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rhuntern's review against another edition
Read the first two stories and a portion of Burning Girls. The writing style is far too dry and over explanatory for me. I found myself rather bored throughout, despite the settings being interesting.
capnlinnius's review against another edition
4.0
I received an eARC from the publisher, via Netgalley.
Rated 4/5.
What an absolute delight this was to read. Emotionally difficult at times, which is why I had to take breaks between the stories, but wonderful nonetheless. I am a queer woman, and a feminist, and this obviously makes me biased when going into this collection of reimagined fairy tales, retellings of horrible real life events with a sprinkle of dark magical realism, stories of vengeance and justice for the women who have been wronged. The writing is both lyrical and uncomfortably graphic, in a way that is compelling; something I have seen other writers try to pull off with varying success. In a few of the stories, it got a bit overbearing, but on the whole it definitely gave another layer of just rage and hopelessness getting turned into hope, and back again. Yet I finish this collection with a feeling of resignation, something resting in the pit of my stomach, quietly resonating with the plights of the women portrayed in these stories. Definitely a read I would recommend you to pick up!
Rated 4/5.
What an absolute delight this was to read. Emotionally difficult at times, which is why I had to take breaks between the stories, but wonderful nonetheless. I am a queer woman, and a feminist, and this obviously makes me biased when going into this collection of reimagined fairy tales, retellings of horrible real life events with a sprinkle of dark magical realism, stories of vengeance and justice for the women who have been wronged. The writing is both lyrical and uncomfortably graphic, in a way that is compelling; something I have seen other writers try to pull off with varying success. In a few of the stories, it got a bit overbearing, but on the whole it definitely gave another layer of just rage and hopelessness getting turned into hope, and back again. Yet I finish this collection with a feeling of resignation, something resting in the pit of my stomach, quietly resonating with the plights of the women portrayed in these stories. Definitely a read I would recommend you to pick up!
clare_s2395's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
ordwayhomebody's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
whatdotheyknowaboutfriends's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
dame_samara's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't love all of the stories in this book but I loved a fair number of them. The last one having me tear up at the end (The one the Title comes from). My favorite was Phosphorous, a story about the Phosphorous Girls of London.
I found the references to Alice in Wonderland incredibly interesting as they would always appear when I least expected them.
There were takes on tales I've heard before, as well as tales I hadn't (or at least didn't make a direct connection from one to the other).
I would definitely recommend this, even if you're just checking it out from the library for reading on individual time I would recommend it.
It is also gay, and being gay never seems to be anything out of the ordinary. Which I LOVE.
I found the references to Alice in Wonderland incredibly interesting as they would always appear when I least expected them.
There were takes on tales I've heard before, as well as tales I hadn't (or at least didn't make a direct connection from one to the other).
I would definitely recommend this, even if you're just checking it out from the library for reading on individual time I would recommend it.
It is also gay, and being gay never seems to be anything out of the ordinary. Which I LOVE.
dame_samara's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't love all of the stories in this book but I loved a fair number of them. The last one having me tear up at the end (The one the Title comes from). My favorite was Phosphorous, a story about the Phosphorous Girls of London.
I found the references to Alice in Wonderland incredibly interesting as they would always appear when I least expected them.
There were takes on tales I've heard before, as well as tales I hadn't (or at least didn't make a direct connection from one to the other).
I would definitely recommend this, even if you're just checking it out from the library for reading on individual time I would recommend it.
It is also gay, and being gay never seems to be anything out of the ordinary. Which I LOVE.
This was 10 times better as an audiobook. it meant I was better able to visualize the places depicted.
I found the references to Alice in Wonderland incredibly interesting as they would always appear when I least expected them.
There were takes on tales I've heard before, as well as tales I hadn't (or at least didn't make a direct connection from one to the other).
I would definitely recommend this, even if you're just checking it out from the library for reading on individual time I would recommend it.
It is also gay, and being gay never seems to be anything out of the ordinary. Which I LOVE.
This was 10 times better as an audiobook. it meant I was better able to visualize the places depicted.
stephondrusek's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
cozy_reading_times's review against another edition
3.0
A bit too much punk-rock and at times leaning too much into horror for my taste.
Some of the stories were simply boring and other too convoluted.
But there were definitely also a few that I quite enjoyed and after all, I read them all.
My favourites were Phosphorus, Ballroom Blitz, Rats and Lily Glass.
Some of the stories were simply boring and other too convoluted.
But there were definitely also a few that I quite enjoyed and after all, I read them all.
My favourites were Phosphorus, Ballroom Blitz, Rats and Lily Glass.