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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This is one of the best thrillers I've read in a while. Picked it up due to the new tv series, and I'm so glad I did (have watched one episode and feel a way about some of the casting). I loved the reveals (some crucial to the plot, others not), the pace, and the ending felt - settled.
I'm not going to lie, I did not like this book. I thought it was boring. The plot had a lot of potential, but in my opinion could have been executed better. The characters were really boring as well. I did not care for them at all. I didn't have very high expectations for this book, but I was left dissapointed. There were some quite shocking moments tho and I can kinda see why other people liked it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good suspense. Lots of tension. Just when you think you know what the main character did years ago, there is a twist, and then another, and then another.
Checked this book out when I saw it was going to be an Apple TV short series with Cate Blanchett.
After reading the novel i can say with confidence that Blanchett is perfect for the role of Catherine.
Checked this book out when I saw it was going to be an Apple TV short series with Cate Blanchett.
After reading the novel i can say with confidence that Blanchett is perfect for the role of Catherine.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book with an interesting plot, but very slow that it gets boring. I couldn't connect with any character or get interested in how the story would end.
1.5⭐️
1.5⭐️
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I admittedly could not put this book down and it kept me company on a sick day. Despite that, I almost gave a lower rating because I firmly believe there was a way to achieve a similar end without using violent rape as a plot device, particularly one that vilified and retraumatized the survivor. If the point was to highlight how people who experience rape are often not believed and retraumatized after the fact, that could be an interesting story, but the execution requires a particular care I didn’t see come through. If the point was to highlight how trauma can make one act in ways that are not in their best interest, that also could have been handled with more care, particularly around the survivor’s healing .
The premise drew me in, particularly now that I’ve seen Cate Blanchett begin to bring the main character to life. I always appreciate an unreliable narrator, and I believe that piece was executed well.
At it’s core, this felt like a story about love and trauma, and how both can lead to choices that are misguided at best and harmful at worst. It’s messy. Consequences aren’t always a clear path. We don’t always see people for who they really are through love and trauma. All of that came through clearly in many threads of the book.
Like many other reviewers, I found myself not having much sympathy for any of the characters, but ultimately sadness for one whom I believe deserved so much better than they got. While I ultimately think they got to a place of growth and healing, that part felt quite rushed given the character’s trauma and treatment throughout. The former (not feeling sympathy for any of the character) didn’t actually bother me, because I was most curious about the plot. I did think that character deserved better, though, and consequences could have been clearer.
Ultimately, I gave this rating because although I would have preferred a different plot device had been used for the twist, I did stay engaged up to that point. Also, I will be watching the show to the end despite my feelings because I’m curious about how the excellent cast will bring the story to life and perhaps tackle some of the nuance I felt was missing, so I feel I must give credit to the core concept of the work for that reason.
The premise drew me in, particularly now that I’ve seen Cate Blanchett begin to bring the main character to life. I always appreciate an unreliable narrator, and I believe that piece was executed well.
At it’s core, this felt like a story about love and trauma, and how both can lead to choices that are misguided at best and harmful at worst. It’s messy. Consequences aren’t always a clear path. We don’t always see people for who they really are through love and trauma. All of that came through clearly in many threads of the book.
Like many other reviewers, I found myself not having much sympathy for any of the characters, but ultimately sadness for one whom I believe deserved so much better than they got. While I ultimately think they got to a place of growth and healing, that part felt quite rushed given the character’s trauma and treatment throughout. The former (not feeling sympathy for any of the character) didn’t actually bother me, because I was most curious about the plot. I did think that character deserved better, though, and consequences could have been clearer.
Ultimately, I gave this rating because although I would have preferred a different plot device had been used for the twist, I did stay engaged up to that point. Also, I will be watching the show to the end despite my feelings because I’m curious about how the excellent cast will bring the story to life and perhaps tackle some of the nuance I felt was missing, so I feel I must give credit to the core concept of the work for that reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content