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agathajanemaud1908'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? Yes
5.0
I don’t have adequate words to review this book, but word of warning: it’s accurate to the war, so it’s very dark and violent. Make sure to be in a good headspace before reading.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Body horror, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Xenophobia, War, Medical trauma, Grief, Violence, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Gore
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Cannibalism
kendallashley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, War, and Confinement
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Murder
queencariad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
kirtreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This novel isn’t sad for the sake of being sad. I think Kathrine Arden actually does a great job of capturing the inexplicable and crazy hope that people can have in their darkest moments. However, it still is dark. The ending will crush you, but it is so worth the read.
Graphic: Violence, War, Xenophobia, Suicide, Abandonment, Body horror, Confinement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Mental illness, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
meg_turnsthepage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, War, Grief, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Suicide
bnashley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The premise was interesting and well done, but it relied on some very common themes that made the book predictable/low stakes/thin. However, it was very touchingly written, and I cared a great deal about the characters, who were well done.
I did get the impression that the author had a much bigger story to tell but couldn’t quite incorporate everything into a cohesive narrative and pared the story down significantly. This was unfortunately very distracting because I kept imagining the missing pieces.
I really enjoyed the care taken with the the setting. The historical setting and time-based language is accurate and detailed, and the author includes the kinds of little tidbits/trivia that make the setting feel alive. There were a few places where the prose got clunky/repetitive but it did not detract from the overall affect.
Moderate: Gore, Murder, Grief, Violence, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, War, Addiction, Death, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Body horror, Cursing, Murder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, War, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, and Excrement
readingonthefly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Genocide, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
downtown_kb'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? No
4.5
Laura is a combat nurse who has returned home after an injury. Not long afterwards her parents both die in an explosion. Her brother, lost on the front lines, is her only remaining family. She becomes determined to find him but she must face many horrors in the process.
This was beautiful writing, captivating characters, and the perfect blend of real life twisted into the horrific. There is gore and ghosts, murder and a creepy unraveling of sanity. I was fascinated by “The Fiddler” and the new take on the Faustian bargain. It was so cleverly laid out. Set in the midst of WWI this setting lends so well to horror, as the author details in her afterward, because of course, at baseline it was a horrific time but taken just a step further you get lost in not quite knowing what is real along with the characters. I was hooked. This will stay with me for a long time. Rounded out well with a bit of romance, I was so relieved that the main characters get peace at the end of the madness.
The audio by January LaVoy and Michael Crouch was fantastic.
Graphic: Medical content, Murder, Confinement, War, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts
madlyreading'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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Dementia, Gore, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders