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bzliz's review against another edition
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
4.0
Coming into this, I was expecting a dual POV between the sisters but I’m glad that wasn’t the case. It would’ve felt tedious since Violet was so sheltered from Edie’s experience with their mother’s death. I haven’t done a lot of reading on the Spiritualism movement but this was interesting enough that I may look into it more.
Sometimes books with mystical elements get wishy-washy with their rules for the world but not here. There was no hand waving over the details. It spells out exactly what gifted people need in order to commune with the dead or cross into the Veil- the liminal space between living and dead. Edie was a delight and I enjoyed the dynamics between her and Laws, as well as her and Violet. She really embodies the YA trope of a traumatized teen who needs to learn how to trust again.
My copy of the book included an excerpt annotated by Amanda Glaze and I appreciated the peek into her mind. It was my favorite scene (I’m a sucker for a little romance) and seeing Glaze’s breakdown of Violet lowering her defenses was sweet. I wish more books included some author annotations.
The only reason I’m not rating this higher is because I had to truly focus to gain some momentum. The beginning was a little slow and I could tell that if I put it down, I might not pick it up again for weeks.
Sometimes books with mystical elements get wishy-washy with their rules for the world but not here. There was no hand waving over the details. It spells out exactly what gifted people need in order to commune with the dead or cross into the Veil- the liminal space between living and dead. Edie was a delight and I enjoyed the dynamics between her and Laws, as well as her and Violet. She really embodies the YA trope of a traumatized teen who needs to learn how to trust again.
My copy of the book included an excerpt annotated by Amanda Glaze and I appreciated the peek into her mind. It was my favorite scene (I’m a sucker for a little romance) and seeing Glaze’s breakdown of Violet lowering her defenses was sweet. I wish more books included some author annotations.
The only reason I’m not rating this higher is because I had to truly focus to gain some momentum. The beginning was a little slow and I could tell that if I put it down, I might not pick it up again for weeks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny and Murder
youarethelibrarian's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
At first I wasn’t sure why this wasn’t dual POV of Edie and Violet, but it is really Edie’s story. She is having to work through her grief and guilt, believing that their mother’s death was her fault. She doesn’t trust easily, but she learns she has to open up to those she loves most in order to thrive, not just survive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, and Suicide
Minor: Kidnapping
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