honestly? “The Black Coats” exceeded my expectations in almost every respect.
There was so much time and attention to detail put into this book, especially when it came to the Black Coats themselves. Everything was so intricately designed, and no stone was left unturned when it came to the details. I love how each team was named after a different kind of butterfly (and, no spoilers, but the butterfly thing comes with a major twist about 75% of the way through), each of the Presidents were named after an actual U.S. president (which begs the question...why Nixon?), and so on. There’s mounds of little clues and Easter Eggs hidden in and around the most random and unsuspecting of parts, but as insignificant as they seem, they ALL come back to haunt you. Every one of them. So keep your eyes peeled and be sure to remember everything-you might be surprised.
The characters were so incredibly real, so full of heart, humanity, and ferocity. I loved Team Banner, and especially how they all played off of each other and stuck together no matter what. They seemed like a teensy bit of a motley crew at first, but each one had their individual-and crucial-role to play.
The theme of “The Black Coats” was also incredibly important, and also very relevant to this day and age. I loved how this book explored all sides of the topic, without leaning exclusively to one side or being overly preachy. A+, Mrs. Oakes.
Lastly, this was a perfect read for International Women’s Day AND Women’s History Month. I’m so glad I checked this book out when I did. :)
In short, an action-packed, feminist novel full of heart, wit, and ferocity. I highly recommend it.
april_dorwart's review against another edition
5.0
Read this book at the absolute perfect time in my life. I want to scream, I want to fight, I want to sob, I want to heal. I want justice, I want vengeance, I want answers, I want to understand. I want comfort, I want safety, I want love. I want it for everyone.
egarof's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Great empowering book about the injustices done unto women and how those women deal with the trauma that they have experienced. Loved the characters and their relationships with each other.
thepandabear_25's review against another edition
4.0
Guys I'm going to be honest. I've been in a really bad book slump lately, and I never thought this book would be the one to pull me out of it.
I wish I could write a review to give it justice but right now I can't. All I can say is read this book.
Only reason I am giving this four stars, is the ending was a tad rushed but I cannot think of a single thing I would change.
(Raises glass) To all strong women, may nothing ever break you.
I wish I could write a review to give it justice but right now I can't. All I can say is read this book.
Only reason I am giving this four stars, is the ending was a tad rushed but I cannot think of a single thing I would change.
(Raises glass) To all strong women, may nothing ever break you.
ashnreads's review against another edition
5.0
The Black Coats is gripping, intense, and really made me think.
I'm still processing everything that happened, but I genuinely appreciated and enjoyed it.
I'm still processing everything that happened, but I genuinely appreciated and enjoyed it.
amanda_readallthebooks's review against another edition
5.0
HOLY SHIT. I finished almost in one sitting
*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for honest review. Review to come*
*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for honest review. Review to come*
sethreadssometimes's review against another edition
3.0
i was so excited when i read the synopsis for this book. but yeah it was a bit of a let down
elizabethofeves's review against another edition
2.0
I went into this book excited and enthralled about the premise. I mean, vigilante warriors enacting justice against rapists, child abusers, and murders? Sign me up! However, some of the potential of the book wasn’t quite reached in my opinion. I felt there were plot points/moral questions lost due to the book being YA. I felt it could have benefited from being New Adult, or most of all, Thea being in college. Why were the Black Coats recruiting high schoolers? Unless the book wanted to make commentary on how the Black Coats indoctrinated young women (which I feel it didn’t) it would have made way more sense to be placed in college. I feel the darker themes could be further carried out.
My favorite part (that made me tear up) was Mirabelle’s inheritance. I wish more impactful scenes like that would have been featured in the book, but it felt like the romance scenes with Drew superseded the development of the girls and the Black Coats. Every time Thea was with him I wanted to be somewhere else: learning more about the Black Coats, or about her relationships with Team Banner. I wished we could have seen more of Robin and Julie’s relationship, and more of Nixon’s character. The romance cheapened the plot for me—why are we focusing so much on a contrived highschool relationship in a book about women seeking justice and questions that raises? Drew was alright, but there was so much beyond him that begged to be explored. I do like the moral quandary his father raised though.
The Black Coats had plenty of potential in it’s incredible premises, some of which it fulfilled with the characters that made up Team Banner (who I really wish we would have gotten more of), and its expert handling of grief through Thea’s flashback scenes with Natalie. However, some of its stronger points were very underutilized, which is why I’m giving it two stars.
My favorite part (that made me tear up) was Mirabelle’s inheritance. I wish more impactful scenes like that would have been featured in the book, but it felt like the romance scenes with Drew superseded the development of the girls and the Black Coats. Every time Thea was with him I wanted to be somewhere else: learning more about the Black Coats, or about her relationships with Team Banner. I wished we could have seen more of Robin and Julie’s relationship, and more of Nixon’s character. The romance cheapened the plot for me—why are we focusing so much on a contrived highschool relationship in a book about women seeking justice and questions that raises? Drew was alright, but there was so much beyond him that begged to be explored. I do like the moral quandary his father raised though.
The Black Coats had plenty of potential in it’s incredible premises, some of which it fulfilled with the characters that made up Team Banner (who I really wish we would have gotten more of), and its expert handling of grief through Thea’s flashback scenes with Natalie. However, some of its stronger points were very underutilized, which is why I’m giving it two stars.