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taimeow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual assault, Stalking, and Pregnancy
dr_aimz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, Confinement, and Gun violence
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
clarabooksit'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? It's complicated
3.5
I loved the main character, Bridie, and wanted to know everything about her and what her connection was to Ruby, the ghost who was haunting her/looking out for her. I loved the world-building—Kidd exquisitely uses all the senses to capture a time and place—the grungy, macabre Victorian medical setting, and the eeriness of how myth and man entwine and who really is the monster.
But the plot was predictable with clunky foreshadowing, and I didn’t care about the machinations of the other characters. I just wanted more Bridie and Ruby. There were also a few too many characters and not enough space given to properly flesh them all out. And while I dug the atmosphere overall, I do wish more explanations were given for the fantastical elements.
I don’t know. I liked it but the flaws nag at me. Maybe it was just so well paced that my enjoyment outweighed my disappointment. A perfectly paced book makes up for a lot.
If you like historical fiction with magical realism, potent world-building, characters you can root for and/or gothic vibes, then I’d say check this one out. But if you like to be surprised by mysteries, this one probably isn’t for you.
Graphic: Abortion, Animal death, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Classism, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexism
Minor: Gun violence
stellarya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
cactuswren's review
- 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? No
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Child abuse
caitief's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death