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eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars. The story was good, if a bit slow. I just never got into the 'ghost' main character - there really didn't seem to be enough difference between her and a living character. Since this is the premise of the entire story, it was a bit disappointing. I also am not a fan of a major antagonist being introduced for the first time so late in the tale. Consequently, the wrap up proceeds rather rapidly which is at odds with the much slower pace of most of the book. The audio book was quite well done.
qalminator's review against another edition
5.0
This is beautifully written. The world is fascinating. The POV character is a ghost, trying to earn back her "lost time"--she died before her time, and has to use up the time she would have had left to live. Saying very much about this one feels like spoiling the experience, but it feels fresh and lyrical and is absolutely worth your time.
That said, I feel a warning about the prologue is in order: it is a very accurate depiction of extreme grief. If that doesn't sound like something you can deal with, whether at the moment or ever, then be wary of this one.
That said, I feel a warning about the prologue is in order: it is a very accurate depiction of extreme grief. If that doesn't sound like something you can deal with, whether at the moment or ever, then be wary of this one.
_b_a_l_'s review against another edition
3.0
Sweet, short urban fantasy with ghosts, rat witches, suicides and corn fields.
"There are all kinds of witch. People can pull power from just about anything, if they love it hard enough, if it speaks to them with enough clarity."
"There are all kinds of witch. People can pull power from just about anything, if they love it hard enough, if it speaks to them with enough clarity."
seeinghowitgoes's review against another edition
3.0
As always great world building from McGuire who explores the concept of what happens to us after we die.
In our Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day world, people who pass before their time find themselves with a debt of time allocated to their souls, our protagonist Jenna was a young girl finds herself constantly chasing after her sister. Distraught after news of her sister's suicide reaches her family, she dies in an accident and finds herself still waiting and chasing to find her sister. While she waits, she spends her time volunteering at a suicide prevention hotline, and slowly returning time to souls that she earns talking people down from the edge.
It takes a little to wrap your head around, but is a nice intriguing concept that wraps up well in this Novella.
In our Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day world, people who pass before their time find themselves with a debt of time allocated to their souls, our protagonist Jenna was a young girl finds herself constantly chasing after her sister. Distraught after news of her sister's suicide reaches her family, she dies in an accident and finds herself still waiting and chasing to find her sister. While she waits, she spends her time volunteering at a suicide prevention hotline, and slowly returning time to souls that she earns talking people down from the edge.
It takes a little to wrap your head around, but is a nice intriguing concept that wraps up well in this Novella.
tobyyy's review against another edition
5.0
OMG I LOVE SEANAN MCGUIRE.
I finished this while waiting for a meeting for work. I almost bawled in the lobby of an office where people I've never met would've heard me. People that I was going to be having a professional meeting with.
That's how strongly I felt about this book.
"I love it" does not describe my feelings well enough.
"It sucked my soul dry and made me cry not-entirely-sad tears of longing and loss and loneliness" would be closer to a good description.
But omg Seanan. Stop being so awesome already!! My fangirling heart can't take it!!!
I finished this while waiting for a meeting for work. I almost bawled in the lobby of an office where people I've never met would've heard me. People that I was going to be having a professional meeting with.
That's how strongly I felt about this book.
"I love it" does not describe my feelings well enough.
"It sucked my soul dry and made me cry not-entirely-sad tears of longing and loss and loneliness" would be closer to a good description.
But omg Seanan. Stop being so awesome already!! My fangirling heart can't take it!!!
cady_sass's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This is probably my least favorite of Seanan’s works but it’s still very well crafted. For me, this is just too short. Not enough time to do any real character work or world building which is a shame because they’re both so interesting. Seanan loves weird and this is thoroughly weird but I enjoyed it
otherashley's review against another edition
4.0
In this standalone novella, Jenna, our friendly NYC ghost, died well before her time after her sister Patty committed suicide. She now works at a suicide hotline where she "earns" her time back by helping the callers and in turn, helping them stay alive. She then bleeds time from herself to humans (or witches) which in turn makes them that much younger and her that much older. And then shit gets real, which is where I'll leave you.
Seanan McGuire is easily my favorite urban fantasy author. Her writing grabs right from the beginning, and never leaves me disappointed. This was a beautifully done novella. Highly recommend.
Seanan McGuire is easily my favorite urban fantasy author. Her writing grabs right from the beginning, and never leaves me disappointed. This was a beautifully done novella. Highly recommend.
micksland's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mobelchhh's review against another edition
3.0
I read Middlegame earlier this year and was really excited to pick up another book by Seanan McGuire! My main complaint about this book was that I felt it was much too short for the complex, multi-faceted world that McGuire tried to flesh out. I enjoyed reading it and it was a super fast read for me - only a couple hours with breaks - but I just wish I could have gotten more world-building and background. I loved the ideas she presents, though, from all the different types of witches to the many rules of the ghost world. This was a fun one and I'm definitely interested in reading even more from her!