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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An implied autistic female protagonist?? And written really well. A+
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Blood, Medical content
Moderate: Vomit
A solid gothic novel with great metaphysical/psychological themes and probably some of the most masterful narration I’ve ever read. Starling’s writing style is superbly immersive and intimate with the protagonist’s psyche. It reminded me of reading a mystery novel from the mid 1800s with a modern twist. I admired her style so much I took notes as a writer myself.
My issues with the plot itself (minor spoilers) were which led me to read it on and off over several months:
- Jane and Augustine had a marriage of convenience/security. I think the whole “I’ll go through hell for you because I love you so much” thing wasn’t believable. Jane knew what this was supposed to be. Why were the red flags such a surprise? Why would the red flags make you fall in love with him more when you were pretty freaked out at first?
- Jane was given the YA protagonist buff, where she realizes the power within her and is suddenly able to do this massive magical feat in a matter of days/weeks. She’s giving female Dr. Strange vibes. Why can she do this crazy ritual in a matter of days when every other magician in the story knew how badly things could go and avoided it like the plague especially after knowing how Augustine f***ed up?
- Magician character going through the “dark night of the soul” cliche just wasn’t my thing. This is more personal than an issue with the book itself since I’m sure others really liked that device. An exploration of the realms of death and spirits beyond was alluded, but it became a metaphysical metaphor for Jane and Augustine psyches instead, which I can’t be mad at because that’s gothic writing 101. The tease of necromantic work with Augustine and Jane basically being a medium just led me think we were going to go beyond death, but okay lol…
- Happily ever after in Camhurst huh? Okay lol…
My issues with the plot itself (minor spoilers) were which led me to read it on and off over several months:
- Jane and Augustine had a marriage of convenience/security. I think the whole “I’ll go through hell for you because I love you so much” thing wasn’t believable. Jane knew what this was supposed to be. Why were the red flags such a surprise? Why would the red flags make you fall in love with him more when you were pretty freaked out at first?
- Jane was given the YA protagonist buff, where she realizes the power within her and is suddenly able to do this massive magical feat in a matter of days/weeks. She’s giving female Dr. Strange vibes. Why can she do this crazy ritual in a matter of days when every other magician in the story knew how badly things could go and avoided it like the plague especially after knowing how Augustine f***ed up?
- Magician character going through the “dark night of the soul” cliche just wasn’t my thing. This is more personal than an issue with the book itself since I’m sure others really liked that device. An exploration of the realms of death and spirits beyond was alluded, but it became a metaphysical metaphor for Jane and Augustine psyches instead, which I can’t be mad at because that’s gothic writing 101. The tease of necromantic work with Augustine and Jane basically being a medium just led me think we were going to go beyond death, but okay lol…
- Happily ever after in Camhurst huh? Okay lol…
challenging
dark
mysterious
Not sure how I feel about this one - had a hard time putting it down in the first half, and then it turned into something else, and now I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Not bad
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced