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jfield351's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
4.5
I first read this a year ago and fell in love with it, i would have given it 5 stars last year. I was also completely at a loss to understand it but I knew it was good. I read it again, starting it yesterday the 29th and finishing today the 30th of Jan, as part of the Dymocks reading challenge for ‘a book that makes you nostalgic’. I was obsessed with this book for months after I read it and would draw hemlock everywhere. So yes it does make me nostalgic of the time where I was in love with this book. The review I originally wrote has been deleted which is a shame, I would have liked to compare it to now. Reading it a second time I probably enjoyed it less (perhaps due to knowing the ending or due to my mental state right now) and i’m still confused about many aspects of it. Time shifts mid sentence sometimes. But it’s beautiful. Diana Wynne Jones is a master writer. The relationship is problematic, but I still love it. It’s one of the times where I can’t concretely give evidence for why I love the book, it’s just the general vibe. It’s such an interesting tale of nine years of a girl growing up, intertwined with the magic that is Mr Lynn, Thomas the Rhymer, Tam Lin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse and Cursing
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