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moonsongsiren's review against another edition
the main character is not complex, she is unlikable, and incredibly misogynistic to the girls around her. her love interests at the point i stopped reading were.. mediocre. she is poor “representation” if you can even call her that, but i understand and appreciate that this book was written with a LOT of heart and a LOT of effort was put into it. But that does not make a good story.
What was truly the last straw for me was the main character forcing herself upon one of her love interests (does not, at any point ask him for consent, and he even tells her to stop and wait and she does not comply). To me, that sends the exact opposite message that the book was trying to send.
Over all, EXTREMELY disappointing. i would not recommend this to anyone, there is simply too much it is lacking. but for a debut novel that was clearly a loved passion project, it serves that purpose.
it is self indulgent for the author, it has a very bare bones emotion that drives the story, and it barely scratches the surface of the message it WANTS to convey.
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Child death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Genocide, Bullying, Murder, Gore, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, War, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
lyr1cal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Body horror, Alcohol, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, and Sexual assault
sleeping_roses's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Violence, Physical abuse, Addiction, Murder, Misogyny, Alcoholism, War, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Sexism, and Torture
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Biphobia, Gun violence, and Suicidal thoughts
natraf_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Violence, War, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Classism, Death, War, Physical abuse, Addiction, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault and Slavery
Foot binding, forced sex workcreolelitbelle's review against another edition
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
auntquinoa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The character development is was makes this book somewhat immature. The protagonists internal voice is repetitive and doesn’t question her own biases while holding every person around them to theirs (
I read the acknowledgements and understand this book flipped between adult and YA. The faults of the book lie entirely in that indecision by the agent/author/publisher. This is a dark, dark book. Concubine and slavery depictions require nuance which YA doesn’t typically have. The darkness, violence and downright gore do not enmesh well with the immature dispositions of the characters of all ages. It made the book very hard to read without laughing, cringing, or becoming frustrated.
Overall a very bizarre read that somehow still kept me hooked. You must read it for yourself to decide. Does that make it a complete success??
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, War, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Sexual assault, Torture, Sexual violence, Gore, and Blood
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Sexism, Grief, Child abuse, Murder, Death, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual content
griminycricket's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Violence, Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
ancestrallizard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Addiction, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and War
Moderate: Classism, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual content, Rape, Misogyny, War, Torture, Suicide attempt, Murder, Medical content, Grief, Death, Blood, and Alcoholism