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myk_yeah's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.5
I'm so disappointed with this book. I've heartily loved What is Not Yours and White is for Witching by Oyeyemi but found this one confusing and if there was any substance to it I missed it, I did not have fun with this one.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Alcohol, and Sexual content
novantithesis's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It’s good for what it is. Kind of literary and not straight forward in the storytelling. Probably a more enjoyable read if you’re into a weird mysterious musing on how we existing with one another than if you’re looking at the genre info and the blurb and thinking it’ll just be a fun fantasy adventure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, and Violence
house_of_hannah's review
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Going into the last 20 pages I thought I was going to rate this a 3.5, because although it's taken some thought and re-reading, I was enjoying the story. However, I do not understand this ending. I just cannot figure out what happened here, what was going on, and why it was significant.
There are some interesting scenes, and I liked the flashback aspect as well. The older characters don't quite seem their ages though, and I ended up viewing everyone as the same age group even though that was not the case. The interconnection of their stories is probably the best part of the book, but it comes together in an unsatisfying way since I just cannot understand the end.
Could have used more mongoose scenes.
There are some interesting scenes, and I liked the flashback aspect as well. The older characters don't quite seem their ages though, and I ended up viewing everyone as the same age group even though that was not the case. The interconnection of their stories is probably the best part of the book, but it comes together in an unsatisfying way since I just cannot understand the end.
Could have used more mongoose scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Sexual content
cocacolor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My favorite outing of Oyeyemi's after BOY, SNOW, BIRD. You never quite figure out what is going on, but the faint magic realism & the characters' always-interesting stories more than make up for that for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
sunnydale's review
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not my favorite of her books that I've read, but still a solid read that left me thinking for a long time after.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal death, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Gun violence
Animal death details:lkreps's review
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Stalking, Sexual content, and Physical abuse
cheye13's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I need to reread this. Immediately. I have no clue what this was.
Like with Gingerbread, I found myself reeling trying to follow the frame structure and construct a linear timeline, but because it's written with such whimsy and spirit, I relished the challenge. This one clips right along – while I was trying to decipher one metaphor or meaningful event, we'd popped on to the next one. I do really think there's something here – about memory, personhood, legend... something. But it slipped through my fingers on this first read.
And yet it was just so fun and frightening and funny (Otis's narration made me laugh out loud more than once) that once I finished it, I wanted to flip right back to the beginning.
Like with Gingerbread, I found myself reeling trying to follow the frame structure and construct a linear timeline, but because it's written with such whimsy and spirit, I relished the challenge. This one clips right along – while I was trying to decipher one metaphor or meaningful event, we'd popped on to the next one. I do really think there's something here – about memory, personhood, legend... something. But it slipped through my fingers on this first read.
And yet it was just so fun and frightening and funny (Otis's narration made me laugh out loud more than once) that once I finished it, I wanted to flip right back to the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Mental illness and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
content warnings are approximations, as it's hard to separate literal from figurative. animal death cw for brief descriptions of/about taxidermy.
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