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woweewhoa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A fun read! It was recommended by a friend of mine which is why, even though at face this book isn't really in my wheelhouse, I read it anyway.
The author does a very good job weaving this story together, and after the kinda slow start, when the book gets kicking it really does kick. It makes the middle an Incredibly exciting read, and honestly it was really really fun for that.
However, my problems with the books have more to do with the ending, and maybe of my own perception of how I read and process things, so that's below, and includes Obvious Spoilers, like don't read them at all until you finish the book:
My real disappointment with the book is with the ending, honestly. Part of it for me is the Transgender Disappointment (I am a gay trans man), and with the core motivation.
The main reason this really got me is the kinda raw way that Synde feels toward Leon, in a very repressed, having to hide sort of way. And while I feel that the Julia reveal is good, I feel like it would've been So much better if Synde Was actually Keane, as opposed to being Dare.
The complexity of it to me was really laid bare in the violent reaction Leon has to Synde, when he finds out. It doesn't make sense that Leon finds out that Synde is a boy, and that it's gay, b/c, well, Synde goes to all St. Oswalds. A boys only school. But the kind of violence shown, it's very much a... reaction of Synde not having the parts of a man. This thought went into my mind, but I wasn't sure if that was the direction it would go because it just, well, wasn't. I don't generally expect the books I read to have any trans rep at all. Even if, well Snyde is a Villain, and that might not be Good rep in any way, the way it was written, makes me keep going "oh. someone wrote about, in a small way, what it's like to be a gay trans boy, and the extra level of fear and alienation that it can lead to. But alas, not what this book was. Was it probably just me reading too much into it? Probably, but also, if you suddenly reveal that a character who was masquerading in a boys-only school without revealing that they were a girl the whole time until the very end where the reveal has more to do with "oh, my name is Julia Synde and the reason I'm not recognized as the boy at St. Oswalds on the roof is for this reason". I know this was to make the reveal about Snyde being Dare and Not Keane seem very fun and out of nowhere, but also, I can't help but be a little disappointed personally. As it goes.
All in all a fun read! It was such a fun and wild ride, and it's definitely worth the read for that!
The author does a very good job weaving this story together, and after the kinda slow start, when the book gets kicking it really does kick. It makes the middle an Incredibly exciting read, and honestly it was really really fun for that.
However, my problems with the books have more to do with the ending, and maybe of my own perception of how I read and process things, so that's below, and includes Obvious Spoilers, like don't read them at all until you finish the book:
My real disappointment with the book is with the ending, honestly. Part of it for me is the Transgender Disappointment (I am a gay trans man), and with the core motivation.
The main reason this really got me is the kinda raw way that Synde feels toward Leon, in a very repressed, having to hide sort of way. And while I feel that the Julia reveal is good, I feel like it would've been So much better if Synde Was actually Keane, as opposed to being Dare.
The complexity of it to me was really laid bare in the violent reaction Leon has to Synde, when he finds out. It doesn't make sense that Leon finds out that Synde is a boy, and that it's gay, b/c, well, Synde goes to all St. Oswalds. A boys only school. But the kind of violence shown, it's very much a... reaction of Synde not having the parts of a man. This thought went into my mind, but I wasn't sure if that was the direction it would go because it just, well, wasn't. I don't generally expect the books I read to have any trans rep at all. Even if, well Snyde is a Villain, and that might not be Good rep in any way, the way it was written, makes me keep going "oh. someone wrote about, in a small way, what it's like to be a gay trans boy, and the extra level of fear and alienation that it can lead to. But alas, not what this book was. Was it probably just me reading too much into it? Probably, but also, if you suddenly reveal that a character who was masquerading in a boys-only school without revealing that they were a girl the whole time until the very end where the reveal has more to do with "oh, my name is Julia Synde and the reason I'm not recognized as the boy at St. Oswalds on the roof is for this reason". I know this was to make the reveal about Snyde being Dare and Not Keane seem very fun and out of nowhere, but also, I can't help but be a little disappointed personally. As it goes.
All in all a fun read! It was such a fun and wild ride, and it's definitely worth the read for that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Suicide, Classism, Misogyny, Death of parent, Antisemitism, Blood, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Murder, Outing, Sexism, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Minor: Medical content, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, and Adult/minor relationship
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