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lizzyc_16's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
This. Book. Was. So. Fricking. Good.
I really started loving it around 60%, though the whole thing was fantastic.
The plot was so unique, the message so important, and the little romance subplot so. Fricking. Adorable. (More on that later).
The story was so insanely original, when I started to look for similar books I couldn't find anything that seemed anywhere near the same. (if anyone has recs that have the same ~vibes~ as The Valley and the Flood, they are more than welcome :D)
The depictions of PTSD, Intrusive thoughts, and grief were so well written. It's really hard to write things like that but Rebecca Mahoney did it fantastically. Additionally, in the end of the book there was a "resources" section with information on PTSD, and a list of s**c*de hotlines. More books should have things like this.
Ok. The Alex x Felix romance?? andlksf;dkdsaksflflfasnla;saksfsfhjkal it was lowkey one of the highlights of the book. The like lowkey hating eachother and like the denial and angst and alksfksfal;dsdgjalks. I was chopping cabbage while listening to this on Overdrive and I quite literally dropped the knife and almost chopped off my feet when they kissed. I could rant abt how much I love
them for hours
There is currently nothing I want more than this book to get the hype it deserves. (and a sequel, though thats unlikely 😔) people need to read this so I can't rant lmho.
I really started loving it around 60%, though the whole thing was fantastic.
The plot was so unique, the message so important, and the little romance subplot so. Fricking. Adorable. (More on that later).
The story was so insanely original, when I started to look for similar books I couldn't find anything that seemed anywhere near the same. (if anyone has recs that have the same ~vibes~ as The Valley and the Flood, they are more than welcome :D)
The depictions of PTSD, Intrusive thoughts, and grief were so well written. It's really hard to write things like that but Rebecca Mahoney did it fantastically. Additionally, in the end of the book there was a "resources" section with information on PTSD, and a list of s**c*de hotlines. More books should have things like this.
Ok. The Alex x Felix romance?? andlksf;dkdsaksflflfasnla;saksfsfhjkal it was lowkey one of the highlights of the book. The like lowkey hating eachother and like the denial and angst and alksfksfal;dsdgjalks. I was chopping cabbage while listening to this on Overdrive and I quite literally dropped the knife and almost chopped off my feet when they kissed. I could rant abt how much I love
them for hours
There is currently nothing I want more than this book to get the hype it deserves. (and a sequel, though thats unlikely 😔) people need to read this so I can't rant lmho.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Death, Grief, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
Minor: Blood and Self harm
spinesinaline's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
I really liked this one. I'll have to get a finished copy cuz I'd love to read the acknowledgments, I think they'd be really meaningful. Thanks to the publisher for an e-ARC!
This was such a creative approach to visualizing PTSD, and I can’t speak from an own voices perspective but I really loved the representation Mahoney has offered teens in her book.
It’s noted as fantasy but there’s a little bit of mystery and some horror mixed in. Nothing too scary but the author has noted her inspiration from the horror genre and some of the mystery build-up is definitely reminiscent of this. I do love that it’s young adult so that teens can see these characters with mental illnesses and histories of trauma and feel less alone or at least recognize friends and family and perhaps gain a better understanding of what they’re going through.
We find out right away about Gaby’s death (off-page) but not what happened or why Rose is so terrified and seems to have run away. This mystery builds throughout and as we get the story from Rose’s perspective, it creates an especially tense mood as we’re experiencing her PTSD through her and waiting at every moment for something bad to happen. I was so on edge for much of the book and it was such a visceral way to understand how PTSD can affect someone.
It wasn’t a totally perfect read for me as I felt one reveal near the end very obvious, and I didn’t fully understand the main climax of the conflict. I would’ve preferred if this was more explicitly described after so much build-up rather than the subtle understanding that passes between characters and felt difficult to grasp.
I don’t know the Odyssey well enough to pick up on tie-ins and was completely surprised when I saw the author mention it was a loose retelling, but I’d love to reread it with a better understanding of the epic and spot the connections.
This was such a creative approach to visualizing PTSD, and I can’t speak from an own voices perspective but I really loved the representation Mahoney has offered teens in her book.
It’s noted as fantasy but there’s a little bit of mystery and some horror mixed in. Nothing too scary but the author has noted her inspiration from the horror genre and some of the mystery build-up is definitely reminiscent of this. I do love that it’s young adult so that teens can see these characters with mental illnesses and histories of trauma and feel less alone or at least recognize friends and family and perhaps gain a better understanding of what they’re going through.
We find out right away about Gaby’s death (off-page) but not what happened or why Rose is so terrified and seems to have run away. This mystery builds throughout and as we get the story from Rose’s perspective, it creates an especially tense mood as we’re experiencing her PTSD through her and waiting at every moment for something bad to happen. I was so on edge for much of the book and it was such a visceral way to understand how PTSD can affect someone.
It wasn’t a totally perfect read for me as I felt one reveal near the end very obvious, and I didn’t fully understand the main climax of the conflict. I would’ve preferred if this was more explicitly described after so much build-up rather than the subtle understanding that passes between characters and felt difficult to grasp.
I don’t know the Odyssey well enough to pick up on tie-ins and was completely surprised when I saw the author mention it was a loose retelling, but I’d love to reread it with a better understanding of the epic and spot the connections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Medical content
Minor: Blood
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