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j_knuckers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Blood, Medical trauma, Addiction, Alcoholism, Grief, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness, Death of parent, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Abortion
readingwithcats's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Death, and Addiction
madarauchiha's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
✨🌠 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 🌠✨
I hate gothic genre. I should really check genres before reading. That said, it wasn't tooooo bad. It was historical gothic with a hint of horror and supernatual in the The Fae flavor. If you read Purcell's previous books, you'd familiar with the tones and themes also present in this book.
I suppose it was a bit slow. I thought it was very well written and competently described. Much of the historical details were not confusing to someone like me who does not read much historical genre. I liked the MC, if only because she was stubborn and clever and tried her best to survive in a shitty misogynistic society. She's a fucked up person who has done fucked up things. Neat!
The ending was sudden and honestly I can't disagree with that. In context it makes perfect sense. The POV is of the MC, why wouldn't it flow just like that?
You know what's fuckign weird tho?the nurse girl character fucking the prisoner / medical abuse experiment subject guy. What th efuck.
All that said, I didn't care for the book. Just didn't click for me. I appreciate how well made it is, and can tell the author is pretty skilled at what she does.
major addiction, blood, classism, death, dogs, medical content, miscarriage, murder, parental death, racial slurs, religion christianity, sinophobia, suicide ideation
medium ableism, alcohol, classism, parasites, pedophilia, psychiatric abuse, sexual abuse, trafficking, whorephobia
Minor alcoholism, drowning, excrement, infertility, kidnapping, pregnancy, sexual content, vomit
I hate gothic genre. I should really check genres before reading. That said, it wasn't tooooo bad. It was historical gothic with a hint of horror and supernatual in the The Fae flavor. If you read Purcell's previous books, you'd familiar with the tones and themes also present in this book.
I suppose it was a bit slow. I thought it was very well written and competently described. Much of the historical details were not confusing to someone like me who does not read much historical genre. I liked the MC, if only because she was stubborn and clever and tried her best to survive in a shitty misogynistic society. She's a fucked up person who has done fucked up things. Neat!
The ending was sudden and honestly I can't disagree with that. In context it makes perfect sense. The POV is of the MC, why wouldn't it flow just like that?
You know what's fuckign weird tho?
All that said, I didn't care for the book. Just didn't click for me. I appreciate how well made it is, and can tell the author is pretty skilled at what she does.
major addiction, blood, classism, death, dogs, medical content, miscarriage, murder, parental death, racial slurs, religion christianity, sinophobia, suicide ideation
medium ableism, alcohol, classism, parasites, pedophilia, psychiatric abuse, sexual abuse, trafficking, whorephobia
Minor alcoholism, drowning, excrement, infertility, kidnapping, pregnancy, sexual content, vomit
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Death, Medical content, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Racial slurs, and Addiction
Moderate: Trafficking, Ableism, Alcohol, Classism, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Excrement, Infertility, Kidnapping, and Vomit
katievh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Death, Drug use, and Medical content
Minor: Suicide, Blood, Child death, and Miscarriage
leecalliope's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I think I enjoyed this book! The rare book that I picked up at work to pass some time and took home and then actually read all the way through not immediately. But I picked it up again yesterday and did reread the first like 10 pages, so I did read all of it in around 24 hours.
It is very engrossing! Very atmospheric. I am definitely glad I was not alone when I was reading it! A spooky book.
I think I do not really?? Extremely enjoy an ambiguous ending like this. I dunno. I also did have some issues sympathizing w Hester? I dunno. I think her all-encompassing need to be needed is very! Relatable! And also interesting, as a character trait to examine, but I don't know that I got enough time with it/her to really feel it.
Louise is a much more sympathetic character, and I think the fact that we don't really find out what happens in the last 40 years through her eyes is my biggest complaint. I want to know how she is feeling throughout the book! Also? The thing with the door counter is just SO spooky, and I think could have been used to greater effect if Hester had been less muddled about it.
Anyway, I think I really enjoyed the experience of reading this book. I've always been enamored by the idea of changelings, and it's an interesting exploration of the theme! I had a nice time, and I would definitely read another book by this author.
It is very engrossing! Very atmospheric. I am definitely glad I was not alone when I was reading it! A spooky book.
I think I do not really?? Extremely enjoy an ambiguous ending like this. I dunno. I also did have some issues sympathizing w Hester? I dunno. I think her all-encompassing need to be needed is very! Relatable! And also interesting, as a character trait to examine, but I don't know that I got enough time with it/her to really feel it.
Louise is a much more sympathetic character, and I think the fact that we don't really find out what happens in the last 40 years through her eyes is my biggest complaint. I want to know how she is feeling throughout the book! Also? The thing with the door counter is just SO spooky, and I think could have been used to greater effect if Hester had been less muddled about it.
Anyway, I think I really enjoyed the experience of reading this book. I've always been enamored by the idea of changelings, and it's an interesting exploration of the theme! I had a nice time, and I would definitely read another book by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Addiction
There's a lot of talk about drowning specifically in the latter half of the book.
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