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lyndsayscan'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? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Body horror and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Dementia
cosypuck's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Car accident, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
camelia_martin'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? It's complicated
4.0
Those little revelations really kept the intrigue, and the way the seemingly unlinked characters and their lives became interlinked was incredible.
I had a gut feeling about how Mabel was pregnant and despite turning out to be correct I was still shocked by the way it was revealed.
I feel like Wulfie’s storyline was a bit rushed at the end - I really wanted to feel more for his character. The hints
I will say I didn’t find it scary, though I don’t find horror/thriller or gothic horror books to be scary anyway, but I did find myself reading faster and faster as I hit the last 100 pages.
Mrs W’s situation was predictable
Overall though an enjoyable book that kept me wanting more!
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
dungareece's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It is deliciously gothic and eerie with the suitably damp, dark and mushroom infested setting of a secluded Scottish mansion, Lichen Hall. Lichen Hall doubles as a mother and baby home for unwed mothers. The history of which I was only vaguely aware of prior to reading this book.
I adore a book with multiple narrators, and CJ Cooke is so wonderful at braiding seemingly unrelated narratives together in the most intricate ways. This book is the perfect love letter to women and being othered from society. Beautifully sad stories of motherhood and queerness are intertwined with a wonderful sprinkling of magic. A full on rollercoaster of emotions, I had moments of being in tears followed by moments of kicking my feet in joy.
Ps I have never cried at an authors note before so that was new
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Dementia, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal death and Vomit
Minor: Homophobia
louisegraveyard'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
dogearedbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Dementia, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body horror and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying and Car accident
lulubeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Dementia, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
honeygore'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Animal death and Child death
_teoeo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed the storyline and after reading the author's note I understood the plots intentions even more. I liked that it had lesbian representation and a lot of sapphic characters. And the ghothic atmosphere, yes!!
However, what destroyed the reading experience a little for me was the writing. I was really surprised because I've read The Lighthouse Witches and in that book the writing was really good. But in this one it seemed rather loveless, tbh. It's not that I dislike reading first-person-perspective in general but I think a third-person-perspective would suit this book and plot a lot more.
But all in all it was an enjoyable read.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail