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aarvi_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Gore
cupecake's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia
selendrea's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The plot of this novel went in a completely different direction than I had expected in the absolute best way. I understand that a lot of readers had some difficulty with keeping up with the twists and turns, but I felt that information was revealed at just the right pace, and the important points were reiterated multiple times. Watching all of the pieces come together at the end was so satisfying for me.
Another strength of this book is it's character development - I truly adored (most) of the characters by the last page. The way they interacted with one another additionally felt realistic and warm. Helen had to grow on me; she originally comes off as "not like other girls," but... it's true. She truly is not like other girls. If you know you know. For that reason, I'll allow it.
I would say my only critique is that the dialogue occasionally felt a bit juvenile. But since this novel is technically young adult, and many of the main characters are literally teens, it makes sense within the greater context of the story. At times, however, I felt it contrasted a bit harshly with the seriousness and grandiose aspects of the plot.
All in all, These Fleeting Shadows is both simultaneously a sweet, sapphic coming of age story and a dark, insidious tale that considers and explores classism, how we form our own self-concept, family pressures, what it means to be human, and the selfishness of man. I highly recommend it!
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Blood, and Classism
Minor: Alcohol
julieyael's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I would have loved it more with less teenage characters (harder for me to identify as I am over 40), but it would have worked less, I guess.
I couldn’t put the book down so that’s a good sign☺️
Not rating higher because of some details that annoyed me, and the romance which I don’t really care for. The characters are interresting, even if a bit simplistic/stereotyped.
I loved the global rythm of the story and could re-read it with pleasure.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Death of parent, and Murder
sage_alexandra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Kate Alice Marshall crafted a beautifully complicated story
The book description mentions "The Haunting of Hill House meets Knives Out", but neglects to bring up, what I found to be, a much stronger connection to The Haunting of Bly Manor. Spoilers for both Bly Manor and this book:
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Vomit, and Kidnapping
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
a couple more content warnings: - mention of lobotomies - altered perception of reality/dissociation/loss of time and memories - a lot of bones, human and animal - vague mention of severing of limbs - specific body horror: skin coming off the body, soft bones, jumbled up humanoid bodiesshadowykittenwizard's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
amjz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ilaxaria's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, and Death of parent
alexijai98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
czoltak's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail