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latashman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Terminal illness, Death, Suicide, Death of parent, Gore, Chronic illness, and Child death
iane_reads'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: Chronic illness, Medical content, Murder, Slavery, Torture, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Death, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Hate crime, Miscarriage, Dementia, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Pandemic/Epidemic, and War
willow_the_wisp'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: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Chronic illness, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
lisztaffe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, Cancer, Gore, and Suicide
Minor: Infertility, Child death, and Genocide
jberk_of_rivia'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: Murder, Body horror, Chronic illness, and Gore
celestriakle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The whole book could have used another round of editing. Stylistically, it comes off as rough and amateur. There are moments where the motions are awkward and confusing, and I cannot tell you how many times I saw the word "smilingly". The dialogue is at times stilted and awkward, with inconsistent character voice for Gideon in particular.
A consistent issue is the way the narration and dialogue are in conflict with each other. I understand that Gideon's supposed to be a somewhat unreliable narrator, but that's not really the conflict I'm talking about. Particularly in the beginning of the book, Harrow and Gideon supposedly hate each other passionately, but I never believed that for a moment. They kept saying the words, but it never matched what was on the page, even when they were in direct conflict and supposedly feeling all this hate. It felt awkward and out of sync. There were also a lot of moments when characters or the narration would call Gideon incredibly stupid when she's constantly offering intelligent, insightful ideas or observations. It'd be one thing if someone acknowledged Gideon's intelligence, among this very large cast, but that never happens.
I also can't write this without mentioning the INCREDIBLE levels of fatphobia in this book. In this book of nearly 20 characters, there's only one minor character who's fat, and he's one of the worst, most offensive fat caricatures I've seen in a long time. If he played any larger of a role, I would have had to quit the book. Muir can't go two seconds without mentioning his "softness" or fatness and directly connecting it to his cowardice, laziness, and hatred of hard work. At one point, he's directly compared to a donut.
ALL THAT SAID.
I did enjoy the book overall. Taken as more of a YA style adventure narrative, it's a lot of fun! It's a murder mystery. The magic's neat; the characters aren't that deep but they are distinctive and memorable and fun; the mystery is fun and intriguing with multiple angles and questions to sink your teeth into. It's an easy read. Once I readjusted my expectations, it was a lot of fun.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Fatphobia, Gore, Grief, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Child abuse
Minor: Child death
rwsmith'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? Yes
5.0
it is almost a murder mystery, kind of hunder games adjacent, in that theres a competition that a bunch of teenagers are participating in in a secluded location.
the worldbuilding is awesome, once i finished the book i ended up reading The Locked Tomb wiki for three hours because i wanted to know more. i could have read the rest of the series but i got into a rabbit hole . . .
the writing is well done, the cast of characters are kind of "tropes" on the surface but they all have deeper more complex meanings and experiences beneath the surface that surprised me at every turn. so, somewhat predictable or familiar while still being interesting!
i listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing, i could easily tell the characters apart and each inflection the different characters had gave them all so much life and fit them each so well.
overall i highly highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a touch of sci-fi in their fantasy magic systems, anyone who's looking for a story with lgbtq+ characters who aren't defined by their sexuality or who's queerness isnt the center the whole story and isn't brushed aside either.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Chronic illness, Abandonment, Classism, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Cancer, Child death, and Gaslighting
julesadventurezone'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
Gideon is crude and funny and brave and kind and a delight. Teenage jock lesbian forced to goth, wears sunglasses about it.
The plot is So Much (positive) and the Central relationship has pulverised my heart (positive but. OUCH.).
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Cursing, Death, Gore, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Child death, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Terminal illness, Body shaming, and Genocide
Minor: Suicide attempt and War
kkirsch118's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Cursing, Chronic illness, Bullying, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Blood, Gore, Body horror, and Murder
komiification'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Terminal illness, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Slavery and Fire/Fire injury