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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is very well written, and I think Starling has a very firm grip on prose and the quality of the writing - that being said though, I don't think I cared much for the characters, and some of the developments came out of nowhere. I thought the high level concept was really interesting, but I do think it fell flat in an attempt to focus on the gore and cannibalism horror. There were some character developments that I felt like didn't have as much room to breathe as it should've which made some of the character moments fall flat to me and not feel as earned as they couldve been.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism
Moderate: Death of parent, War
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Easily one of my favourite reads of the year. Medieval gothic horror narrated through three morally gray women's pov with a healthy dose of sapphic yearning-sign me up!
I didn't find it neither as graphic/gorey nor as confusing as other reviews, but I read a lot of horror so maybe im biased. Definitely consider the triggering warnings but it never felt gratuitous or over the top.
I didn't find it neither as graphic/gorey nor as confusing as other reviews, but I read a lot of horror so maybe im biased. Definitely consider the triggering warnings but it never felt gratuitous or over the top.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
really REALLY enjoyed this one definitely the book that’s come closest this year to scratching the between two fires itch
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this was a grotesque fever dream of a book - strange and abstract in just the way i like. i knew from the first page that it would be a slam dunk for me. cannibalism, religious imagery, and weird creatures never fail me. it reminded me of tamsyn muir’s work in the way that you don’t quite know exactly what’s going on all the time, but you don’t necessarily need to.
treila de batrolin, you will always be famous. you are my favorite kind of girl (ruthless to a fault).
one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, this lived up to the hype!
treila de batrolin, you will always be famous. you are my favorite kind of girl (ruthless to a fault).
one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, this lived up to the hype!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
She feels a little smaller. She feels a little steadier. She doesn’t want either of those things except that she does. This is unsustainable. She wants to have her room, her little world. She wants control. There is no control in this.
Phosyne has control, though. Little scraps, but enough. Enough to build a little world.
i LOVED THIS. loved the vibes, the eeriness, the characters. you don't really get what's going on, but that makes it even creepier and more fever dream-y. give me more PLEASE. yes i did end up tearing up.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense