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livlamentloathe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I also wanted more of the book to touch on the racism Jasper faced in Eden. I wanted Jasper to better scold Opal for the way she ignored about that part of him. She made a comment later on that alluded to her getting it in part. But she also definitely was very forgetful of his race. The book itself barely even acknowledged his race. It took until the middle of the book for me to determine his ethnicity - maybe that's my bad and I missed an early tell. But I think overall, this book wanted to hide details and it didn't always handle that well. It would be evasive and add extra page time instead of being a bit more upfront about things. Maybe that was purposeful too with Opal's personality. But it felt like it was just trying too hard.
The premise felt like a cross between The Hazel Wood and Book of Night. I thought it was meant to be horror, but it wasn't horror so much as gothic. More of a magical realism/low fantasy romance. This book could've been great but I think it needed further editing and less evasive plot points. I get it. Most details were meant for "reveals" later but it became excessive when I got lost wondering what the point of the book was. Or what was going on period.
P.S. I'd have loved more of a violent ending for the Gravely family and Elizabeth Bane.
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
frawst_disasta_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
While the main characters are morally grey, I couldn’t help but root for them, for their ‘will they won’t they’ and for the house itself.
This book is exactly what I needed/wanted the book to be. And I do love a book with some footnotes and illustrations. I will most likely re-read and annotate in the future.
Graphic: Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Blood
ljp817's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Car accident and Classism
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia, Slavery, Vomit, Murder, and Lesbophobia
ciwanski'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? Yes
4.25
Loved the homage to beauty and the beast in the story, love the found family aspect, and love a man who is constantly kneeling for a woman
Also the first book I’ve read where the two main characters are supposedly ugly??? Felt (surprisingly?) represented.
I feel like this review makes this book sound like a romance and, like, it IS a love story, but it’s definitely not a romance and I love it for that
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
blacksphinx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Deportation
Once again, why doesn't Storygraph have a "drowning" warning???briannagriffin567'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Car accident and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Racism, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Incest, and Sexual content
allyareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Personally I ate this up. A sentient house will get me <i>every. single. time!</i>
My other favourite arcetype in media: <b>The Angry, Hunger, Resourceful Woman™</b>
e.g. Alex Stern from Ninth House, Lila Bard for Darker shade of Magic, El from Deadly Education etc
The author's note at the beginning surmises it perfectly. This is a <s>love</s> letter about loving a place that doesn't always love you back and that it is.
4.5 ★ only cause I wanted a little more from the ending and it was a little over written in parts.
Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, and Sexism
Minor: Incest, Sexual content, Slavery, and Vomit
tamara_joy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Police brutality, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Slavery, Vomit, Abandonment, and Alcohol
issamay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Incest, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit