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prncss1204's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Trafficking
ruthlessreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I did not like this book & don't recommend it to anyone who has triggers around CSA & child abuse.
I think that this story could've been told without graphic descriptions of child sexual assault & rape. While these things were the reality of these characters, I feel that the on page assault of children accomplishes nothing from a narrative perspective. Almost nothing else about the book stood out to me other than this & any historical value or interest it would hold is eliminated through the graphic sexual violence. I did finish the book though because I wanted to find out what happened to one of the characters so I suppose the characters were written well enough to care about.
I think that this story could've been told without graphic descriptions of child sexual assault & rape. While these things were the reality of these characters, I feel that the on page assault of children accomplishes nothing from a narrative perspective. Almost nothing else about the book stood out to me other than this & any historical value or interest it would hold is eliminated through the graphic sexual violence. I did finish the book though because I wanted to find out what happened to one of the characters so I suppose the characters were written well enough to care about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Classism, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual violence
iamnita's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
Firstly, thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
To start out with the pros: I loved the writing style, and felt very immersed in the book overall. I appreciated that each time a role was introduced, it was quickly explained allowing me (someone who doesn't read a lot of historical fiction) to feel like I was a part of the world. The first half of the story was awesome, and the pacing was steady - I enjoyed following Veronique so much. While others have commented that the changing perspectives were difficult; I felt like we really only had "audience" and Veronique - which I could easily tell apart.
Now to the cons: In the second half of the book (when we moved into the daughter's perspective and left Veronique behind) I felt like we entered a new book with a different agenda. Time leaps were sometimes MASSIVE and while some stories were sprinkled in it felt like we were trying desperately to get to a time period the author had in mind. Further, I felt extremely disconnected from this 'second cast of characters'. Lastly, the end left something to be desired.
To start out with the pros: I loved the writing style, and felt very immersed in the book overall. I appreciated that each time a role was introduced, it was quickly explained allowing me (someone who doesn't read a lot of historical fiction) to feel like I was a part of the world. The first half of the story was awesome, and the pacing was steady - I enjoyed following Veronique so much. While others have commented that the changing perspectives were difficult; I felt like we really only had "audience" and Veronique - which I could easily tell apart.
Now to the cons: In the second half of the book (when we moved into the daughter's perspective and left Veronique behind) I felt like we entered a new book with a different agenda. Time leaps were sometimes MASSIVE and while some stories were sprinkled in it felt like we were trying desperately to get to a time period the author had in mind. Further, I felt extremely disconnected from this 'second cast of characters'. Lastly, the end left something to be desired.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Trafficking
Moderate: War
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Dementia
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