Reviews

The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan

pfwhitman's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

This book dives into climate change and how we are ruining the earth but tells it through an interesting lens. In a falling apart Toronto, real estate developers are squeezing the city and their tenants for all they are worth and paying a heavy price in real human lives to accomplish that. Adding to it is a tech company digitizing our every movement and creating a police state. There is no chance for a real life pinned between the two. But the earth rejects both of those and a infection adds a third element to the mix destroying and decaying everything around it. The developers want to use it to their advantage while not understanding it and the tech company claims to be on our side but only because they have no idea what's going on. This premise has all the potential in the world but the characters are just completely uninteresting. It's told in a neat way, every character is a tenant in the tallest building in the city ignoring the decay until it kills them but they aren't doing enough to keep me intrigued.

stephanieanneauthor's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

What if capitalism and the city of Toronto were mouldy? This bleak hellscape was uncomfortably believable given the current socio-political climate. Rideshares, food delivery apps, shitty landlords, rich people doing horrible things to ensure their success. I would not be surprised if this is exactly what the future holds for us. And there's rich lore at the heart of it all, but I felt like we only saw the tip of the iceberg. I, for one, would love to know more about the gardener. 

Despite the dark and uncertain final chapters, the interlude that closed out the novel put a smile on my face. It was surprisingly full of hope in an appropriately ridiculous sort of way. I really appreciated the duality of the ending, and it gave me lots to think about as I closed the book.

afrp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I found the narrative a little muddled at times, but that sort of goes with the story, so it's not a big criticism. This is such an interesting examination of the collapse of capitalism, I feel like it deserves to be talked about more. Think this might be the first book I've ever read that's set in Toronto,  so that's nice.

skittleforge's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

pinot_and_pageturners_318's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The writing itself was good, but neither the characters nor the plot were particularly compelling. 

mrninjagiraffe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

whaabzreads's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I should have in theory liked this but there was just a lack of draw for me. I liked the concept as a whole but the plot itself I found lacking. Also,

are the raccoons evil or what?

benji_dw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The system of shadow blood capitalist condo magic is so fascinating that it saves my review. It’s a good book, but so grimdark that finishing it felt more of a chore than a good read. But it’s a book set in Toronto that pushes new boundaries so I don’t regret reading it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

defaultnamespace's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

wibblethefisch's review

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5