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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
The style of this book was stellar. The poetic, minimalistic approach weeded out anything unnecessary and had me focused on clues, tone, and anything to be gleaned between the lines, almost as if I were eavesdropping on these girls. It was a very successful style for a whodunnit, and had me turning pages!
That said, the final reveal fell rather flat. There were a lot of red herrings, and the actual criminal is rather obvious once its obvious. (Spoiler alert, it's the one with the fewest viewpoint chapters, because obviously her own PoV would have given her away.) In fact, the flower-named girls are all a little too on the nose: Thorny Rose, weepy Willow, over-achiever Laurel, insidious Oleanna....
The book doesn't say much beyond the page, the basic jist being that girls will do anything for love (not just romantic love, but rather the affection of acceptance, the feeling of belonging.) In the end, there is no turn of the screw about the dangers of religious zealotry, or what monsters lurk beneath human skin, or masculine vs. feminine power, or a Gothic tale of how the leader of this compound is slowly losing his mind and his isolated group who follow him deteriorate as he does... There was a ton of potential that was missed. Even the title is misleading, suggesting a grand, dark fantasy. There is a metaphor about sheep vs wolves - i.e. being a follower of rules vs. a meter of justice - but it is only a metaphor, there is no Black Mirror paranormal twist where these teens are werewolves, or part of a bloody wolf-god-worshipping cult, or anything of the like. Without that extra OOMPH this book basically says, "Some girls are lawful. Some break rules. Everybody keeps secrets.".... No, duh? It's not the most mind-blowing takeaway, even if it was well-written.
This book is a good standalone. I think it could have been great. I think it could possibly be redeemed with a sequel, to see what becomes of the compound once Joseph falls. Alas, that may be wishful thinking on my part.
That said, the final reveal fell rather flat. There were a lot of red herrings, and the actual criminal is rather obvious once its obvious. (Spoiler alert, it's the one with the fewest viewpoint chapters, because obviously her own PoV would have given her away.) In fact, the flower-named girls are all a little too on the nose: Thorny Rose, weepy Willow, over-achiever Laurel, insidious Oleanna....
The book doesn't say much beyond the page, the basic jist being that girls will do anything for love (not just romantic love, but rather the affection of acceptance, the feeling of belonging.) In the end, there is no turn of the screw about the dangers of religious zealotry, or what monsters lurk beneath human skin, or masculine vs. feminine power, or a Gothic tale of how the leader of this compound is slowly losing his mind and his isolated group who follow him deteriorate as he does... There was a ton of potential that was missed. Even the title is misleading, suggesting a grand, dark fantasy. There is a metaphor about sheep vs wolves - i.e. being a follower of rules vs. a meter of justice - but it is only a metaphor, there is no Black Mirror paranormal twist where these teens are werewolves, or part of a bloody wolf-god-worshipping cult, or anything of the like. Without that extra OOMPH this book basically says, "Some girls are lawful. Some break rules. Everybody keeps secrets.".... No, duh? It's not the most mind-blowing takeaway, even if it was well-written.
This book is a good standalone. I think it could have been great. I think it could possibly be redeemed with a sequel, to see what becomes of the compound once Joseph falls. Alas, that may be wishful thinking on my part.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I could not put this book down
It reads beautifully
The story keeps moving, the character individual and group perspective add beautiful depth to the story.
It reads beautifully
The story keeps moving, the character individual and group perspective add beautiful depth to the story.
Short read, not as spooky as I wanted, just kind of a cult mystery?? Idk low key sucked but it was only a few hours so it was fine
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
3.5, rounded up.
Really really good!! I loved the verse, it flowed well despite having line breaks. narration was also fabulous, the switch between third person, first person singular, and first person plural was really well done. wish it wouldn’t have cut off so quickly at the end?? would’ve loved to read about what happens with the protégés. otherwise really good read.
Really really good!! I loved the verse, it flowed well despite having line breaks. narration was also fabulous, the switch between third person, first person singular, and first person plural was really well done. wish it wouldn’t have cut off so quickly at the end?? would’ve loved to read about what happens with the protégés. otherwise really good read.
2.5
I typically avoid books in verse, and books about cults. So tell me why tf I picked up this book in verse about a cult expecting ANYTHING to be for me...
It was the cover. And of course the idea that a girl went missing from the cult!
But this book is about a group of 9 girls within a cult, and other than the missing girl, I think they all have their own POV? And I say I think because they all have very similar names and every single POV felt like it was from the same exact person.
Idk, I just can't bring myself to care
There was a good reveal, not about the missing girl, but about something else in their lives, but a lot of the reveals were kind of important and hit with NO feeling... it is just an odd book and I guess I don't care that I wasted an hour reading it but like I could have been playing candy crush soda saga so
I typically avoid books in verse, and books about cults. So tell me why tf I picked up this book in verse about a cult expecting ANYTHING to be for me...
It was the cover. And of course the idea that a girl went missing from the cult!
But this book is about a group of 9 girls within a cult, and other than the missing girl, I think they all have their own POV? And I say I think because they all have very similar names and every single POV felt like it was from the same exact person.
Idk, I just can't bring myself to care
There was a good reveal, not about the missing girl, but about something else in their lives, but a lot of the reveals were kind of important and hit with NO feeling... it is just an odd book and I guess I don't care that I wasted an hour reading it but like I could have been playing candy crush soda saga so
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would love to see this adapted to a movie
DNF @ 44%
This... just isn't for me. The setting feels so deeply under-utilized and having nine pov characters in a less-than-300-page novel in verse is... a daring choice.
This... just isn't for me. The setting feels so deeply under-utilized and having nine pov characters in a less-than-300-page novel in verse is... a daring choice.
Very, very slowly paced. Love the concept of having the chapters being narrated from different perspectives, but it does not really serve a purpose. Imbolo Mbue's "How Beautiful We Were" did this incredibly. The characters were distinguishable and there was a purpose. Here, not so much.......... Its all the same voice and perspective.