Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

13 reviews

books4em's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

I just love this series so much! Beneath the Sugar Sky started with one of the most beautifully written, emotional, and relatable prologues ever. It's a whopping 2.25 pages long, but wow what a way to start the book off. Book 3 in the Wayward Children series is centered around a group of West's students traveling between worlds with Sumi's futuristic daughter who is disappearing since Sumi died in Book 1. We see Kade, Christopher, and Nancy, along with Nadya and new character, Cora, all doing their part to bring Sumi back so that her daughter, Rini, can exist again and Confection can be restored to order. It centers around self-expression in how each kid's door opens the perfect world for them, body image issues, and most importantly, hope. We see multiple characters return back through their rightful doors in this book, and we remain hopeful that others will soon. McGuire did it again! Hope and kindness radiate off the pages and try to get the reader to open doors to invite them into their own worlds and lives. Also great rep. in this one again, but it wasn't the highlight of the book and that's okay!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Violence, and War

auteaandtales's review

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Fatphobia

Minor: Confinement and Torture

schnaucl's review

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two books in the series but I think that was more about me than the story.  I think I would be more at home in in a Logic rather than Nonsense world (though I appreciated it was more Reason than Rhyme).    

But I liked learning more about how the worlds were interconnected and I liked Cora.  Her experiences and fears as a fat girl felt very real to me. 

There seems to be an idea that the person who comes through the door is supposed to save the world in a way I don't think we saw in the first two books but maybe that's a Nonsense world feature?   Certainly its sounds like Kade and Sumi were expected to save the world.   The girl with superior eyesight (whose name escapes me), too.  But while Jack and Jill were eventually expected to replace the powers in their portion of the Moors, I don't think they were expected to save the Moors, nor was Nancy expected to save her underworld.

It's interesting (and understandable) that Kade doesn't want to go back through his door, although McGuire has talked about people wanting Kade to find his door.   I don't know if that would be a door to a different world (which I didn't really think was a thing, but I'm sure I have lots to learn about the rules) or the same door but on the other side of the fantasy kingdom/goblin war, or if something changes in the next few books.

It was nice to revisit Nancy.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia and Body horror

Minor: Blood, Confinement, Abandonment, and Body shaming

mswarning's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I didn't like this one as much as the last two. I liked the inclusion of Cora and Layla.. but it came across as forced. The larger cast of characters + POVs kinda resulted in me feeling less connected to them. 

It was interesting to see a nonsense world built on logical baking-type rules. I think that was smart and made Confection more palatable. Starting to wish for a happier ending for Kade even if he seems resigned to running the school after Eleanor.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming

Minor: Transphobia and Confinement

laurajones's review

adventurous hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death of parent, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Eating disorder, and Self harm

Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Body horror, and War

wickedwitchofky's review

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

• 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

While this book wasn’t my favorite in the series so far, I think it’s necessary and a perfect juxtaposition. The stark differences between Confection and The Moors from book 2 is key to understanding the characters and their different points of view. Loved getting to see more of the different worlds. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Fatphobia, Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Fatphobia, Cancer, Eating disorder, Racism, Death, and Racial slurs

If you struggle with body shaming, Cora’s experience will likely be particularly poignant if not difficult for you.

anniereads221's review

adventurous lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Murder, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Cancer, Bullying, Body shaming, Ableism, and Fatphobia

keen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is absolutely delightful. It's so full of whimsy that each paragraph—each sentence, even—causes me to feel an overwhelming need to create something, anything. This short story has managed to fit a more diverse cast of characters than many 600-page books by including different gender identities, ethnicities, and body types.

McGuire has a talent for mixing in light, humorous prose reminiscent of "Once upon of time" fairytales with dark subjects and tense scenes, which is also reminiscent of fairytales. Nevertheless, there's always the feeling of hope that reminds you the story isn't as bleak as it can seem in the moment. I think it had some important life lessons on how to look at yourself, other people, and the world around you.

Beneath the Sugar Sky feels like a book that can be enjoyed by children and adults. But, the darker themes might be a little much for children on the younger side.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming

Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Death, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Eating disorder, and Confinement

Minor: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm

zogg's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Suicide

Minor: Blood and Confinement

stargem's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Medical trauma, and Blood

Minor: Death of parent, Transphobia, Murder, and Gore