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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
The back cover of the book insistently compares it to Jane Austen’s Emma (which I get) and to Harry Potter (which I don’t), but it reminded me a lot of [b:The Remains of the Day|28921|The Remains of the Day|Kazuo Ishiguro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327128714l/28921._SY75_.jpg|3333111]. Great character study, masterful pacing, subtle, beautiful.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't know how, I don't know why but I loved this novel, even though I easily guessed and anticipated one of the main plot-twists and normally would have been very annoyed by Gina's arrogance and ignorance. Alas, I was not; I was totally enthralled. And the writing is simply brilliant and very atmospheric. I've now decided to not let anything negative spoil my reading experience and opinion of this book and rate it 5 stars.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It took me a while to finish this book but it was in no part the fault of the writing. It was composed (and translated) so beautifully that I felt as if I was PHYSICALLY roaming the fortress of the Matula. The characters were thoughtfully written that I had no issues setting each of them apart. As for the main character, I loved Gina from the beginning all the way to the end! Though I immediately caught on with the twist, I still found the ending extremely satisfying and never did I expect to fully bawl several times in the final few chapters.
dark
mysterious
slow-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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of the best books I have read in a while. I was so immersed in the world of the girls at the Medula. This is not your average coming of age story. It is a beautifully written within a snapshot of one year in a young girl’s life. A year where she is forced to grow up very quickly, for many reasons. I enjoyed being in this characters thoughts and saw so much of myself in her, even as she lived in a very different place and time.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A surprisingly enthralling tale about a precocious teenage girl at boarding school during world war two. Psychologically brilliant, perfectly capturing the inner voice of adolescence in a unique setting.
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A