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thingslucyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Gosh this series just gets better and better. It was fascinating to step outside of the (relative) safety and (relative) containment of Eleanor’s school and experience an expansion of this world. It’s very much a glimpse at the darker side, as the rival school is a completely different ballgame than anything we’ve played before. I loved it a lot. I loved that Cora took control of the reins of her own life, and owned her actions when they turned out to be not so great. I loved meeting Regan again, even though it also broke my heart a little bit. I hope she pops up in the next book too. I’m also very curious about The Headmaster and I think perhaps we aren’t quite done with him or his school just yet. Almost every time I think this series is going to get a little tired, a little same-same, it instead just absolutely smacks me across the face with an incredible, unpredictable ride during which all I can do is hold on and enjoy the experience.
Sincere thanks to Tor for the early copy!
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Suicide
katrinarose's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, and Confinement
Moderate: Murder
adancewithbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In this book we follow Cora who is tired from the constant call of the Drowned Gods in her nightmares. She is emotionally drowning in school. So she asks for a transfer to another school, Whitethorn, for a complete change. To Forget. However this school is a very different kind of school to that of Eleanor West.
It was never going to make sense for Eleanor West's school to be the only one out there. With so many doors that there are (that we learned in book 8 but shh) there would be so many more children, and all over the world. So I am glad to see this expansion of the world building in the continuance story in our world.
Cora really struggled with the call, her nightmares and herself. She can't seem to find herself in school and asks for the transfer, in the hope that the change of Whitethorn will help her. It was interesting to see how Cora's struggles were approached and I thought it was a good thing to see.
Not just Cora but the other girls that she meets at Whitethorn. Whitethorn is a hard place to be and it thoughtfully approached how that would be for these girls who already have such baggage. But it also showed why some preferred Whitethorn, why it helped them.
One of the bigger themes in this book was self-image and weight. Cora is a bigger girl. And I felt that, as a bigger girl myself. I found a new appreciation in Cora in this book with how she struggled with herself and came up ahead in the end, that I didn't have before.
Graphic: Fatphobia and Bullying
suicidal ideation | emotional self-punishmentlipstickitotheman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Bullying, and Confinement
Minor: Suicide attempt
cj13's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
takarakei's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder and Suicide attempt
decie's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Eating disorder
louisallama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia and Confinement
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Suicide attempt
twistykris's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Confinement, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
brie_is_reading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What I liked:
- a look at the Whitethorn Institute
- more characters/more looks in doors
- Sumi was a highlight in this book
- revisiting Regan so quickly.
- a peak with at the potential relationship with Cora and Kade
- Pushed the plot forward/added to our cast of typical characters.
Not My Favorite:
- For such a huge shift in the “at school book” style, it felt shorter than normal
- spent too much time building up to Cora leaving, not enough time at the Institute
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Bullying
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Eating disorder