Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Das Karmesinrote Blütenblatt

What a ride this book is! The narrative style, addressing the reader directly at times, is such a fun device, echoing popular novels from the time the book is set, and of course, the literary attempts of the main characters.

Faber interweaves the lives of his cast of characters until even the seemingly side parts become incredibly important. From the protagonist, Sugar, to the Rackham's housemaid, each character is carefully crafted and fully fleshed out.

The sheer length of this book could be daunting for some, but the richly-drawn characters hold your attention all the way through. The story moves between Sugar and her benefactor, William Rackham, to other members of the Rackham family, including William's troubled wife and brother, and back again. This helps to keep things moving and prevents burnout, which can happen with such a tome.

The ending is not universally loved. If you need an ending that neatly ties everything into a bow, you'll be disappointed. Instead, after a series of surprise twists and turns, the reader is left with plenty of questions about what really happened. This isn't for everyone, but I loved it. Life isn't neat and doesn't give all the answers we might want, and neither does this book!

Content Warnings

plbennett's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.5

Content Warnings

the_freya's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced

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

Content Warnings

theneverendingtbr's review against another edition

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challenging lighthearted slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Set in Victorian London, this book is like jumping into a time machine.

It's a very long book, it's slow paced but it's beautifully written and I got through it eventually.

I really liked these characters, some of them were likeable and others not so much; they were just written so well.

Same rating as Under the Skin but this is better, great author! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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