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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I wanted to like this more than I did. It has all the vibes I enjoy. Gothic wtf haunted marriage and house shit and weird medical practices and occultism. A little meandering in the middle, but the end is pretty rewarding. I love timey-wimey shit and it was fun having it mix with occultism.
But I can’t get over the decision the author made to have the setting some sort of alternative world. It was absolutely unnecessary to the story itself and not even utilized except in one single specific way (a WWII style bombing of the UK but still Victorian period technology and medical practices). Best guess I have is the author didn’t want to bother with historical research to ground the story in “our” world? But being that it’s already dealing heavily with occultism/magic and such, I don’t think that’s really as deep of a research dive as she might have been intimidated by.
I think finding another tragedy besides bombs for Jane to be orphaned from isn’t too difficult to leave it in Victorian times. Lotta orphans back then.
But I can’t get over the decision the author made to have the setting some sort of alternative world. It was absolutely unnecessary to the story itself and not even utilized except in one single specific way (a WWII style bombing of the UK but still Victorian period technology and medical practices). Best guess I have is the author didn’t want to bother with historical research to ground the story in “our” world? But being that it’s already dealing heavily with occultism/magic and such, I don’t think that’s really as deep of a research dive as she might have been intimidated by.
I think finding another tragedy besides bombs for Jane to be orphaned from isn’t too difficult to leave it in Victorian times. Lotta orphans back then.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"That you will accept as true everything I am about to tell you. It will not be easy, but it must become part of your understanding of the world, or else I will have wasted my time."
I really enjoyed this gothic tale set in a macabre "dark-mirror version of post-war England." The novel is inspired by Crimson Peak and Rebecca. It was gruesome and bizarre. There was magic and insanity...and I'm still not sure if I REALLY know what happened.
"You are monstrous..."
I really enjoyed the medical aspects of the story. Sometimes it was quite revolting...but in the best way. I also enjoyed the ghosts. There was the perfect level of creepiness for me. I was never terrified, but at times, I was the right amount of scared.
"As I said, magic is my personal curiosity. Madness is my professional one." I LOVE that the story left me guessing. Were there ghosts?! Was it real?! Was it magic?! Was it insanity or illness?!
I really enjoyed this gothic tale set in a macabre "dark-mirror version of post-war England." The novel is inspired by Crimson Peak and Rebecca. It was gruesome and bizarre. There was magic and insanity...and I'm still not sure if I REALLY know what happened.
"You are monstrous..."
I really enjoyed the medical aspects of the story. Sometimes it was quite revolting...but in the best way. I also enjoyed the ghosts. There was the perfect level of creepiness for me. I was never terrified, but at times, I was the right amount of scared.
"As I said, magic is my personal curiosity. Madness is my professional one." I LOVE that the story left me guessing. Were there ghosts?! Was it real?! Was it magic?! Was it insanity or illness?!
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I AM SO SICK OF BOOKS BEING LABELLED AS HORROR WHEN THERES JUST DEATH OR THE POTENTIAL OF THE SUPERNATURAL!!! WHERE WAS THE HORROR?!
I have a lot of feelings on this book because the first half wasn’t *that* bad and I sort of enjoyed the story, but this was just completely mishandled and upsetting. The very premise sets up Jane as an independent, working, aromantic/asexual woman but that all comes crashing down after a few hours with this man? She’s willing to die for a man she’s “known” (known in quotes because 50% of the time she knew him he was lying to her) for a week? That’s only something lesbians would do.
This book tried to make way too many things happen and it should have stuck with a specific plot point. Since there was just so much filler being written, we never even find out how the magic worked. And the ending was also completely confusing.
I have a lot of feelings on this book because the first half wasn’t *that* bad and I sort of enjoyed the story, but this was just completely mishandled and upsetting. The very premise sets up Jane as an independent, working, aromantic/asexual woman but that all comes crashing down after a few hours with this man? She’s willing to die for a man she’s “known” (known in quotes because 50% of the time she knew him he was lying to her) for a week? That’s only something lesbians would do.
This book tried to make way too many things happen and it should have stuck with a specific plot point. Since there was just so much filler being written, we never even find out how the magic worked. And the ending was also completely confusing.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes