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laurarevelesg's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
2.5
"You're luckier than me, Jessie said, as if she were reading her mind.
Why? I miss my dad too.
Yes, but there's just too many ways to miss your mother. There's like a hundred thousand ways"
Me tomó 4 meses leer esta novela porque cada cierto tiempo tenía que dejarla debido a la dureza de sus temas. Ahora que la terminé, solo puedo decir que tengo sentimientos encontrados.
La protagonista, Marina, sufre de todo tipo de violencia. Leer sobre esto, tragedia tras tragedia, fue exhaustivo. Sin embargo, esto no quiere decir que la historia de Marina, así como la de otras mujeres (ficticias y reales) no sea importante o no deba ser contada.
Las notas de autor finales dan nuevos ojos para apreciar la novela, por eso, a pesar de que el "trayecto" fue duro, y pocas veces disfrutable, regresar a la novela da una sensación agridulce, pues es tan cruel como bella.
Algo que no disfruté fue la intercalación entre los capítulos y la narración del aswang. Me ppareció que me distraía más de lo que verdaderamente guiaba la historia. Además, como había capítulos muy largos, al llegar a la parte del aswang ya no recordaba muy bien todo lo que había sucedido anteriormente.
Why? I miss my dad too.
Yes, but there's just too many ways to miss your mother. There's like a hundred thousand ways"
Me tomó 4 meses leer esta novela porque cada cierto tiempo tenía que dejarla debido a la dureza de sus temas. Ahora que la terminé, solo puedo decir que tengo sentimientos encontrados.
La protagonista, Marina, sufre de todo tipo de violencia. Leer sobre esto, tragedia tras tragedia, fue exhaustivo. Sin embargo, esto no quiere decir que la historia de Marina, así como la de otras mujeres (ficticias y reales) no sea importante o no deba ser contada.
Las notas de autor finales dan nuevos ojos para apreciar la novela, por eso, a pesar de que el "trayecto" fue duro, y pocas veces disfrutable, regresar a la novela da una sensación agridulce, pues es tan cruel como bella.
Algo que no disfruté fue la intercalación entre los capítulos y la narración del aswang. Me ppareció que me distraía más de lo que verdaderamente guiaba la historia. Además, como había capítulos muy largos, al llegar a la parte del aswang ya no recordaba muy bien todo lo que había sucedido anteriormente.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Abandonment, Blood, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
reading_and_roaming20's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I honestly don’t even know where to begin. Perhaps with a note to @fsgbooks to express how wildly grateful I am that they sent me this beautiful finished copy.
When I first read the synopsis, I was intrigued by the Filipino folklore and magical realism. I went in unsure of what to expect.
What I found was an unflinching, raw, difficult story of a girl who is faced with ugly, brutal circumstances. The story became more than the aswang’s mission to avenge Marina’s untimely death at the hands of a serial killer, and dove into an eye-opening social commentary on the child welfare system and missing women, particularly those of color.
I loved the alternating chapters of Marina’s journey to the time, place and person that ended her life and the aswang’s narrative. It felt as though MELISSA CHADBURN was holding my face in her hands, forcing me to keep looking at the scenes that unfolded in such a horrific way. It is natural to want to look away from such violence and heartbreak, but the trauma is not for shock value and has purpose. Brutal stories of so many women are represented in these pages and CHADBURN will not allow us to be willfully ignorant to them.
This is not to say that this book is nightmare through and through. CHADBURN’s unique writing drew me in and had its way of creating moments of tenderness and warmth. I look back on this book thinking about Marina’s sweetness and childhood innocence that were never entirely lost, even as her life eventually progressed to prostitution as a means of survival.
There was something special about the descriptions and storytelling that I can’t quite put into words. I simply adore CHADBURN’s writing style. I am blown away that this is a debut and will be thinking about it for a very, very long time.
TW / CW :: This book comes with a serious need to consider trigger and content warnings prior to consuming. Marina’s story is graphic and will not be for everyone. There are play-by-play accounts of r*pe, child abuse and drug use, among other potentially triggering topics. Please look into these further.
When I first read the synopsis, I was intrigued by the Filipino folklore and magical realism. I went in unsure of what to expect.
What I found was an unflinching, raw, difficult story of a girl who is faced with ugly, brutal circumstances. The story became more than the aswang’s mission to avenge Marina’s untimely death at the hands of a serial killer, and dove into an eye-opening social commentary on the child welfare system and missing women, particularly those of color.
I loved the alternating chapters of Marina’s journey to the time, place and person that ended her life and the aswang’s narrative. It felt as though MELISSA CHADBURN was holding my face in her hands, forcing me to keep looking at the scenes that unfolded in such a horrific way. It is natural to want to look away from such violence and heartbreak, but the trauma is not for shock value and has purpose. Brutal stories of so many women are represented in these pages and CHADBURN will not allow us to be willfully ignorant to them.
This is not to say that this book is nightmare through and through. CHADBURN’s unique writing drew me in and had its way of creating moments of tenderness and warmth. I look back on this book thinking about Marina’s sweetness and childhood innocence that were never entirely lost, even as her life eventually progressed to prostitution as a means of survival.
There was something special about the descriptions and storytelling that I can’t quite put into words. I simply adore CHADBURN’s writing style. I am blown away that this is a debut and will be thinking about it for a very, very long time.
TW / CW :: This book comes with a serious need to consider trigger and content warnings prior to consuming. Marina’s story is graphic and will not be for everyone. There are play-by-play accounts of r*pe, child abuse and drug use, among other potentially triggering topics. Please look into these further.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Drug use, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Abandonment, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Addiction
tyunka's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Pedophilia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Abandonment
bookmaddie's review
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
I only vaguely knew about the subject matter of this book before going in, and I think it's definitely one that deserves a more detailed understanding of trigger warnings before beginning. Because, dang, this book is dark.
I knew it revolved around a girl named Marina and her killing by a serial killer in Canada, but I didn't realize how much darker and sadder the story would get as it delves into Marina's past and how she wound up at the hands of such a horrible man. And while so many horrible things are told within these pages, Chadbum writes with tenderness, understanding and hope.
Outside of subject matter, I did have a bit of trouble getting into the story. It took maybe 30% of the book for me to start getting into it and reading at a steadier pace. I think Chadbum's writing just didn't connect with me as much as I wanted it to. And maybe also had to do with the fact that a lot of the early narrative is about Marina as a young girl (below 11ish), and I feel like I don't enjoy narratives that focus on young children as much. When she got a bit older, I got more interested in the story.
I also thought the story might be a bit more mystical (and lyrical in the writing), so I think that threw me off a bit.
More of a 3.5 for me, but definitely one to pick up if you're interested in the premise!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy for review.
I knew it revolved around a girl named Marina and her killing by a serial killer in Canada, but I didn't realize how much darker and sadder the story would get as it delves into Marina's past and how she wound up at the hands of such a horrible man. And while so many horrible things are told within these pages, Chadbum writes with tenderness, understanding and hope.
Outside of subject matter, I did have a bit of trouble getting into the story. It took maybe 30% of the book for me to start getting into it and reading at a steadier pace. I think Chadbum's writing just didn't connect with me as much as I wanted it to. And maybe also had to do with the fact that a lot of the early narrative is about Marina as a young girl (below 11ish), and I feel like I don't enjoy narratives that focus on young children as much. When she got a bit older, I got more interested in the story.
I also thought the story might be a bit more mystical (and lyrical in the writing), so I think that threw me off a bit.
More of a 3.5 for me, but definitely one to pick up if you're interested in the premise!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy for review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment and Confinement
terriep's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
First, thanks to NetGalley and publisher Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for the chance to read this book.
This is definitely a story that needs to be told, BUT, it should come with some strong trigger warnings. Rape, abuse, drug use, child neglect, are all present and some in pretty vivid detail. This book is grim. Unrelentingly sad and just grim. BUT, the little sparkles of light here and there keep it from being too depressing.
This is the story of Marina, a girl being raised by an unprepared and self-absorbed single mother; of Alex, an unwanted baby who was severely abused as a toddler/child, and Willie, a boy who is abused and teased and has some diminished capacity. All these situations collide with huge force and tragic results. I could hardly stand to read about one more abuse. However, the friendship between Alex and Marina was such a bright spot, such an important event for both of them and I liked the way that was treated.
I did appreciate the tool of using the Filipino folklore of an avenging aswang who has been attached to Marina's family for generations, sort of an avenging angel. That technique allowed the aswang to view Marina's life as looking into her memory, so it put a step of removal between her and the reader (but it still was a harsh life). The goal of the aswang is to complete the main driving goal of the life it moves into - determining what that is becomes very important....and thus the view of Marina's past and intentions.
While I am aware that this kind of harsh life is suffered by many, this gritty story really brought all the heartache and sadness and depression to the top. I can't say it was an enjoyable read, but it was illuminating.
This is definitely a story that needs to be told, BUT, it should come with some strong trigger warnings. Rape, abuse, drug use, child neglect, are all present and some in pretty vivid detail. This book is grim. Unrelentingly sad and just grim. BUT, the little sparkles of light here and there keep it from being too depressing.
This is the story of Marina, a girl being raised by an unprepared and self-absorbed single mother; of Alex, an unwanted baby who was severely abused as a toddler/child, and Willie, a boy who is abused and teased and has some diminished capacity. All these situations collide with huge force and tragic results. I could hardly stand to read about one more abuse. However, the friendship between Alex and Marina was such a bright spot, such an important event for both of them and I liked the way that was treated.
I did appreciate the tool of using the Filipino folklore of an avenging aswang who has been attached to Marina's family for generations, sort of an avenging angel. That technique allowed the aswang to view Marina's life as looking into her memory, so it put a step of removal between her and the reader (but it still was a harsh life). The goal of the aswang is to complete the main driving goal of the life it moves into - determining what that is becomes very important....and thus the view of Marina's past and intentions.
While I am aware that this kind of harsh life is suffered by many, this gritty story really brought all the heartache and sadness and depression to the top. I can't say it was an enjoyable read, but it was illuminating.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Drug use, Addiction, Murder, Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
_shannoncarroll's review
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.0
I made a mistake when I first picked up this book, and that was deciding I could read it while absolutely exhausted and waiting for the women’s Australian Open final to finally start (go, Ash Barty!). I decided I was being unfair to the story — this sounded exactly like the kind of book I’d love and deserved more than a half-awake reader — so I decided to give the book another go the next day with a fresh start. And I’m so, so glad I did, because this was a tremendous read. It’s a slow book that needs to be savored, not a book you can power through while your eyelids are demanding to close and your brain feels a bit fuzzy.
The storyline in this book is brilliant; threads are woven together elegantly. And all the (heartbreaking) happenings are talked about unflinchingly. It’s not an easy book to read, but it’s not meant to be. The topics covered here are hard, but they’re real. And the whisper of mythology in the background adds to a haunting sense — both by the aswang, a creature from Filipino folklore, and what’s happening to the characters inside these pages. Everything is rough and vulgar and falling apart, but it’s written about in such beautiful fashion, which almost makes what’s happening worse. It creates intricacies to the mundane.
As much as I was able to really get into the book, it still took me a little time to do so on my second start. Once I was about 15 percent of the way through, I found a rhythm, and some of the issues I was having with the writing no longer bothered me. In general, I think I had a love-hate relationship with some of the writing. (Well, maybe more like love-dislike.) There were times I was left stunned by Melissa Chadburn’s writing — its musicality, its boldness, its almost onomatopoeia-like energy — but there were other times I felt like I could skip two pages of prose and not really miss much of the story. Some brilliant writing felt bogged down by six other very good lines, which lessened some of the impact for me. It feels weird to say a book was overwrought with beautiful language and imagery, but this occasionally felt like the case.
This book is jam-packed with heart and longing, and the languid and descriptive writing does well to create an atmosphere that matches the plot. There’s an interesting sense of timelessness, which makes it clear that this book could really be written at any point in our history. These struggles are human and are happening all around us — and they’ll continue to do so with the broken societal structures in place. This is a heart-rending tale of life and all its ugliness, but it’s also a beautiful story of family and humanity.
Special thanks to NetGalley; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; and Melissa Chadburn for proving me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use and Addiction
Minor: Eating disorder and Suicidal thoughts
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