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pleaseimgonnavomit's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Misogyny
kspag206's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
This book sent me for a REAL loop. For the first 60% I was contemplating if it was for me or not. However the back half of the book, when the storylines began closing in on one another, I began to understand why the pace at the beginning was as slow as it was. I appreciate how long you follow the characters for in their lives. While flowery descriptions of scenery and setting can be hard to grasp, and some of it was too much, the author tells you exactly how they want you to see the world they’ve created.
This book gives:
Tim Burton but make it a circus and a lose Romeo and Juliet retelling
I love the Shakespeare references
The way the storylines come together make the rest of the book worth it, however if I had read this physically, I think would have DNFed, which would have been a big shame.
This book gives:
Tim Burton but make it a circus and a lose Romeo and Juliet retelling
I love the Shakespeare references
The way the storylines come together make the rest of the book worth it, however if I had read this physically, I think would have DNFed, which would have been a big shame.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
craftysnailtail's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
So initially, I thought this book would be about 3⭐ for me. It was very difficult to follow as an audiobook, with it jumping back and forth in time and character focus. It was also painstakingly slow and long-winded. I started it in Sept and let the rental lapse twice over the course of 5 months before I finally finished it.
But I think if I had read this rather than listened, I would've liked it a lot more. And even more confusingly, I keep thinking about this freaking book! I've read several very good books since this one, but whenever I space out throughout the week, this book is what pops into my head. The fanciful descriptions of the circus have burrowed under my skin. And that ending! Unlike any other book I've read. I think I would have been missing out if I hadn't gotten to that ending.
This novel really felt like a meandering dream in the most frustrating yet fascinating way... So I have to bump up my rating. I think maybe the author achieved exactly what they meant to. It was just very difficult to stick with it in audiobook form. And you have to be in the mood for a book this unique. Do you want to feel like you're tripping through a magical circus where time moves incredibly slowly? Then this is the book for you!
But I think if I had read this rather than listened, I would've liked it a lot more. And even more confusingly, I keep thinking about this freaking book! I've read several very good books since this one, but whenever I space out throughout the week, this book is what pops into my head. The fanciful descriptions of the circus have burrowed under my skin. And that ending! Unlike any other book I've read. I think I would have been missing out if I hadn't gotten to that ending.
This novel really felt like a meandering dream in the most frustrating yet fascinating way... So I have to bump up my rating. I think maybe the author achieved exactly what they meant to. It was just very difficult to stick with it in audiobook form. And you have to be in the mood for a book this unique. Do you want to feel like you're tripping through a magical circus where time moves incredibly slowly? Then this is the book for you!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Mental illness
bxnny's review against another edition
i might come back to this one but the pacing for this is slower than i wanted, and i have other books more promising than this. i still love the premise, setting & characters, book is a solid 4.5 stars right now, i just don’t have the mindset to read this atm.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, and Torture
anindistinctaccountant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse
Minor: Death
linzlee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
bookshelvesandbookcorners07's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
Interesting story
Last half of book kept me intrigued
First half lagged a little bit
Last half of book kept me intrigued
First half lagged a little bit
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Death
Minor: Suicide
- in the first quarter of the book, the abuse of a child is described to be “training” - throughout the book, several characters die, but only one is described throughly - one of the deaths is labeled as a suicideflowersindecember's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
such good vibes all around i enjoyed myself so thoroughly there were just a lot of timelines to keep up with but i LOVED the romance subplots and that they weren’t the main focus of the book but also were at the same time. it was just really good but i cannot explain most of it
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Grief, Blood, Child abuse, Death, and Violence
narzibenoucdel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse
katkatz's review against another edition
The pacing is incredibly slow, the characters are shallow and dull, rarely even interacting with one another. Their actions don’t make sense and don’t seem to have any consequences. The game is kept too secret to be compelling—halfway through I still don’t really know what it is or what the stakes are. If you like rich description with no stakes and less plot, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse