This book has a pretty conversational tone that was great for audiobook, but I can imagine the written form likely feels too casual. The author self-narrates and you can immediately tell she is a podcaster (which I mean almost entirely positively 😃). Each chapter is basically an essay on one chosen individual, with some connections between people and places.

I appreciate that the author did not shy away from the problematic aspects of the heroes and cast of characters. Her approach is self-described as using "and" to embrace nuance. For example, one of the heroes greatly expanded schools for Black children AND promulgated basically a respectability politics method of teaching Black children (if Black people act exactly as white people want then white people will graciously and magnanimously bestow rights on Black people). I couldn't help but feel deflated at some of the stories, despite the author's efforts to praise doing the good that you can with what you have, at the lengths the heroes went to for small gains for their communities. But, that's the point of the book! This was a nice break from some heavy nonfiction I've read of late.

The sheer amount of information and research in this book is honestly dizzying. It's clear the author is supremely knowledgeable and was showcasing a gargantuan amount of interview and research effort. I honestly felt hit over the head with detail!

The strengths of this book are highlighting how oligarchs and other rich power brokers worked together across the world to prop each other up. The last part highlighting the connections and workings of Trump and his family with Russian business interests was helpful to understand the kinds of long games Putin can patiently deploy. I was saddened by the characterization of the Russian people (at least in my perspective) as being content with the ills of Putin and his regime as long as it got them material goods and middle class luxury. The fall of the USSR was harrowing for the majority of Russian people, and there was so much instability and uncertainty. While Putin's government was undoubtedly not reclaiming privately held business for the good of the people, I also can't feel too bad for the few people and families who had taken up Russian industries to their immense enrichment during all the tumult and disorder of the collapse of Soviet Russia. The West was serving its own interests and Putin was not operating in a vacuum. This book will be most enjoyable I think if you have familiarity with the last couple decades of USSR/Russian history.

Fangs Divide Us is a dual POV romantasy between a vampire and a human, which should be up my alley, but this book sadly just wasn't for me. The plot momentum was slow to get going, and by the time the action picked up, I just wasn't that invested in the characters.

The FMC was kind and easy to root for, but I did struggle with some of the miscommunication issues with the MMC and her unnecessary and repetitive guilt. I do appreciate that the FMC was a realistic and fallible person, and her disability and scars were not the main focus of the story but were handled well. The MMC was a little flat to me; he's very nice but not that much else. Their relationship was very quickly formed, but there is an explanation for this to be fair!

I have a hard time with insta-love, so if you don't mind that and are looking for cozy setting, higher stakes fantasy, you will likely enjoy this book!

Thank you, Victory Editing, for the arc!