Reviews

Really enjoyed! It’s dark and emotional and unravels slowly with mostly great pacing. The issues for me are mainly that the climax party scene could have been exposed more to better describe the effects of the drug and better explain the scene. It was somewhat jarring and almost felt surreal. I can see how that was the effect but as the reader idk it felt fake. I also wish there was more focus on the sapphic love spread through, though I know this was not a romance. I also felt the motive for the pills was not strong enough or convincing. But overall, enjoyed the mystery, the characters, and really enjoyed the way the main characters ended up.

katemw93's review

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emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I love the writing style Mayquist has, it reads so so beautifully! I could relate to Lena as someone returning from abroad who is trying to find their way and I understood that struggle of wanting to be somewhere else but adjusting to being back home when everything changed in your absence. For me, the book started a little bit slow. I was immediately dranw in by the prose and just the style of the story, but the plot itself took a little while to cook and develop. But once the idea was planted in her mind for how everything would play out, I was hooked and turning through the pages faster and faster. I have never really been interested in botany before (and not a hobby I would pick up) but I really found myself more and more interested in the plants and the way the pertained to the plot.. Mayquist is definitely an author to watch.

tricechara's review

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dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

Definitely no horror. Not as villainous or as delectable as anticipated. Still entertaining and rather upbeat (?)

Don't be mislead by the tags, this novel is gothic in tone and setting only. And the Gatsby comparisons are GENEROUS. I am glad I just borrowed the book rather than purchased it.

sprainedbrain's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

emilybuzard's review

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5.0

best book i have read in years. would rate it 10/5 if i could.

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