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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
that was honestly quite confusing. a decent amount of the fantasy and magic elements weren't explained well and didn't feel like they had a solid structure. maybe that allowed "rules" of the system to be broken more easily but it felt sloppy. there were also a lot of characters to keep track of and the main plot of the synopsis didn't actually happen in the book.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
I greatly enjoyed this read. While there are themes that are difficult (pedophilia, rape, sexual and physical abuse) these things are mostly talked about and not written in a way that sear unwanted images in your mind. Suicide is talked about and shown. So, things to be mindful of if you are contemplating trying this book out.
All the women in this book were interesting to me. From the empress to the laundress, each played their part. Charm and her boneghosts had a fascinating relationship. Going in, I had assumed they would all be in a more shared mindset and getting along like peas in a pod. Realizing quickly that this was not the case made the boneghosts much more real. Charm was an enthralling main character. I didn't care for the grief that her boneghosts gave her (it was fair, but I loved Charm's more mischievous nature and her willingness to do what needed to be done to survive and felt like they could have been a little more understanding, lol). The Lady was annoying, but she is a foil to Charm and seeing as I was much more fond of Charm, I would find her foil to be annoying.
The world itself is not laid out super clearly, but I assume that is because the book is so character focused that I didn't feel like it was that important to know every detail about how the world works. It did give enough background to what was important as needed.
Overall, an interesting concept with characters that I found enjoyable for a different kind of whodunit than I normally would read.
All the women in this book were interesting to me. From the empress to the laundress, each played their part. Charm and her boneghosts had a fascinating relationship. Going in, I had assumed they would all be in a more shared mindset and getting along like peas in a pod. Realizing quickly that this was not the case made the boneghosts much more real. Charm was an enthralling main character. I didn't care for the grief that her boneghosts gave her (it was fair, but I loved Charm's more mischievous nature and her willingness to do what needed to be done to survive and felt like they could have been a little more understanding, lol). The Lady was annoying, but she is a foil to Charm and seeing as I was much more fond of Charm, I would find her foil to be annoying.
The world itself is not laid out super clearly, but I assume that is because the book is so character focused that I didn't feel like it was that important to know every detail about how the world works. It did give enough background to what was important as needed.
Overall, an interesting concept with characters that I found enjoyable for a different kind of whodunit than I normally would read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book finally heated up around page 300, but I only got there through dogged determination. It’s interesting to have Charmaine’s personalities split - Lady, Charm, Pain, Pride, Desire, Justice. But there was no cohesiveness in the beginning and it just felt fragmented. Which I’m sure was the desire because the character evolved in the end. But not worth the 300 page slog.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this is more of a 3.5. i was confused then intrigued then i felt like the book wrapped up really quickly in a way that didn’t make me feel like it was totally resolved?