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friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Child abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Gore, Abandonment, Dementia, Violence, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Torture
Moderate: Suicide, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Child death
spearly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“Come now,” whispered Ophelia, laying a hand on her little brother’s shoulder. “No ‘why’s on physical appearance, remember?” Hector put the dud photograph in his pocket, and then raised his placid eyes back up at Thorn, not remotely daunted by his height. “Okay. Why are you detestable?”
Dabos really said, "Second book syndrome??? Never heard of her" and pumped out this stunning sequel to A Winter's Promise.
Likewise, she once again stuns with her magnificent prose and world-building. I was enraptured the entire time. Usually, without a clear villain or conflict, I get annoyed, but with The Missing of Clairedelune, I was like, "oh blackmail? cool. oh murder mystery? cool. oh political intrigue? nice. oh the slowest of all slow burn romance? toit." (okay, this one killed me a bit).
The pacing was definitely a plus from the first novel, and we did see a bit less of the side characters near the end. I'm still not sure who the big bad is but I have no doubt that Ophelia will find a way to get involved with that mystery, too. I don't know that I've ever met such an unlucky character! Still, I loved her. She arc has been so gradual that you carrels notice it, but she has such a strength about her, such a sense of loyalty and duty. Where she started out timid, avoiding confrontation, now she's coming head to head with family spirits, going behind
But no book is without it's faults. I had hoped, just a bit, to see
I'm so excited for the third book that I've already started it. I'm even more excited that this is a quartet and there is a fourth book whose translation will be released in September!
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Dementia, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Sexism, and Torture
Minor: Medical content and Violence
aunteaandbiscuits's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Suicide, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Dementia, Medical content, Murder, Racism, and Terminal illness
The society is harsh, but elite and elegant.