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beccaand's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infidelity
whitneyfoster's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Bluebeard's Castle is marketed as a "feminist retelling" of the French folk tale of Bluebeard. I honestly did not get the "feminist" part of the retelling. The protagonist seemed to be pretty obsessed with men even though she had a career and her own money.
I understand that the writer was trying to realistically protray what its like to be in an abusive relationship, but the protagonist seemed quiet passive. She wasn't even trying to help herself. The book seemed to read like a teenage diary entry. I love him, no I hate him, no I love him! I have read a lot of stories that more effectively portray domestic violence.
Despite the cover, this novel takes place in the modern day, which I think the writer forgets at times. Other than random mentions of modern conveniences like Google, it seems like the author wants this to take place in another era.
One thing I would change about this novel is to shorten the descriptions. There would be 2-3 pages just describing a room in the castle. I skimmed a good bunch of it. I did find myself caring about the characters enough to know what happens and I don't regret reading the book. I'd recommend this for anyone who loves gothic fiction/thrillers and/or dark romance.
Graphic: Sexual content, Gaslighting, Murder, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Infidelity
Minor: Vomit and Blood
cassietaylor548's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Death
eena's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book was truly engaging and it was genuinely a good modern gothic “romance/horror” type of novel but I have to give it a 2.5/5 stars. I read this because I watched The Love Witch couple of months back and saw that Anna Biller also wrote a book, I liked the first part the most and found myself kind of getting tired towards the end.
Part of me also felt like it was a great decision to have a third person pov because you will be able to study yourself too and how you react with everything that’s happening. But yeah, the writing wasn’t phenomenal but I’m glad that I still read and finished it, it could have been better but it’s okay.
Graphic: Rape, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder
layvender's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death
carleesue's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Murder, and Rape
sexytinatrainconductress's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape
elizalk's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Violence, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, Death, Animal death, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexism, Vomit, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Rape, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, and Confinement
marinalikeaboatyard's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Colonisation, Torture, Addiction, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicide, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence
kay_louise's review
1.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Sexual content, Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy