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thalassa_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Despite the elaborate worldbuilding and tense, gruesome plot, this book lives on its characters, especially the protagonist Nettie. She's in between so many categories (race, social hierarchies, gender roles, sexuality) and struggles with her place in the world in a really relatable, sympathetic way, with strength, vulnerability, openness and intelligence. It's beautiful to see her learn gradually, with the help of kind people , how to see herself and others more truthfully, less through the lens of prejudice and societal norms. It's rare to read the pov of a bisexual girl who's confused about her feelings and physical reactions to both sexes. She also has huge character growth regarding her view of gender roles. She starts out equating womanhood with the gender roles of her intensely misogynistic society and consequently doesn't want to be a woman; additionally she needs to pretend to be a boy in order to get anywhere in that world. Towards the end she realizes that everyone is their own unique being and doesn't have to conform to anything, and accepts herself the way she is. Same for her indigenous-Black identity in a majority white society that taught her she was ugly and worth less. I loved seeing how she came into herself.
Unfortunately it sounds like the sequel completely goes back on many of these things and changes her personality, so I won't be continuing. It's fine, the story is concluded and I'd rather headcanon Nettie getting together with Winifred.
Unfortunately it sounds like the sequel completely goes back on many of these things and changes her personality, so I won't be continuing. It's fine, the story is concluded and I'd rather headcanon Nettie getting together with Winifred.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Torture, and Slavery
smitinghedgehog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Animal death, Body horror, Slavery, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, Racism, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence
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