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beforeviolets's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
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
4.25
TW: medical content, terminal illness, discussions of death and mortality, grief of self, prescription drug use, self harm (for magic), blood (brief), warped sense of reality, SA (offscreen, past, recounted), pregnancy from SA (mention), abortion (mention), imprisonment, violence (minor)
I'd also like to add an additional TW mention. This book contains gruesome illustrations in a cartoony-silhouette style including imagery of people and animals missing body parts, people hung on trees, getting torn apart, having switched body parts, etc. They aren't realistic or heavily detailed.
This was such a fascinating perspective on Sleeping Beauty and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Usually, I'm not a fan of snarky MCs that use a lot of "relatable" references but Zinnia is written in such a complex way that her snark and her commentary actually makes her a reliable and grounded touchstone throughout the story. Her cynical nature seems to have developed organically as a coping mechanism and actually develops our understanding of her approach to dealing with her own mortality instead of being used as a cheap tool to make her seem quirky. Her references also feel earned. They're not overly done, but are rather sprinkled through in the natural way that young adults actually insert references into conversation. (Even the Harry Potter reference was immediately shamed, offering a sense of self-awareness that I found really helped.) And most of her references feel lived in and realistic. Zinnia is clearly a critical consumer of media and has spent a long time researching fairytales and storytelling tactics and tropes and history and it absolutely shows. She brings things up in such a way that feel not only informed by her experiences but that feel informative to us as an audience. It helps our understanding of the stories that are being played out, rather than just emphasizing her interests. Like sure, she's snarky, but she's interesting and full of relevant information. It makes her SUCH a valuable window into the world.
I also love how this story discusses love and support. Our main character goes on a huge journey from keeping people at arms length to not only being able to express her love, but being able to ask for help and share her hopes and her fears. I read a book recently that had a character with fibromyalgia and in a moment of need, she essentially ignores her pain and illness for the sake of dramatics and heroics and I love that this book did the exact opposite. Zinnia is ABSOLUTELY limited by her illness and no amount of willpower or wishful thinking can change that. This book does contain the "miracle cure" trope to some extent, but I think approaches it (in my opinion) in a better way.
Overall, just so tastefully done.
TW: medical content, terminal illness, discussions of death and mortality, grief of self, prescription drug use, self harm (for magic), blood (brief), warped sense of reality, SA (offscreen, past, recounted), pregnancy from SA (mention), abortion (mention), imprisonment, violence (minor)
I'd also like to add an additional TW mention. This book contains gruesome illustrations in a cartoony-silhouette style including imagery of people and animals missing body parts, people hung on trees, getting torn apart, having switched body parts, etc. They aren't realistic or heavily detailed.
This was such a fascinating perspective on Sleeping Beauty and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Usually, I'm not a fan of snarky MCs that use a lot of "relatable" references but Zinnia is written in such a complex way that her snark and her commentary actually makes her a reliable and grounded touchstone throughout the story. Her cynical nature seems to have developed organically as a coping mechanism and actually develops our understanding of her approach to dealing with her own mortality instead of being used as a cheap tool to make her seem quirky. Her references also feel earned. They're not overly done, but are rather sprinkled through in the natural way that young adults actually insert references into conversation. (Even the Harry Potter reference was immediately shamed, offering a sense of self-awareness that I found really helped.) And most of her references feel lived in and realistic. Zinnia is clearly a critical consumer of media and has spent a long time researching fairytales and storytelling tactics and tropes and history and it absolutely shows. She brings things up in such a way that feel not only informed by her experiences but that feel informative to us as an audience. It helps our understanding of the stories that are being played out, rather than just emphasizing her interests. Like sure, she's snarky, but she's interesting and full of relevant information. It makes her SUCH a valuable window into the world.
I also love how this story discusses love and support. Our main character goes on a huge journey from keeping people at arms length to not only being able to express her love, but being able to ask for help and share her hopes and her fears. I read a book recently that had a character with fibromyalgia and in a moment of need, she essentially ignores her pain and illness for the sake of dramatics and heroics and I love that this book did the exact opposite. Zinnia is ABSOLUTELY limited by her illness and no amount of willpower or wishful thinking can change that. This book does contain the "miracle cure" trope to some extent, but I think approaches it (in my opinion) in a better way.
Overall, just so tastefully done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Medical content, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Self harm, Rape, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence
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