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stayshomeandreads's review against another edition
Would have been a five star from me if not for the utterly vile plot twist that was not properly examined and ruined the second half of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
emzily's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well written with multiple themes I hate. Recommended to friends earlier on but want to rescind my rec now. This book kinda pissed me off but it's atmospheric and gothic and someone loves it I'm sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
aegireads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Alcoholism and Gore
littlecatinabox's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Blood, and Murder
jomarch436's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Sooorrry not sorry. Wtf was this book? OK, let me calm down. This was a very atmospheric, dark, gothic book, so if that is your thing, you'd probably love this book. It was quite a slow start for me. I would've just said this book wasn't for me and given it two stars, but then.... the twist Incest. Really? Oh wait, they're not really siblings. Oh wait, they are. <spoiler" Very frustrating. I also didn't get why the religious element was so heavy in it. I didn't feel it added anything the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
ercamcll's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
okaybakery's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
sailormood's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Incest
felis_libris's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Minor: Suicide attempt
howwoolatthemoon's review against another edition
0.25
If you hate incest, you will hate this book. Yes, that may be a spoiler, but I think potential readers need this content warning because ew.
*********
I think I write better and longer and more detailed reviews when I hated the book so much that it made me angry. Maybe I should try to be more positive? Meh. At least, meh for this book in particular.
The first 60-75% of the book was probably at a three star level, and then it took a decided turn for the worse and for some reason I KEPT READING AND I HATE MYSELF FOR IT
It's a fairy tale fantasy, you'll think, at first. You'll think it's about what the book description says (which reading again after having read the book, is exceedingly misleading). It feels sorta steampunky, is from a woman's perspective, is a bit darker than your average fairy tale fantasy - even those of the past 10-15 years. Dark. Mysterious. It's not YA, you'll probably think -- not like the fifty bazillion other fairy tales written lately from a young woman's perspective. You'll say to yourself, "this feels more adult maybe?". You'll think it's interesting world building, maybe, while being firmly rooted in the rules of the fairy stories you know. And then, it gets even darker.
And then the story has about seventy four plot holes in it. And there's twists and turns, and you'll go back and read again trying to make sense of it but there is very little sense to be made.
And then the story doesn't really resolve, but it just... sort of... stops. And that's okay. I really wanted it to be over. I should've quit sooner, but I was hoping the book would redeem itself, or explain the plot holes, or... anything. It didn't.
I thought I was reading something light and fun -- a fairy tale fantasy! -- between two kinda heavy social justicey books (one that I ended up with right now because the hold finally came in at the library, and the other because the book club at work is reading it). This was not at all a good break from thinking about heavy, dark things. This book weighs a lot, and is not worth its weight.
*********
I think I write better and longer and more detailed reviews when I hated the book so much that it made me angry. Maybe I should try to be more positive? Meh. At least, meh for this book in particular.
The first 60-75% of the book was probably at a three star level, and then it took a decided turn for the worse and for some reason I KEPT READING AND I HATE MYSELF FOR IT
It's a fairy tale fantasy, you'll think, at first. You'll think it's about what the book description says (which reading again after having read the book, is exceedingly misleading). It feels sorta steampunky, is from a woman's perspective, is a bit darker than your average fairy tale fantasy - even those of the past 10-15 years. Dark. Mysterious. It's not YA, you'll probably think -- not like the fifty bazillion other fairy tales written lately from a young woman's perspective. You'll say to yourself, "this feels more adult maybe?". You'll think it's interesting world building, maybe, while being firmly rooted in the rules of the fairy stories you know. And then, it gets even darker.
And then the story has about seventy four plot holes in it. And there's twists and turns, and you'll go back and read again trying to make sense of it but there is very little sense to be made.
And then the story doesn't really resolve, but it just... sort of... stops. And that's okay. I really wanted it to be over. I should've quit sooner, but I was hoping the book would redeem itself, or explain the plot holes, or... anything. It didn't.
I thought I was reading something light and fun -- a fairy tale fantasy! -- between two kinda heavy social justicey books (one that I ended up with right now because the hold finally came in at the library, and the other because the book club at work is reading it). This was not at all a good break from thinking about heavy, dark things. This book weighs a lot, and is not worth its weight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest