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abbylee96's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.75
heyninamae's review against another edition
4.0
This book is hard to read… like super trigger warning for sexual violence and abuse, LIKE SHOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST TRIGGER WARNING PLASTERED ON THE COVER. I almost didn’t make it through because the descriptions of violence were unimaginably vivid but I’m glad I pushed. The story is important, well written, absolutely heartbreaking… a lot of things wrapped up in one.
kvltprincess's review against another edition
5.0
This was an incredibly good book. And it was an incredibly difficult read. I'm glad it exists; stories like this are necessary. Read it, but take care of yourself while you do.
nataliekemp's review
4.0
Quite truly this book deserves a five, but I reserve that ranking for books. I will reread, and I don't have the stomach to reread this one.
This book is beautiful, gripping, and incredibly graphic. I wish I was aware of some of the trigger warnings going in.
The descriptions are misleading, if you are expecting more from the magical realism/ supernatural side of vengeance, that is not what the majority of this book focuses on, but it is where much of the catharsis stems from.
The majority of this book is about the struggles of poverty, followed by the failings of the American foster care system, And the vulnerabilities women face when dealing with both of these things.
This book contains multiple graphic depictions of SA, many of which where the victim is a child, some of which we are in the head of the abuser. It features the most grotesque depiction of child abuse I've ever heard of, and I felt deeply uncomfortable and physically in pain after finishing this book.
This is entirely intentional.
I will never read this book again, and I hesitate to recommend it because of the extreme but very real violence depicted in it. But this is one of those books that will stay with me forever.
This book is beautiful, gripping, and incredibly graphic. I wish I was aware of some of the trigger warnings going in.
The descriptions are misleading, if you are expecting more from the magical realism/ supernatural side of vengeance, that is not what the majority of this book focuses on, but it is where much of the catharsis stems from.
The majority of this book is about the struggles of poverty, followed by the failings of the American foster care system, And the vulnerabilities women face when dealing with both of these things.
This book contains multiple graphic depictions of SA, many of which where the victim is a child, some of which we are in the head of the abuser. It features the most grotesque depiction of child abuse I've ever heard of, and I felt deeply uncomfortable and physically in pain after finishing this book.
This is entirely intentional.
I will never read this book again, and I hesitate to recommend it because of the extreme but very real violence depicted in it. But this is one of those books that will stay with me forever.
alishaforeverev's review against another edition
5.0
This book is raw and grotesque and emotional. But it is also uplifting and tender.
Marina’s life doesn’t end when she dies and neither does the impact of this story once you’ve finished it.
Marina’s life doesn’t end when she dies and neither does the impact of this story once you’ve finished it.
ebscaggs's review
challenging
dark
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
4.0
Incredibly heavy but well-done read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Racism, Drug abuse, Trafficking, and Sexual assault
soffafa's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
theres so many things to say about this. author is from the UK, doesnt seem to have a deep connection with being filipina. that being said, the writing within itself is so elementary especially with the clunky tagalog drops. the synopsis was not at all what i assumed, didnt need to continuously read child rape every few chapters. this was just a dump of trauma and torture. the parental relationships would have been nice to been explored more, but melissa wanted to highlight violence against women as if we dont experience it enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Rape
Moderate: Drug abuse