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ka4t's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
laura_reads_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ezrasupremacy's review against another edition
5.0
i knew from the first page on that i would love this, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
this was one of the most beautiful, breathtaking, heartbreaking pieces of writing that i have ever read, and i guarantee it will stick around in my mind for quite some time to come.
i can see why this would be described as “overwritten”, but unfortunately i love that kind of writing, so it 100% worked for me, and i don’t think “overwritten” is a fair label for writing just because it uses beautiful words and descriptions, as long as they’re used with purpose, which they most definitely are here.
i read the first 50-ish percent over the course of two sittings and then had to take a break because it was too painful and too relatable and i did not have the mental stability for it.
the latter 50% were heartbreaking in a different way, but also lovely. i have to admit i didn’t care about warden’s pov nearly as much as i care about fee’s, but i see how it was relevant to give the story more depth, and for that i love it anyway.
this is definitely the one of the books i will be returning to again and again as time passes, and i cannot wait to give it another read in the future.
this was one of the most beautiful, breathtaking, heartbreaking pieces of writing that i have ever read, and i guarantee it will stick around in my mind for quite some time to come.
i can see why this would be described as “overwritten”, but unfortunately i love that kind of writing, so it 100% worked for me, and i don’t think “overwritten” is a fair label for writing just because it uses beautiful words and descriptions, as long as they’re used with purpose, which they most definitely are here.
i read the first 50-ish percent over the course of two sittings and then had to take a break because it was too painful and too relatable and i did not have the mental stability for it.
the latter 50% were heartbreaking in a different way, but also lovely. i have to admit i didn’t care about warden’s pov nearly as much as i care about fee’s, but i see how it was relevant to give the story more depth, and for that i love it anyway.
this is definitely the one of the books i will be returning to again and again as time passes, and i cannot wait to give it another read in the future.
iguana_mama's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
abananass's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dylex's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
jerthepear's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sittingwishingreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dliterate's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
To say that the content in this book is dark is an understatement. TWs upfront for: child abuse and sexual assault, self harm, suicidal ideation and suicide, depression, drug and alcohol use and abuse, and there's likely some things I've missed, to boot.
If I were to try and say that the book isn't weighed down by these topics, I'd be lying. That it is is kind of the point; the book is as weighed down by the ongoing trauma of the impacts of child sexual abuse as many of its characters are. Relief is fleeting, and not necessarily achieved via healthy means.
I don't know if 'enjoyable' would be the right word to use for this reading experience (I ate four orange and poppy seed muffins to make myself feel better when I finished it), but it's definitely worth reading.
That said, I have a couple of issues (the first of which is a pet peeve): the penchant in contemporary literature for doing away with proper punctuation, as if it's cool, is not; and the inclusion of chapters from another character's perspective threw me off just as I'd gotten used to the poetic flow of the writing. I didn't find the change necessary.
If I were to try and say that the book isn't weighed down by these topics, I'd be lying. That it is is kind of the point; the book is as weighed down by the ongoing trauma of the impacts of child sexual abuse as many of its characters are. Relief is fleeting, and not necessarily achieved via healthy means.
I don't know if 'enjoyable' would be the right word to use for this reading experience (I ate four orange and poppy seed muffins to make myself feel better when I finished it), but it's definitely worth reading.
That said, I have a couple of issues (the first of which is a pet peeve): the penchant in contemporary literature for doing away with proper punctuation, as if it's cool, is not; and the inclusion of chapters from another character's perspective threw me off just as I'd gotten used to the poetic flow of the writing. I didn't find the change necessary.