Reviews tagging 'Deadnaming'

The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl

9 reviews

bekkz27's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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? No

3.75

This book was really interesting. I didn’t hate it like I thought I would. The characters grew and changed. I found myself rooting for them when I started the book hating them all. Well done to the author. Can’t wait to start the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Transphobia, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

lunep's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

It was gripping but the characters were flat, I didn't care for any of them, the whole magic thing came out of nowhere and felt weird (and hopefully it gets explained on the second book because it wasn't on this one), and the representation was done very poorly: Ella's "OCD" is nothing like real OCD, Rory, Nani and Yuki's sexualities felt very stereotypical, and Yuki being so cold and emotionless is a harmful aroace stereotype, far from the truth (even tho it can be explained by the fact that she was been brought up to be perfect, perfect can still show emotions), and while I don't think the author was trying to say trans people are beasts, making the only trans character The Beast/Adam from Beauty and the Beast was still a poor choice (because we see that the characters and their stories from the book aren't modern versions of their fairy-tale counterparts that follow exactly the same paths, like Micaeli, I think what the author wanted to do was make Svenja's transition represent Adam going back to his real form after being freed from the witch's curse, without being literal to the story and making it all "oh I found love and that's what made me strong enough to be my true self"). I'm debating between reading the second one (partly because I'm a scaredy cat and this made me sleep with my lights on lmao) and just finding the most spoilery review possible to find out what happens 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Transphobia, Vomit, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Minor: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, and Self harm

catlong's review

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

2.5

Wasn’t a huge fan of the writing and it was poorly edited but i’m obsessed with the characters

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Deadnaming

gracelynnreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Child abuse, Deadnaming, and Death of parent

nytephoenyx's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

If I had to choose a character from The Grimrose Girls I most resemble, I’d have to choose Ella, because I spent so much time trying to match up all the characters in the book with their fairytales, I failed to see what was right in front of me.

The Grimrose Girls is the perfect read for folks who like light mysteries entwined with light fantasy, boarding schools, and fairytales come to life. It’s a little dark – it’s a little like Pretty Little Liars. And I’m okay with that! Ella, Rory, Nani, and Yuki are far more likable than the PLL crew. I chose this book because I wanted a dark fairytale retelling, and I got something in that range. It’s not focused on a single fairytale – it’s focused on a little bit of a lot of them. It’s interesting and fun to predict, and the rotating POVs kept things fresh.

I am a little disappointed Pohl focused primarily on commonly known fairytales. I get it – as a writer, it’s important to engage the reader. Internationally familiar fairytales (read: the ones turned into Disney movies) are an easy choice. With the exception of “The Juniper Tree“, all referenced fairytales will be very familiar to a diverse audience. I generally enjoyed Pohl’s writing, but there were certain characters I wished had been more tied to their stories. Some, like Ella, were very close. I would have liked more consistency across the board.

There is a lot of diversity and representation in The Grimrose Girls and I’m undecided how I feel about it. Typically I’m very excited for a breadth of diversity and I still am… but it also felt a bit contrived. Each character had a different race and a different sexuality. So, on the one hand, there is a lot of representation. On the other, I’m just cautious about the intense variety of it. There were a couple other little things that bugged me as well, including the whole “scholarships for employee’s children” angle that got Nani into the school in the first place. Some things lined up a little too perfectly without sensible in-world explanations.

As a whole, I really liked the book. Despite my uncertainty about the wealth of representation, I do want to nod to Pohl for taking the time to let Nani express frustration about Hawaii’s colonialism. It was a brief moment, but it stood out to me.

This was a good nighttime read, a good “what’s next” and “whodunnit” read. I’m a big fan of books that keep me analyzing and thinking – The Grimrose Girls did an amazing job of that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Deadnaming, Cannibalism, and Colonisation

bookedandbusy's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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 incredible! I loved that the more I read the more I was able to see the fairy tale aspect. And I love how elements of the classic fairy tales were combined with the darker side of the classics. I can’t wait for the next book!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism and Suicide

Minor: Deadnaming

Also has graphic mentions of drowning,

cball2428's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

an absolutely thrilling story about 4 girls who despite the odds band together and create a bond so strong. also incredibly sapphic and amazing character development

i would like rory’s gender ok

disability representation!

rory has fibromyalgia

 
mental illness/neurodivergency representation!

ella has diagnosed OCD and anxiety

 
transgender representation!

svenja is a trans woman (minor character but still important)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Deadnaming, Racism, and Acephobia/Arophobia

rey_therese07's review against another edition

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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, and Grief

Minor: Deadnaming, Racism, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Abandonment

themixedpages's review

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Vomit, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Deadnaming