Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Shadow in the Glass by J.J.A. Harwood

2 reviews

rachaelvo4's review

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The ending was expected but also disappointing nonetheless. After awhile I just thought Eleanor was irritating but she is a great character to analyze, I do understand that she had so much going on w her circumstance, and it’s hard to have self control when you’re given the option between your greatest dreams and living hell. She does not deserve any of the love that Charles gave her. I love the historical time period accuracy. The relationship w the characters was a little hard to see how they reflected on the main character, felt like it was mostly to give more storylines and keep plot moving. Probably wouldn’t read again.

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madarauchiha's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

 ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜  my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️

If you're expecting a blow by blow, connect the dots retelling of Cinderella, this isn't really it. This is more a dark, fictional historical fantasy story that kind of has similarities to Cinderella.

The writing is quite pretty so far. The detail in environments is pretty but not overwhelming. At times it does feel like traumaporn / torture porn. There is something like a payoff to it, but it may not please everyone.

Honestly I hate the presence / use of ingrained societal misogyny and patriarchal systems in fantasy. For one it just feels unimaginative on the typically white authors part. That they cannot imagine any other type of social setting but the one that white people have created and enforced and benefit from. 

And often it's a cheap, overused tactic to cause trouble for the mc or the cast of characters, especially when something else could be the cause of impulsion or difficulty to overcome. This book has that. So far the writing does make me forgive it enough to continue reading it. The plot twist of faustian deals soothes having a misogynistic social background. So far, anyhow.

I'm conflicted on the fairy godmother parts as I do loathe when mental illness is misrepresented is this manner. It was an interesting twist on the godmother character, making them into a darker Faustian specter.

I kind of question the ending because it reminds me of tolkien's use of master and servant, and how the servant character should remain a servant to the master character always, because that's how things should be, oi guvnah! And all that. 

Content warnings:
minor single use of the anti Rromani g slur, human trafficking, unsanitary, poisoning, emetophobia, abortion, rape?, sexual harassment, blood, body horror, catholicism, religious bigotry, 

medium emetophobia, death, orphaning / parental death, pregnancy, sexual harassment, child abuse, amputation, gore, drowning, alcohol, animal death, alcohol abuse, 

major misogyny, victim blaming, parental death, orphaning, death, gore, animal death, police, child death, abuse, pregnancy, menstruation, abortion, police, 

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