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honeywine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Body horror, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death of parent, Murder, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Abortion
Moderate: Rape, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Grief, and Domestic abuse
volunteerpyromancer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Classism, Colonisation, and Racism
Minor: Rape and War
macknificent's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I did find myself fully immersed in the scary scenes, to the point that I could only read this in daylight. Unfortunately, I wasn't much interested in the rest. Neither the mystery, nor the romance were compelling and sometimes it felt like the author didn't really know her characters. The horror/magic didn't seem to have any rules either, which made the ending a bit anticlimactic.
This was a debut novel so I'm willing to try this author again in the future.
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Death, Classism, Colonisation, Murder, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, and Sexual assault
sbcrra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Murder, Rape, and Blood
lauramparis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Gaslighting, Blood, Classism, Alcohol, Colonisation, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape, Abortion, Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Vomit
blackcatkai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this is a slow historical gothic horror with romance sprinkled within, dual perspective, and a few flashbacks. overall I really enjoyed it! slow historical isn't usually part of any genre I usually read, but im really glad I gave this one a try. gorgeous writing, creepy atmosphere, supernatural and spooky, I was hooked. can't wait to read more from cañas in the future!
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Violence, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: War, Classism, Racism, Ableism, and Colonisation
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
rbash2391's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Classism, Death of parent, Alcohol, Death, Religious bigotry, Blood, Cursing, Colonisation, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Self harm, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, and Abortion
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Confinement
madelinekramer2021's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death, Alcoholism, Rape, Domestic abuse, Body horror, War, Dysphoria, Classism, Alcohol, and Abortion
callen_charlemagne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, Colonisation, and Classism
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
By; Isabel Canas
After her father, a general, is killed for being a traitor, Beatriz and her mother are left penniless and forced to rely on the goodwill of relatives who don’t want them, but will take them in begrudgingly. When she is old enough, Beatriz, decides to get married to a wealthy man, Rodolpho, she doesn’t love and who goes against her mother’s political views so they can be financially secure and not have to live with these hateful relatives. Rodolpho’s large estate seems to be haunted by his previous wife, who died mysteriously and Beatriz’s new sister in-law doesn’t want to share the house either.
Canas creates a spooky and tense atmosphere as she builds the tension and discomfort of Beatriz’s situation. She starts out subtle describing the house as drafty, but the chill has a habit of seeping into your bones. Doors are slamming and whenever Beatriz sees something unnatural it disappears when she tries to show it again. We get the sense that that the servants and Juana know something that Beatriz doesn’t adding to the tension and discomfort for me as the reader. Both Juana and Rodolpho have hot and cold personalities and there is a lack of trust as well unspoken truths between the siblings. Rodolpho comes off as the type to sweep things under the rug as he dismisses Beatriz’s concerns. At the same time, he will scold her like a child if he doesn’t approve and has quite a temper. This temper is something Juana also has inherited. She is a character that I pitied, but I also hated her the same time giving her a complexity that made me want to understand her better. Our main perspectives, Beatriz and Andres are likable and relatable. I admired Beatriz for her bravery and willingness do what it took, but also admired her willing to admit vulnerability and acknowledging her mistakes. She went through a lot she didn’t ask for and still stood tall and strong. Same with Andres, and especially since is told he’s going to hell. He still becomes a priest and helps people, and his battle within himself between his darkness and light. I still find it hard to believe his pure soul will be burned by fire and brimstone. No Way! I was riveted to the story and I kept wanting to turn the pages to find out what was going to happen with the characters.
Graphic: Classism, Racism, Animal death, Blood, and Murder