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maeverose's review against another edition
3.75
I’m really reading slumpy at the moment so it’s hard to rally my thoughts and feelings about this book. I didn’t really care for Confection as a world or Rini (or Sumi) as characters, so being as that was kinda the main focus it automatically meant I wasn’t gonna enjoy this one as much, but weirdly enough I think I liked it more than the second book (which was the world I was most interested in). This had much more of a plot than the second book, and more world building (even if that world building felt a little info dumpy and forced at times, I don’t tend to mind that too much and it was cool to learn more about how the doors and worlds work). I like Kade, Cora and Christopher and am excited to get to see their worlds at some point (hopefully).
I am a bit unsure about some of the various rep in this book though (fat, disability, and hijabi in particular). A lot of it felt performative. I’m not fat or Muslim so I can’t really speak on those, and I’m not disabled in the way this character is, but the fact that she’s somewhat magically ‘fixed’ in her world bothers me a bit). The trans rep with Kade is the only thing I can really say feels pretty well done.
I am a bit unsure about some of the various rep in this book though (fat, disability, and hijabi in particular). A lot of it felt performative. I’m not fat or Muslim so I can’t really speak on those, and I’m not disabled in the way this character is, but the fact that she’s somewhat magically ‘fixed’ in her world bothers me a bit). The trans rep with Kade is the only thing I can really say feels pretty well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Bullying, Ableism, Cancer, Eating disorder, Gore, and Child abuse
Minor: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Racism
cady_sass's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
I will never stop saying how amazed I am by Seanan’s brain. I can’t comprehend the universe she created, it makes no sense, and yet I love it so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Body horror, and Death
martamae77's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
maggiemay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Bullying
Moderate: Death and Fatphobia
Minor: Transphobia
vereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Bullying
Moderate: Fatphobia, Death, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
heli1403's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Fatphobia
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Suicide attempt and Blood
roorooreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I adore this series and I loved the adventurous twist of this one. However I think one of the characters talked about their body too much, at first I thought it wasbeing used as a plot device but I don't think it ever turned out to be. I'm not saying that the character should feel the way they do about their body because of their past experiences but the comments seemed very out of place and disrupted the flow of the book for me. There is so much to love about this series though and I really liked being able to see a Nonsense world. It was hard to wrap my brain around but as Kade would say that's because my world is a Logical one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Death
irene_wolvercote's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
anastasia_raf's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I must say I didn't enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the others in the series, but I wouldn't say it was bad.
It just felt a bit lacking for me. I was left with the impression of the author trying to develop a complex story with high stakes within a small amount of pages and even smaller depth to what was actually happening in this book. It felt like when you have to copy a whole board full with words and the teacher just erases it and moves on. Things were being told that happened but I never actually felt them happening!
I liked the new characters introduced in this book. My favourite characters were Nadya and Cora. Nadya I believe, is one of the best characters we've met so far.
I think Seanan McGuire did a good job with the discussion around fatphobia and how society actually treats skinny people with more respect and value. I felt my heart breaking thinking how many times I have had the same thoughts Cora has.
Speaking of representation,I know Seanan McGuire has acknowledged the ableism in her books and is constantly educating herself. So, big trigger WARNING ⚠️ for ableism, ableist words. On that note, I read and am going to read lots of reviews from disabled reviewers on this book,and you should too!
Overall it was a fine book. The absence of Jack was noticeable and I kept searching for her inside the dialogue between the group of friends, just expecting for her to appear...
My only dilemma is.. if I want to continue on with the series?
It just felt a bit lacking for me. I was left with the impression of the author trying to develop a complex story with high stakes within a small amount of pages and even smaller depth to what was actually happening in this book. It felt like when you have to copy a whole board full with words and the teacher just erases it and moves on. Things were being told that happened but I never actually felt them happening!
I liked the new characters introduced in this book. My favourite characters were Nadya and Cora. Nadya I believe, is one of the best characters we've met so far.
I think Seanan McGuire did a good job with the discussion around fatphobia and how society actually treats skinny people with more respect and value. I felt my heart breaking thinking how many times I have had the same thoughts Cora has.
Speaking of representation,I know Seanan McGuire has acknowledged the ableism in her books and is constantly educating herself. So, big trigger WARNING ⚠️ for ableism, ableist words. On that note, I read and am going to read lots of reviews from disabled reviewers on this book,and you should too!
Overall it was a fine book. The absence of Jack was noticeable and I kept searching for her inside the dialogue between the group of friends, just expecting for her to appear...
My only dilemma is.. if I want to continue on with the series?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Ableism, Fatphobia, Death, and Bullying
Minor: Transphobia
beccaand's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
Moderate: Eating disorder and Body horror
Minor: Transphobia and Bullying