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fonteyoung's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder
ida's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Nessa, Jo and Harriett.
When three women discover the body of a young girl, they start out on a journey to uncover and unravel the insidious network of abuse that has been going on in their community for decades.
This book is magical realism mixed with furious feminism and I loved it. I immediately bought into the whole idea of some women having magical powers and I loved how differently it manifested in the three women.
At times, the pace seemed too slow, and I could have been without some of the background stories of minor characters, although I do think they give a lot of depth to the story. In fact, the flashback chapters were my main gripe with this book - I often spent the first few sentences being confused as to why characters were suddenly in different locations, before realising it was a flashback, so I would have loved some an indication of that in the chapter headings. I listened to the audiobook, so I don't know if there was a visual clue in the printed copy.
The plot is absolutely believable; powerful men doing what they want because no one stops them, and the many instances of bias and outright misogyny is straight out of the real world.
Nessa, Jo and Harriett were all amazing characters, but my favorite by far was Harriett. She had a quiet menace about her, and no qualms about meting out punishment.
I also liked how, towards the end, a lot of hints were dropped, just enough to keep you on your toes, and although could tell where the story was going, it was a joy to be confirmed in my hunches, definitely foreshadowing done right! And there was a twist I didn't see coming, much like the characters themselves.
All in all a really great book, but tw for sexual abuse, violence against women, and graphic violence to name a few. It will make you sad, it will make you angry, and it will make you want to be as kick ass as Harriett Osbourne.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Car accident
sidekicksam's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
It was fun to read a story about women in their forties/fifties who aren't having a mid-life/menopausal crisis, and the witchy element made it perfect for seasonal reading. I loved the friendships that blossomed in the search for justice, and the powers that the three women found were also cool (give me Harriett's garden please).
I will say that this book was not entirely it for me. Though it was interesting to meet more characters and histories, it would have served the story well to have let out a few and keep the pace of the story up. For me, the book lost some of its thrill and mystery because of its length.
Also, the general undertone of the book was very bitter. I work in a male-dominated field too, and I am very young, so I get the misogyny and the inequality in business. I would have preferred the writing to work it into the characters and their actions more subtly, not only to make the characters displaying such behaviour more interesting, but also to make the responding women come across as less sour, bitter and discarded women.
I'd recommend this to everyone who is into thrillers, witchy-themes/magical realism or who wants a spooky season read without having to sleep with the lights on for the rest of the month!
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Murder
lpdx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction and Car accident
Minor: Classism
booktwinning's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Murder
ellenwilberg's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Blood, Stalking, and Car accident
mpimental's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Torture
Minor: Eating disorder
clhtdr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Eating disorder
lowkeymarie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Dinged it slightly for some awkward time jumps that slightly confused my dumb ass. 😅 But definitely one of my faves I've read so far this year!
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Eating disorder