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questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is one of my favourite reads of the year so far. It combines so many elements that I enjoy: a story within a story, illustrations, footnotes, queer female characters, a enigmatic narrator and a map at the beginning. It's a really strange, imaginative book, with a lot of different ideas woven together but I thought it worked so well. I loved how it moved between the historical and contemporary storylines and I found it completely immersive. There were some brilliantly unsettling parts. I didn't imagine that wasps or apples could be so creepy. I'm not really a horror fan but I've discovered a few exceptions to that rule over the past few years, like Wilder Girls and Shirley Jackson's work and this reminded me of those books in parts.
It's over 600 pages and the first 200 are fairly slow but it built until I found it compulsively readable. I've seen mixed reviews, I think largely due to its length and meandering style but I was having such a good time I didn't want it to end. I borrowed the ebook from my library but I think I'll buy a copy in the future because I definitely want to re-read it one day.
It's over 600 pages and the first 200 are fairly slow but it built until I found it compulsively readable. I've seen mixed reviews, I think largely due to its length and meandering style but I was having such a good time I didn't want it to end. I borrowed the ebook from my library but I think I'll buy a copy in the future because I definitely want to re-read it one day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, and Vomit
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Death of parent
baknata's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was not what I was expecting, but did not disappoint overall. It had really good descriptive language, almost too good (it describes vomit a lot not a fan). The author does a great job of weaving the different stories together without making it feel choppy. The narration style was interesting. I enjoyed the way the narrator spoke to the reader. However, when the narrator reveals at the end that all three girls made the same deal, I was kinda annoyed. I don't think it was necessary for that to be kept from the reader. I think it would've added a lot to the story and helped the reader connect with Harper and Merritt like they did with Audrey. Not to mention, the scene on the red carpet would have had a stronger impact if we had seen Harper going through similar experiences to Audrey. For the reader, Harper and Merritt don't seem very affected by the events, when at the end we see they had been. I don't think the twist added as much as it could've had we known sooner. This isn't generally the genre I go for but I found myself thinking about this book and anxious to get back to it everytime I stepped away. It starts with a lot of different points of view, which was hard to follow (I was listening to the audiobook), but once it gets going its impossible to put down. As I neared the end I couldn't see how it could be wrapped up with how little of the book I had left. It did wrap up the loose ends, but I was left a little disappointed at the end. The end was good, there was just something missing that I couldn't put my finger on. I think it might've been a pacing thing. Overall, a thrilling read, would recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Vomit
stillreadingat4am's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Vomit
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
emsim's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Dementia
whatellisreadnext's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"๐๐ฐ๐ฏ'๐ต ๐ง๐ช๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ด๐ฆ๐ญ๐ง ๐ณ๐ฆ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด. ๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ'๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฐ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ."
In 1902, Flo and Clara are found dead in the woods on the grounds of Brookhants School for Girls. Over a century later, a film crew have arrived to the tell the story of the curse surrounding Brookhants, but what if the narrative is still being written?
Plain Bad Heroines is gross and scary and so very queer. I was living for it ๐ I have never read a book like this one before, the imagination that Danforth has to create a story this rich, is just astounding. The book is written in 3rd person, with a narrator that is always breaking the fourth wall and addressing the reader directly. I loved this about the writing, it felt like a story just for me.
I mentioned this book is gross. I'm talking dead wasps in your mouth gross๐คข Although, the story was pretty slow in pace, and coming it at 619 pages, I'm not surprised. Saying that, all of the narrative felt like it had a purpose, and the slowness of the writing, in my eyes, built the tension so that the creepy and the gross parts hit even harder.
I became so attached to the three main characters, Harper, Merritt and Audrey. Yes, they all had their flaws, but I was rooting them, as they protected each other and grew together. This book wasn't the dark academia I had been craving, but it did have a love triangle, so that's a win in my eyes๐๐ปโโ๏ธ The lesbian and bisexual representation in Plain Bad Heroines is incredible. There are atleast three F/F relationships focused on in the narrative, all set in different timelines.
I recommend that you go into this one knowing that you have the time to dedicate to it. And if this review didn't quite sell you on it, just know that there are illustrations dotted throughout. I loved this, it added that little extra to the narrative.
Thanks so much to Borough Press for the gifted copy. This is out in the UK on the 4th of February!
In 1902, Flo and Clara are found dead in the woods on the grounds of Brookhants School for Girls. Over a century later, a film crew have arrived to the tell the story of the curse surrounding Brookhants, but what if the narrative is still being written?
Plain Bad Heroines is gross and scary and so very queer. I was living for it ๐ I have never read a book like this one before, the imagination that Danforth has to create a story this rich, is just astounding. The book is written in 3rd person, with a narrator that is always breaking the fourth wall and addressing the reader directly. I loved this about the writing, it felt like a story just for me.
I mentioned this book is gross. I'm talking dead wasps in your mouth gross๐คข Although, the story was pretty slow in pace, and coming it at 619 pages, I'm not surprised. Saying that, all of the narrative felt like it had a purpose, and the slowness of the writing, in my eyes, built the tension so that the creepy and the gross parts hit even harder.
I became so attached to the three main characters, Harper, Merritt and Audrey. Yes, they all had their flaws, but I was rooting them, as they protected each other and grew together. This book wasn't the dark academia I had been craving, but it did have a love triangle, so that's a win in my eyes๐๐ปโโ๏ธ The lesbian and bisexual representation in Plain Bad Heroines is incredible. There are atleast three F/F relationships focused on in the narrative, all set in different timelines.
I recommend that you go into this one knowing that you have the time to dedicate to it. And if this review didn't quite sell you on it, just know that there are illustrations dotted throughout. I loved this, it added that little extra to the narrative.
Thanks so much to Borough Press for the gifted copy. This is out in the UK on the 4th of February!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Grief
isnotacrayon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Drug use and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Fatphobia and Dementia
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