Vilja Reads

A failed attempt to rescue an "evil slut" character, historical connections that read as forced, lazily written magic (she can survive in this spot for years and make food out of thin air because, well, because it's a magic spot), ableism in the form of equating inhuman boulder people with humans with dwarfism (there's a scene where a boulder person recognizes himself in a painting of a dwarf) etc etc.

Maguire's other novels had problems too, especially with ableism, but they had merit in the form of characterization, philosophy and storytelling that you just don't get here.

I may not ever read another Maguire again after this.