Cute Mutants 4: The Sisterhood of Evil Mutants
The Sisterhood of Evil Mutants is the fourth book in SJ Whitby’s Cute Mutants series. SJ is back with another action-filled adventure of queers against…everyone, at times.
From Goodreads:
“Then understand this. I want to shoulder that burden for others. I want Quietus to break against me, to shatter. When I killed Abigail Tanner, I knew it would make me a target. I want that. It was on purpose. I’m not some reckless teenager who knows nothing. I’m a reckless teenager who knows exactly what I’m doing.”
We’ve finally found a safe place for mutants, but it may not stay that way for long. There’s no shortage of battles to fight, and I’m itching to take the war to our enemies, even if not everyone agrees. Eli Crane has a lot of money, guns, and hate—and he’s only the first name on my list.
Because Crane’s not our only problem: a terrifying mystery lies in our past waiting to be unveiled, and we’ve got a dark vision of the future swinging at us like a fist. A lot of people are gunning for mutants, and we have to keep ahead of all of them. We’re not schoolkids anymore. We’ll have to be revolutionaries, politicians, and criminals to make it through. Surviving the experience isn’t guaranteed.
This review will have spoilers for books 1-3. Please do not read this review if you have not read the first three books! Or do. I’m not your mom.
“Do you still think I’m a murderous monster?”
Cute Mutants 3 left us with our favorite team going to the Mutant Haven after Dani was killed and then revived. In a show of unity as a nation, Dylan held a vote and executed someone on television. Our last phrase from Dani as she’s revived is a startling one:
“God is coming.”
A war is brewing. It’s time for the Cute Mutants to get more involved in politics than the X-Men comics ever prepared them for. The team has always done their own thing, but Haven runs things by a vote. They’re determined to be recognized as a helpful, non-threatening nation. Dylan is, as always, not keen on doing what they’re told. Just because they’re in a haven doesn’t mean that’s going to change. It was interesting to see how the relationships with the friend group are developing throughout their trauma and stress. Whitby does a fantastic job of incorporating these real-life instances in a fantastical format. We are introduced to a new character who plays therapist to the team. They have an additional role, but it was nice to finally see superheroes getting therapy.
“Fanatics on both sides and the whole world burns.”
The Cute Mutants want to make a difference with the power and money they have now, but they also must learn the hard life lesson that it’s just simply not that easy. It’s an ongoing conversation in many of the different plotlines in this book because that really is how life works. You can’t simply re-allocate everyone’s funding and expect people to be happy about it. The Cute Mutants decide to start giving money to foundations that are putting in the work, and as someone whose mother works with rural communities to do exactly these things, it was nice to see this shown realistically.
“Submit to chaos. The chaos of me.”
The ongoing plot throughout the books is the origin of the mutants, and especially, Goddess. SJ has done a wonderful job at keeping this ongoing and making sure all questions are answered. Without spoiling what we find out in TSOEM, Emma’s origins and the way these changes things for the future will keep you on your toes. The new characters that have been introduced and explored further (Penny and Feral) have become two of my all-time favorite characters in the series. I am, quite literally, obsessed with Feral and if anything happens to her, SJ and I will need to have some words (I’m kidding).
“They don’t like a lot of people. Girls in general. Dangerous girls, even less so.”
Sometimes after the third book in a series, books tend to degrade. The Cute Mutants is the exception to this common occurrence, and I think the books just keep getting better and better. This series has touched on so many things from religious trauma, racism, and gender identity that there is something for everyone to find in it and feel seen with. I will always be grateful for their presence in my life and how they express the things I’ve felt for a lot of my life in a format that is understandable and accessible.
Thank you to SJ for providing me an early copy of Cute Mutants 4. And for letting me scream endlessly about how in love I am with your characters, and how seen they make me feel.
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