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danimacuk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Murder, and Dementia
Minor: Classism and Child death
bookb1itch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, and Death
tyelperinquar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The main attraction of this book is, of course, Merricat herself, and I found the most tense part of the novel to be Charles’s visit. I quickly found myself
The progression is driven by the characters’ interactions, but after
I think I enjoy stories with a stronger plot, or at least, more significant consequences for the characters’ actions. The ending had me feeling a bit that all the lead-up had been pointless, but maybe I was expecting something else out of this story. Regardless, it’s a short book, and it was fun to live in the mind of Merricat Blackwood for a while. I only hope I can take some of her magic with me.
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, and Bullying
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Death
aristarcodisamo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Child abuse, Bullying, Confinement, Dementia, Murder, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Gaslighting, Violence, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
teganbeesebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Dementia, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Death, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, and Violence
aserra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Additionally, I called the plot twist and predicted another one of the book's major events within the first 18 pages. Regardless, the story was incredibly effective for me, which testifies to the strength of Jackson's craft.
If I had to ask anything more of this book, I would ask for a prequel book focused on the Blackwoods (infeasible, as this was Jackson's last novel), and I think Charles could've been a few degrees creepier with incredible results. I want to describe Charles as unequivocally sinister but, instead, I feel he's more plaintive, entitled, and irritating. I can understand why he wasn't taken to that level, though, and think this is an indication of preference rather than quality of the book.
For a quick, tense, gothic read, consider picking up We Have Always Lived in the Castle.
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Minor: Violence, Murder, and Classism
miwandie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Murder
abookwormspov's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Child death, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
ohsnapsabrina93_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, and Murder
lifewithloopy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Bullying
Minor: Child death