Mildred’s Resistance by Katie Cross – ARC Review

Mildred’s Resistance by Katie Cross

Rating

4/5

I received a copy of this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Description

Absolute Power Corrupts Even the Best of Friends.

Mildred Graeme is a witch that knows what it’s like to fail. She loathes small talk, struggles with magic, and grew up wretchedly poor. What’s easy for her best friend Evelyn, a wealthy, powerful socialite, is difficult for Mildred.

The two lifelong friends reunite at Chatham Castle where they fight together for the dream of a better world. Mildred wants to save the Network from political elitism, while Evelyn encourages it. When Evelyn gains power and threatens to obliterate the Network, Mildred realizes that she must overcome her fear of failure to save the lives of those she loves, even if it means betraying her best friend.

Mildred’s Resistance is the prequel to The Network Series and a gripping tale of intrigue, betrayal, and unexpected romance that defies all odds to rise above the ghosts of failure.

My Review

YAAASSS. So much yaassss! I loved it, AGAIN. Just like all the other books in the Network series. I am so glad I received a copy of her first novel on NetGalley because this series is just great. Katie Cross herself is so kind and fabulous too! But to the novel!Mildred’s Resistance provided an amazing backstory to how the Network came to be as Bianca knows it and set up the state of affairs. This will be particularly important in the final novel of the Network series because it shows how  pivotal characters came to gain and maintain power, and in some cases lose everything. Things make more sense.  The novel focuses on the friendship between Evelyn and Mildred and how it evolved into bitter opposition.

 Evelyn was such a fascinating character. She was certainly raised with privilege and tragedy that affected her views of how to run the Network. The reader can see her as a person before she transformed into the symbol of oppression she is remembered as in the other Network books. Mildred came from a poor family and struggled her way to the top, not for want of power but for the desire to help people. Their dynamic together showed the power of friendship to overcome differences and yet the eventual erosion of said friendship when personal morals and beliefs are crossed.

Mildred’s Resistance details the time that these girls met each other as children to when they faced off as rivals to govern the network. The descriptions of growing up from child to teen to adult was separated by letters to show the passing of time and I thought this was a decent way to handle the situation. It is hard to tell a whole life story in one volume and as a result the beginning is a bit jerky. The passing of their adult years went more fluidly showing their growth into the women they were inevitably going to become.

I absolutely loved all of the political intrigue and power plays.The novel had actual displays of governance rather than other novels that skim over it and just have the characters automatically in power. There are many instances of Mildred hearing what the people have to say, struggling to find a way her covens can come up with required taxes, and mediating arguments between the citizens and the government. The best thing about these novels is the powerful women. They are majorly focused on women’s relationships with each other as romantic relationships take a backseat. Mildred’s Resistance is a novel about doing what’s noble and right, even at the cost of the heart and family.

In Summary

The Good

• Strong female characters, both noble and selfish
• Realistic portrayals of governance and female relationships in a magical fantasy setting
• Makes me want to read more

The Not So Good

• A bit choppy in the beginning to show the growth and passing years

Recommendation

Absolutely! I cannot say enough good things about The Network Series and this prequel does not disappoint!

♥, Clare