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kateannarmy's review
2.0
I loved the book but the ending was unjustified. We spend the last part of the book learning that Harriet had been abused by Fabian/her grandma her entire life and continued to be manipulated by her “uncles” the Tricksters in the afterlife, but yet at the end of the book the friend gang still doesn’t forgive her and condemns her to the basement? Even though Leah knows how horrendous Fabian and his brothers were? Obviously the baby is a villain but Leah sucks too. Loved the book but Harriet didn’t deserve her ending.
kamiannaxo's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
charvi_not_just_fiction's review
4.0
This book started off a little slow and steady but picked up pace after the 100 page mark and oh my god I was glued after that. I just really loved the whole cast of characters, I think I loved the side characters much more than the main character.
I found that I couldn't relate to Harriet but I know she's not a relatable character and she's written that way but still, it impacted my reading experience. I was a bit annoyed with the interruption of the anonymous all-knowing narrator but no spoilers, I loved the actual voice and the character, I just wish they could have been incorporated in another way. Maybe the story could be told from their point of view?
I love how the whole plot of ghosts, their powers and past ghosts were dealt with. There was quite a bit of foreshadowing and the pay-off was worth it even though the plot twist didn't hit as hard as some of the ones in the author's other books. But the side characters? The found family? They made up for every freaking thing and now I need fanfics dedicated to their afterlives helppppp.
I found that I couldn't relate to Harriet but I know she's not a relatable character and she's written that way but still, it impacted my reading experience. I was a bit annoyed with the interruption of the anonymous all-knowing narrator but no spoilers, I loved the actual voice and the character, I just wish they could have been incorporated in another way. Maybe the story could be told from their point of view?
I love how the whole plot of ghosts, their powers and past ghosts were dealt with. There was quite a bit of foreshadowing and the pay-off was worth it even though the plot twist didn't hit as hard as some of the ones in the author's other books. But the side characters? The found family? They made up for every freaking thing and now I need fanfics dedicated to their afterlives helppppp.
dawn_chen's review
3.0
3 stars. I am so conflicted about this book.
For the first 2/3 I thought it's a 4 to 5 stars book, I didn't know going in to this that this is going to be a villain protagonist story, so I'm so pleasantly surprised to read about Harriet's character development direction. As the "big reveal" begins I thought it was a 2 stars because the reveal is utterly impossible to predict and honestly hilariously bad (the main character's grandma is the evil older brother, wow, i mean it's not completely unhinted at, but it's still not a good twist bc of how ridiculous it is), but the last 20 pages made me regain a bit of faith and love in this book because of how Harriet's arc ended.
What I liked about the book:
- the main found family has fantastic dynamics and chemistry! (Especially between Leah and Rima, Felix and Casper) Their banter made me laugh, their moment made me cry. I love all of their individual personality as well as them as a group together. Can't ask for more for a hero found family group, they're all my babies and I'll die for them.
-The world building of ghost lore is really interesting! The power and limitation of ghosts are fun to read and discover. But some part I don't really like. The setting is limited in the haunted student hall (which is set in MY UNI, it's kind of endearing since this is the first book I read that's set in uni of warwick, some reference made me cackle).
- I like how intricate and complex the author's foreshadowing and misdirections are in this book. Despite the twist being ridiculous, one thing I have to admit is that the author did foreshadow it from the start, unlike in GoT(the show).
- How the titular character is a villain protagonist! I didn't go in knowing Harriet will be a villain POV story so it was such a refreshing experience. Think it's the first time seen a mc like this, too bad her character arc falls flat later on.
What I didn't like:
- The twist of reincarnation and NORMAN (Harriet's grandma) being Leah's husband and The Big Bad(TM). Like sure there are foreshadowing for this to be the case but it is just so outlandish I don't think anyone can predict it even given all the clues. This link also lead to my second complaint.
- Where Harriet's redemption arc is treated. The author spend the first 2/3 of the book writing a corruption arc, just to have her have another redemption arc at the last minute??? This feels forced and rushed - seeing a character from marginally neutral to bad (not just bad but A BLOODY MURDERER WHO MURDERED ONE OF THE MAIN FOUND FAMILY MEMBER'S BROTHER) to good is…not as fun as it sounds. Frankly I don't think she should have had a redemption arc at all.
You can't have a conflict 2/3 through your book with your main protagonist as your main villain, just to flip it on the whole development with a plot twist with a Big Bad no one anticipated to show up until the last 60 pages and think that can push a character to redemption.
Harriet literally showed no remorse to even MURDER up until that point?? All she felt was marginally uncomfortable. The only reason I think she turned to the good side is because her abuser showed and turned out to be a bigger dick than she was.
Yes, I know the book try to paint her monstrous behavior as a product of abuse. But that's my problem with so many redemption arcs, a good redemption arc should SHOW US THE CHARACTER HAS REDEEMING QUALITY and THE ACT OF REDEMPTION SHOULD ACTIVELY COME FROM THAT CHARACTER INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE CIRCUMSTANCE.
Harriet fell into both of my pet peeves regarding a redemption arcs. 1) she did unforgivable things up to that point and never showed any sigh of good quality "shimmering through" 2) she didn't start her redemption arc due to inner question regarding her morale, she only started to change bc she also hates the big bad. She literally murdered a character for the big bad 3 pages before her redemption arc full in kick-starter.
Like, I love a good redemption arc, but when your villain character MURDERED SEVERAL PEOPLE WITHOUT REMORSE. That's where I draw the line of beyond redemption.
Here's a paragraph of another character's inner reasoning to forgive Harriet:
"I understand Harriet better than anyone. She was abused and made to feel like nothing, just like my mother and me. I don’t blame her for basing her behaviour on her grandmother’s. Being a good person isn’t an option when someone so strong-willed tells you that you’re weak, makes you feel helpless and spends all their time chipping away at you. Just being functional is hard enough."
BUT YOUR MOTHER (Leah) and YOU (Claudia) didn't actively murder INNOCENT PEOPLE FOR NO REASON WHAT SO EVER. You can't make that comparison when the actions of these characters being INCOMPATIBLE.
Another point Harriet contemplated her morality by pointing out against the True Bad Guys how she was not willing to torture every ghost in her way, as if that puts her at a moral high ground against them.
But honestly? What is this? Is the morality bar so low that IT'S OKAY TO MURDER BUT AS LONG AS YOU DON'T WANT TO ACTIVELY TORTURE EVERYONE YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON? SINCE WHEN IS THIS AN INDICATION OF A SPARK OF GOODNESS IN SOMEONE'S HEART??? HELLO???
The only up side to this is that the main found family didn't forgive Harriet by the end of the story. That's why I pumped this up to a three stars, since I find that as an acknowledgement on the book's part of the gravity of Harriet's crimes. Also her action to save one of the characters without gaining anything herself also calmed a little when I almost lost interest in the climax.
Anyway, seeing the ending I think there'll probably be a sequel? I look forward to it, but for now I'm gonna take a nap before my conflicted feelings tore a hole in my chest and I get stuck in my uni library as a ghost too for eternity.
For the first 2/3 I thought it's a 4 to 5 stars book, I didn't know going in to this that this is going to be a villain protagonist story, so I'm so pleasantly surprised to read about Harriet's character development direction. As the "big reveal" begins I thought it was a 2 stars because the reveal is utterly impossible to predict and honestly hilariously bad (the main character's grandma is the evil older brother, wow, i mean it's not completely unhinted at, but it's still not a good twist bc of how ridiculous it is), but the last 20 pages made me regain a bit of faith and love in this book because of how Harriet's arc ended.
What I liked about the book:
- the main found family has fantastic dynamics and chemistry! (Especially between Leah and Rima, Felix and Casper) Their banter made me laugh, their moment made me cry. I love all of their individual personality as well as them as a group together. Can't ask for more for a hero found family group, they're all my babies and I'll die for them.
-The world building of ghost lore is really interesting! The power and limitation of ghosts are fun to read and discover. But some part I don't really like. The setting is limited in the haunted student hall (which is set in MY UNI, it's kind of endearing since this is the first book I read that's set in uni of warwick, some reference made me cackle).
- I like how intricate and complex the author's foreshadowing and misdirections are in this book. Despite the twist being ridiculous, one thing I have to admit is that the author did foreshadow it from the start, unlike in GoT(the show).
- How the titular character is a villain protagonist! I didn't go in knowing Harriet will be a villain POV story so it was such a refreshing experience. Think it's the first time seen a mc like this, too bad her character arc falls flat later on.
What I didn't like:
- The twist of reincarnation and NORMAN (Harriet's grandma) being Leah's husband and The Big Bad(TM). Like sure there are foreshadowing for this to be the case but it is just so outlandish I don't think anyone can predict it even given all the clues. This link also lead to my second complaint.
- Where Harriet's redemption arc is treated. The author spend the first 2/3 of the book writing a corruption arc, just to have her have another redemption arc at the last minute??? This feels forced and rushed - seeing a character from marginally neutral to bad (not just bad but A BLOODY MURDERER WHO MURDERED ONE OF THE MAIN FOUND FAMILY MEMBER'S BROTHER) to good is…not as fun as it sounds. Frankly I don't think she should have had a redemption arc at all.
You can't have a conflict 2/3 through your book with your main protagonist as your main villain, just to flip it on the whole development with a plot twist with a Big Bad no one anticipated to show up until the last 60 pages and think that can push a character to redemption.
Harriet literally showed no remorse to even MURDER up until that point?? All she felt was marginally uncomfortable. The only reason I think she turned to the good side is because her abuser showed and turned out to be a bigger dick than she was.
Yes, I know the book try to paint her monstrous behavior as a product of abuse. But that's my problem with so many redemption arcs, a good redemption arc should SHOW US THE CHARACTER HAS REDEEMING QUALITY and THE ACT OF REDEMPTION SHOULD ACTIVELY COME FROM THAT CHARACTER INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE CIRCUMSTANCE.
Harriet fell into both of my pet peeves regarding a redemption arcs. 1) she did unforgivable things up to that point and never showed any sigh of good quality "shimmering through" 2) she didn't start her redemption arc due to inner question regarding her morale, she only started to change bc she also hates the big bad. She literally murdered a character for the big bad 3 pages before her redemption arc full in kick-starter.
Like, I love a good redemption arc, but when your villain character MURDERED SEVERAL PEOPLE WITHOUT REMORSE. That's where I draw the line of beyond redemption.
Here's a paragraph of another character's inner reasoning to forgive Harriet:
"I understand Harriet better than anyone. She was abused and made to feel like nothing, just like my mother and me. I don’t blame her for basing her behaviour on her grandmother’s. Being a good person isn’t an option when someone so strong-willed tells you that you’re weak, makes you feel helpless and spends all their time chipping away at you. Just being functional is hard enough."
BUT YOUR MOTHER (Leah) and YOU (Claudia) didn't actively murder INNOCENT PEOPLE FOR NO REASON WHAT SO EVER. You can't make that comparison when the actions of these characters being INCOMPATIBLE.
Another point Harriet contemplated her morality by pointing out against the True Bad Guys how she was not willing to torture every ghost in her way, as if that puts her at a moral high ground against them.
But honestly? What is this? Is the morality bar so low that IT'S OKAY TO MURDER BUT AS LONG AS YOU DON'T WANT TO ACTIVELY TORTURE EVERYONE YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON? SINCE WHEN IS THIS AN INDICATION OF A SPARK OF GOODNESS IN SOMEONE'S HEART??? HELLO???
The only up side to this is that the main found family didn't forgive Harriet by the end of the story. That's why I pumped this up to a three stars, since I find that as an acknowledgement on the book's part of the gravity of Harriet's crimes. Also her action to save one of the characters without gaining anything herself also calmed a little when I almost lost interest in the climax.
Anyway, seeing the ending I think there'll probably be a sequel? I look forward to it, but for now I'm gonna take a nap before my conflicted feelings tore a hole in my chest and I get stuck in my uni library as a ghost too for eternity.
anna_mangnus's review
4.0
I'm not quite sure how I feel about Harriet's ending,, like, I suppose it makes a better message, but I would have liked to see a corruption arc pushed through a little, and to see into her head a little more at that. I think it would have been neat to see her go absolutely feral. And I feel like her part of the story wasnt fully resolved. Also, as much as I'm glad some of the things were reversed in the end, I feel like it's a bit of a cop out, actions should have consequences.
But this squad was so fun and I had a great time reading it so still very good hahah
But this squad was so fun and I had a great time reading it so still very good hahah
efuaesaba's review
4.0
Really fun read, it was interesting and went to unexpected places. Ghosts, superpowers, queerness, mystery, crime, ancient grudges. What more do you need? I give it 4.5 stars, I was really impressed by the diversity but it loses a little for feeling YA, just a little more simplistic than it could've been.
ro_rho's review
1.0
I learnt from this book - that I don’t like the trope where the protagonist isn’t likeable.
I enjoyed the middle part of the story when we learn that the narrator is Claudia and the aim is to stop Harriet.
But the wedging in of the gay love story and Harriet’s Gran, were too far fetched with me and I quickly lost interest.
I enjoyed the middle part of the story when we learn that the narrator is Claudia and the aim is to stop Harriet.
But the wedging in of the gay love story and Harriet’s Gran, were too far fetched with me and I quickly lost interest.
dharshanirymond's review
3.0
First spooky read of Oct 2020 and frankly I was not spooked.
The concept of ghosts and what happens after death was kind of cool and the plot was good to begin with.
Sometimes the plot felt like it was middle grade but the violence was jarring making it beyond middle grade. The climax brought the story to a complete circle but something felt off, I just couldn't place exactly what went wrong but this was not memorable enough for me.
The concept of ghosts and what happens after death was kind of cool and the plot was good to begin with.
Sometimes the plot felt like it was middle grade but the violence was jarring making it beyond middle grade. The climax brought the story to a complete circle but something felt off, I just couldn't place exactly what went wrong but this was not memorable enough for me.
daniella84's review
4.0
*spoilers*
A fun and diverse romp! An interesting coming-of-age story about abuse, friendship, and also demon ghosts from the Roman era! I love a good found family dynamic, some unrequited love is always spicy, and it was also fun and fresh to have a main character who wasn't exactly likeable for the majority of the book. The only thing I didn't exactly love was that Harriet ended up in the basement at the end - like I get that she killed a bunch of ghosts and got a little out of control but I feel being in a supportive environment would be more helpful than being locked in a basement with ghosts mad at you for trapping them there.
But! overall the supernatural and friendship elements were pretty neat and it exceeded my expectations
A fun and diverse romp! An interesting coming-of-age story about abuse, friendship, and also demon ghosts from the Roman era! I love a good found family dynamic, some unrequited love is always spicy, and it was also fun and fresh to have a main character who wasn't exactly likeable for the majority of the book. The only thing I didn't exactly love was that Harriet ended up in the basement at the end - like I get that she killed a bunch of ghosts and got a little out of control but I feel being in a supportive environment would be more helpful than being locked in a basement with ghosts mad at you for trapping them there.
But! overall the supernatural and friendship elements were pretty neat and it exceeded my expectations