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moonsongsiren's review
the main character is not complex, she is unlikable, and incredibly misogynistic to the girls around her. her love interests at the point i stopped reading were.. mediocre. she is poor “representation” if you can even call her that, but i understand and appreciate that this book was written with a LOT of heart and a LOT of effort was put into it. But that does not make a good story.
What was truly the last straw for me was the main character forcing herself upon one of her love interests (does not, at any point ask him for consent, and he even tells her to stop and wait and she does not comply). To me, that sends the exact opposite message that the book was trying to send.
Over all, EXTREMELY disappointing. i would not recommend this to anyone, there is simply too much it is lacking. but for a debut novel that was clearly a loved passion project, it serves that purpose.
it is self indulgent for the author, it has a very bare bones emotion that drives the story, and it barely scratches the surface of the message it WANTS to convey.
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Child death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Genocide, Bullying, Murder, Gore, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, War, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
lyr1cal's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Body horror, Alcohol, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, and Sexual assault
auntquinoa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The character development is was makes this book somewhat immature. The protagonists internal voice is repetitive and doesn’t question her own biases while holding every person around their to theirs (which is her undoing in the aforementioned epilogue). There is ZERO character development in any of the main characters - a striking decision. They never question themselves while trying to wade through very complicated dynamics. At times the dialogue is just downright cringy (page 331 especially).
I read the acknowledgements and understand this book flipped between adult and YA. The faults of the book lie entirely in that indecision by the agent/author/publisher. This is a dark, dark book. Concubine and slavery depictions require nuance which YA doesn’t typically have. The darkness, violence and downright gore do not enmesh well with the immature dispositions of the characters of all ages. It made the book very hard to read without laughing, cringing, or becoming frustrated.
Overall a very bizarre read that somehow still kept me hooked. You must read it for yourself to decide. Does that make it a complete success??
Graphic: Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Gore, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and War
the_vegan_bookworm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Sexism, Grief, Child abuse, Murder, Death, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual content
cnaccarato's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Colonisation, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Genocide, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Addiction, Ableism, Death, Murder, War, Classism, Confinement, Homophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Violence, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Slavery
al_ana5522's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, War, Rape, Grief, Violence, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Misogyny, Torture, Child abuse, Murder, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
adalinemccormick's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Blood
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Domestic abuse, Torture, Rape, and Murder
c_dmckinney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Addiction, Murder, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Child death, Violence, Xenophobia, Confinement, Colonisation, Body shaming, Gore, Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Classism, Abandonment, Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, War, Death, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Torture
raebelanger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Violence, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
lemonwrlds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Vomit, War, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Torture, Bullying, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Genocide, Gore, Body horror, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Ableism, Blood, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence