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zimmerlemon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
The writing style of this was really great early on, it really hooked me! Things unfolded in a really interesting way. My one qualm is that I’m a little bit of a romance nut and I was bummed about Finch kind of going away on his own journey, but it makes enough sense for his character that I’m not tooooo mad about it. Just would’ve been really cute for them to have more afterwards bc of how loyal he was while she was in her story. But this sets other things up better so I’ll get over it lol
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From the middle onwards might lose you unless you're ready to just vibe.
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From the middle onwards might lose you unless you're ready to just vibe.
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Death, Abandonment, and Blood
paperquilt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Stalking, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
saskiajva's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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
2.25
The author has created an incredibly intriguing world full of mysteries and surprises. It starts pretty slow in my opinion but really ramps up by the last 100 pages! I will say, the treatment of the one BIPOC character felt gratuitously racist and disturbing at points. particularly, at one point the main character does some things that put the side character in danger particularly due to his race, and when he calls her out on it she becomes so angry she literally attempts to crash her car with him in it in an attempt to threaten and intimidate him. Less than a chapter later the BIPOC character is murdered in a very senseless manner, and although he comes back to life later, the author never addresses her abuse and racism beyond “her magical curse makes her mean”.
Outside of that, I was surprised that the characters spent the majority of the book in New York trying to prove this world even existed. I almost stopped reading around page 200 when they hadn’t gotten to the actual fairy tale world yet, but around page 220 or so the book kicked into high gear and didn’t stop until the very end. I would’ve loved to have gotten to spend more time inside the magical Hinterland as it’s truly the intriguing writing. The set up did pay off in many ways, and maybe if I reread it I’d find more interest, but I just don’t think this book is for me.
Outside of that, I was surprised that the characters spent the majority of the book in New York trying to prove this world even existed. I almost stopped reading around page 200 when they hadn’t gotten to the actual fairy tale world yet, but around page 220 or so the book kicked into high gear and didn’t stop until the very end. I would’ve loved to have gotten to spend more time inside the magical Hinterland as it’s truly the intriguing writing. The set up did pay off in many ways, and maybe if I reread it I’d find more interest, but I just don’t think this book is for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Body horror, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Suicide and Gun violence
Minor: Alcohol
vplett4's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
theastronautmp3's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Gore
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Police brutality and Racism
inkylabyrinth's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Self harm
dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
3.5
Like dark fairytales? This is for you. Fan of cold main characters? Also for you. The weaving together of fairytales is maybe a bit clumsy in places, but mostly the retellings hang well together. Albert's writing style is good, descriptive and lovely and haunting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Blood
I had a hard time getting into it, though that may have been my fault; I'd started reading before I was ready for a new book.olliet23's review against another edition
The plot took a turn into something I didn’t “sign up for”. And a major character is casually killed… I liked where it was going before this major turn
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Blood
sunnydale's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
As someone who loves fairy tales and fairy tale scholarship, I felt so seen. Beneath the story, which was compelling on its own, was the author's clear understanding of why we tell fairy tales and why they hold power over us.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Cursing, Classism, and Gun violence
The protagonist is kidnapped as a child, but is unharmed and not sexually abused in any way. The kidnapper's identity is later revealed, and he never intended to hurt her.krhea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, and Cursing
Minor: Suicide