Who Would Like This Book:
This is a bold, unconventional medieval fantasy filled with fierce, flawed women, a fascinating trans protagonist, and a cast that defies the typical 'knights and nobles' mold. If you love historical settings that embrace the weirdness and diversity of the Middle Ages - not just endless battles and bearded men - this one’s for you. Expect dark humor, vivid monsters, peasant defiance, and an underdog crew fighting hellish odds. It’s especially recommended for readers craving authentic queer representation, strong middle-aged female leads, and a story that draws inspiration from wild medieval art.
Who May Not Like This Book:
A few readers found the writing style a bit dry and sometimes slow, with moments of meandering travel and legal wrangling. The historical setting means that some characters, especially the trans man, face misgendering and the social prejudices of the era, which might be uncomfortable for some. Others were frustrated by typos and editing issues in certain printings, and some wished for deeper character motivations or tighter pacing.
About:
Armed in Her Fashion by Kate Heartfield is a dark, gritty fantasy set in medieval Europe, particularly in 1328 Bruges. The story follows the protagonist, Margriet de Vos, a feisty widow who demands her rightful inheritance for her daughter, leading to a series of events involving a transgender man-at-arms named Claude, a mysterious hellbeast, and a cast of diverse characters fighting against the powers of Hell and Earth. The writing style is described as evocative, moving, and reminiscent of a Hieronymous Bosch painting brought to life, filled with strange and vivid imagery that tumbles along at a fast pace.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of misgendering, societal oppression, and dark fantasy elements such as violence and depictions of Hell.
From The Publisher:
"The novel is written with arresting detail and challenges literary tropes about women. Its roster includes half a dozen complex female characters and one trans male character, all of them captivating, sympathetic, repulsive, flawed, dangerous, selfless, determined, and damaged. They and Heartfield's powerful battle scenes make this well worth the price of admission."Publishers Weekly (starred review)
In 1328, Bruges is under siege by the Chatelaine of Hell and her army of chimerashumans mixed with animals or armour, forged in the deep fires of the Hellbeast. At night, revenants crawl over the walls and bring plague and grief to this city of widows.Margriet de Vos learns she's a widow herself when her good-for-nothing husband comes home dead from the war. He didn't come back for her. The revenant who was her husband pulls a secret treasure of coins and weapons from under his floorboards and goes back through the mouth of the beast called Hell.Margriet killed her first soldier when she was 11. She's buried six of her seven children. She'll do anything for her daughter, even if it means raiding Hell itself to get her inheritance back.Margriet's daughter is haunted by a dead husband of her own, and blessed, or cursed, with an enchanted distaff that allows her to control the revenants and see the future. Together with a transgender man-at-arms who has unfinished business with the Chatelaine, a traumatized widow with a giant waterpowered forgehammer at her disposal, and a wealthy alderman's wife who escapes Bruges with her children, Margriet and Beatrix forge a raiding party like Hell has never seen.
Reader Stats (6):
Want To Read (5) | |
Not Interested (1) |
What can you read after
Armed In Her Fashion?
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