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carladelgado's review
5.0
I like this novel, I think it's a good read. The story kept me engaged the whole time and I felt like the pacing was just right. It's not full of action and it has a slow build-up, which is very fitting for the plot. Not sure how this novel resembles "Alice in Wonderland" in any way though.
I think some readers might have been dissatisfied with the book because they were so caught up in the mystery, which wasn't the main focus of the book at all. (Some say they didn't like how uninvolved they were in a mystery as the reader, and others felt like the plot started way too late.) Obviously, we, the audience, wouldn't be able to solve the mystery because we can't decipher the clue by ourselves. We can only see it through the protagonist's eyes, who does not understand it and therefore cannot relay it to us. If you read the book expecting her to act à la Hercule Poirot, of course, you'd be disappointed.
The plot didn't start "too late" in the book because the story is not about the mystery in the first place. It's evident from the beginning—even with the chapter divisions—that the whole point of the book was the protagonist's arc. If you are able to realize that early on, then this would be a fulfilling read for you as it was for me.
I think some readers might have been dissatisfied with the book because they were so caught up in the mystery, which wasn't the main focus of the book at all. (Some say they didn't like how uninvolved they were in a mystery as the reader, and others felt like the plot started way too late.) Obviously, we, the audience, wouldn't be able to solve the mystery because we can't decipher the clue by ourselves. We can only see it through the protagonist's eyes, who does not understand it and therefore cannot relay it to us. If you read the book expecting her to act à la Hercule Poirot, of course, you'd be disappointed.
The plot didn't start "too late" in the book because the story is not about the mystery in the first place. It's evident from the beginning—even with the chapter divisions—that the whole point of the book was the protagonist's arc. If you are able to realize that early on, then this would be a fulfilling read for you as it was for me.
lfschwar's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nire75's review
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
its_shannon's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.25
lizamwhelan's review
just such a good concept and such poor execution i couldn’t get into it
aliena_jackson's review
3.0
This reminded me of The Third Witch, but with better research and period accuracy.
glew8's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
kaydetoma's review
3.0
started off strong but i was losing interest by the middle. still a really cool concept and very well written! but i wouldn’t say i was immersed in this one