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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
Queer autistic victorian horror fantasy? count me tf in. really well written and enjoyable, i always want to see more world building but the characters heavily carried the story. my queer neurodivergent heart is so happy that there are more books out there about people like me.
At the moment it was giving me secondhand dysphoria and anxiety
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
I’ve been saving this book for a good time! The only other book I’ve read by Andrew was a five-star. And the spirit bares its teeth had some of my favorite things, the color purple and boarding school. In hindsight, I realized those story elements made my expectations way too high. I do wish I had read it earlier before I put all my expectations onto it. There is no magic school: it is just a trope I’ve believed it had.
Instead of talking about what I thought it was, I’ll talk about what it is. It is an incredibly raw and gory story. Its setting is a boarding school for violet-eyed “girls” with “veil sickness”. A false illness one created solely to attempt to take “girls'” agency away. This is a metaphor for the themes of such as misogyny. It is inspired by historical events.
I admire that so much. The ending was so tense I wondered how things would be wrapped up by the end. Like the moment Silas killed lord luckenbill, I was gagged. To my shock, the story was concluded perfectly. The epilogue was sososogood. Every death was sadding and held meaning. I miss you Isabela . I loved Silas and Daphne, aswell as Mary.
Lastly, my critiques on an otherwise great novel. The rabbit thing felt repetitive over time. At first, I thought there was a real rabbit and was imagining it. My bubble was burst very quickly. Secondly, despite being British and historical it reads as American and modern — It made me forget that it wasn’t such. Again on my false standards, it’s not really an objective issue, it just didn’t meet my personal taste.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely stunning. Every sentence filled me with emotions - rage, frustration, disgust, yearning. Beautifully and graphically written. Easily the most captivating book I’ve read this year.
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am speechless! Also, how is this YA, again? I’ve read some grim-dark fantasy books and they’re fairytales compared to this one!
Anyway, I have read this book in two days because I just couldn’t stop reading. It’s full of WTF moments that kept me glued to the pages.
I’ll get Andrew’s previous book soon and I’ll keep an eye out for his upcoming books (he’s releasing one later this year and another one next year!).
Anyway, I have read this book in two days because I just couldn’t stop reading. It’s full of WTF moments that kept me glued to the pages.
I’ll get Andrew’s previous book soon and I’ll keep an eye out for his upcoming books (he’s releasing one later this year and another one next year!).
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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:
No