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librarymouse's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was not what I was expecting from a book advertised as a retelling of Jekyll and Hyde, but it was immensely enjoyable.
the society soulless girls not being at the root of the deaths preceding and during the events of the novel was also not what I was expecting, but I really appreciated the twist. The dark academia society with engraved name plaques for the new girls who performed the ritual is a strange touch, but fits the setting. One thing that also felt odd is the headmistress not reading the investigation notebook before she burned it. However, I do understand her not wanting to learn about atrocities she may have committed and the horror she thought the murdered student might of felt for her. Lottie and Alice are adorable together and I love the bloody and devoted relationship that evolved from their semi-mutual animosity. The council of horrific old white men experimenting on their peers and the young women they're supposed to be mentoring feels a bit too true to life, but I like how it tied together the frayed ends of the storytelling. The ghost of the nun was also a nice touch, guiding Lottie through the task she already wanted to do and helping her solve the mystery. One thing I would critique is the repeated reference to Lottie not being asexual with her newfound attraction to Alice. Asexuality is an umbrella term, and if she's only attracted to Alice, she may still be able to identify with a term under the umbrella.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Death, Medical content, Bullying, Gore, Blood, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Animal death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Terminal illness and Drug use
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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
4.25
Man, I love angry women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Self harm, and Suicide
haleybre's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Animal death, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Blood, Death, and Violence
hollypat36's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
kimseokjinschild's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
This book was slow at first, but once I started to get into it I started to enjoy it. I like how the main focus wasn't the romantic storyline, instead the mystery behind the North Tower curse and the chemistry between characters were great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Animal death
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Sexual harassment
amyteurhour's review against another edition
2.0
Content warning: unsolved murder, assault, violence, self harm, suicide/suicidal thoughts, possession, animal death cat killed , misogyny, sexism, domestic and sexual abuse, attempted grooming
I felt like this was trying to do too much. The pacing felt so slow, even during the parts that should have been exciting/kept me hooked as the mystery ramps up, I just felt that it was the same as when things were still slow and starting out. The end felt like Steven was trying to cram social commentary, but the lead up to this hadn't really set things up for that. I didn't really click with either of the main characters, and felt that their friend was also kind of crammed into the story without getting much development.
I felt like this was trying to do too much. The pacing felt so slow, even during the parts that should have been exciting/kept me hooked as the mystery ramps up, I just felt that it was the same as when things were still slow and starting out. The end felt like Steven was trying to cram social commentary, but the lead up to this hadn't really set things up for that. I didn't really click with either of the main characters, and felt that their friend was also kind of crammed into the story without getting much development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Sexism, Murder, Misogyny, Suicide, Self harm, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts
ohsunnyaa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Female rage isn't the same as anger issues, but this book seems to think they're synonymous.
I get what the author was trying to do, but she should have done more research than watching girlboss-feminism tiktoks.
Alice was just an asshole. She was mean to Lottie the second they met, because "she looked similar to her bullies" -the bullies we only see mentioned once as a poor excuse for her behavior. She yelled at a school administrator, because her papers were missing (something that maybe even wasn't that woman's fault). Only once does she get angry at a person who really deserves it.
Then she does a spell to make her anger disappear and it backfires.
Lottie was described as a "sunshine" but to be honest I never thought that about her no matter how many times the author tried to push it onto me. She wanted to uncover the mystery surrounding deaths on her campus. In order to do that she stalked her roommate and went through her things.
The thing that made me hate the book the most was that the conclusion was: let women be angry! #Feminism. The real villains are men so women should never take responsibility for their actions.
I don't even want to defend men. And some men here were terrible people. But not all of women's actions can be blamed on men.
Why was Alice mean to other girls? If a man did something terrible to her And he really didn't. She cheated on her boyfriend with her girl best friend. When he found out she tried to kiss him against his will so he pushed her away and she fell on a table. And now she's so terrified of men and angry at them. why take out your anger on women?
Why did Alice TW ANIMAL ABUSE strangle a cat ?
It's not that I don't believe that living in patriarchal society influences the way women think and the way women's emotions are treated. I just think this book executed that poorly.
I get what the author was trying to do, but she should have done more research than watching girlboss-feminism tiktoks.
Alice was just an asshole. She was mean to Lottie the second they met, because "she looked similar to her bullies" -the bullies we only see mentioned once as a poor excuse for her behavior. She yelled at a school administrator, because her papers were missing (something that maybe even wasn't that woman's fault). Only once does she get angry at a person who really deserves it.
Then she does a spell to make her anger disappear and it backfires.
Lottie was described as a "sunshine" but to be honest I never thought that about her no matter how many times the author tried to push it onto me. She wanted to uncover the mystery surrounding deaths on her campus. In order to do that she stalked her roommate and went through her things.
The thing that made me hate the book the most was that the conclusion was: let women be angry! #Feminism. The real villains are men so women should never take responsibility for their actions.
I don't even want to defend men. And some men here were terrible people. But not all of women's actions can be blamed on men.
Why was Alice mean to other girls? If a man did something terrible to her
Why did Alice TW ANIMAL ABUSE
It's not that I don't believe that living in patriarchal society influences the way women think and the way women's emotions are treated. I just think this book executed that poorly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
izzyvioletgrace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Grief, Sexual assault, Death, Violence, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, and Physical abuse
librarianloading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really wanted to love this book. I love sapphic romance, I love classic retellings... I really thought it would be right up my alley. The underlying themes of generational rage in women and taking back power were enough to keep me reading until the end. The throat rubies felt very weird and unnecessary but the rest of the supernatural elements were engaging. I almost DNFed at the vivid description of Alice killing Salem . I was not prepared for on-page animal cruelty. Overall, I think this would be a good read for its intended audience; however, as an adult reading YA, it fell short for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
oolymee's review against another edition
3.5
There are lot of things I really loved about this book. It is an excellent, eerie, and unsettling retelling of Jekyll & Hyde. Also it's sapphic. And the enemies-to-lovers is brilliant. The descriptions of rage are gritty and feel very tangible if that makes sense.
The downside to this book is that there were a few ends that just weren't quite tied up in the ending. While I did enjoy the ending, I wish the ending had been just a bit longer with a heavier focus on where the characters go next.
The downside to this book is that there were a few ends that just weren't quite tied up in the ending. While I did enjoy the ending, I wish the ending had been just a bit longer with a heavier focus on where the characters go next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault