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rachaelwho's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This one was not for me. It feels unfair not to like it- it's not NOT what the description says it is, but I thought it would be more compelling and exciting. There didn't seem to be a good reason why it couldn't be, but it wasn't. It was unbearably dry and felt so, so very long. I've loved others of Lacey's books and was stoked for this one, and on paper it seems to deal with all the usual themes she does so much with in other works, but it just didn't do it for me. I did get a little self-satisfied kick from recognizing the names of real art world characters dropped into the (fictional) works cited. I think maybe I'd have liked this more at a brisker pace, half the length, and that's likely on me because I say that a lot lately. Maybe I'll try this one again but it drained me and felt positively colorless, bloodless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Outing, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Gun violence, War, and Homophobia
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