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Mothergamer (1546 KP) rated Greedfall in Video Games

Jun 14, 2020

Greedfall

2018 | Role-Playing

6.7

(10 Ratings)

Video Game Rating

I actually liked Greedfall. It definitely has a mix of Dragon Age and Fable vibes with the open exploration and the various main quest and side quests. Set in the 18th century it definitely showcases colonialism and all the problems and horrors that come with it. I felt frustrated with some of the story pacing in some areas because while the main character got to make a lot of choices, a lot of them felt like I didn't really get to do much for the sake of diplomacy. I enjoyed the combat and felt it had a great system that had a good mix of melee and magic. I liked exploring the island and fighting the giant creatures while learning about the native people of the island. Overall, I had fun playing the game in spite of some of the story issues. You can read the full Mothergamer review here:http://lorrie28-mothergamer.blogspot.com/2020/06/mothergamer-plays-greedfall.html

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ClareR (5726 KP) rated Savage Beasts in Books

Jul 4, 2023

Savage Beasts

Rani Selvarajah | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Savage Beasts is a re-imagining of the story of Medea. This time, Meena (not Medea) betrays her father, the Nawab of Bengal, and runs away with an adventurer called James Chilcott. But Meena’s initial feelings of adventure and excitement soon wear off when she realises that the man she took to be an adventurer, was just an opportunist who spends her money and betrays her in turn.

I thought it was really clever how the Greek myth was woven into Meena’s story, and showed the impact of colonialism. Great Britain doesn’t come out of this well. James’ uncle, Sir Peter Chilcott, is a powerful man in the East India Company. He’s cold, unforgiving, and sees Meena, Indians, Bengali’s, and anyone from anywhere foreign, as below him and little better than an animal.

It made for really uncomfortable reading, and made me so angry!

Meena comes across as being so young but desperate to be older. She’s determined to make a good life for herself and her child - despite how difficult James and his reprehensible family make it for her.

Honestly, by the end I firmly believed they deserved whatever was coming their way!

I listened to this on audiobook, kindly sent to me via NetGalley by HarperCollins UK Audio. The narrator, Shazia Nicholls, really was outstanding. It always amazes me how a good narrator can make all the characters sound so different - especially in this case, the men. Sir Peter came across as a sneering, superior, calculating monster, and in contrast, Meena was both young and wise - and it felt as though she was really there, speaking for herself. Shazia read with such emotion that it became entirely believable. This could well have been an historical memoir as much as a piece of fiction.

Yes, this is described as a Greek retelling, but it has been made into something all of its own. If you know the story of Medea, then you’ll see where in particular it is borrowing from that story - but this is a great story in its own right. It’s powerful, feminist and it’s about colonialism. It’s a story about family, trust and the devastation of betrayal.

Highly recommended!