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nafisa_tabassum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The story is best when explores religious prejudice and bigotry from the perspective of two people descended from immigrants - the way it tackles the subject matter is nuanced and real. It shows the way bigotry can take different forms and the things people leave unsaid. The two characters are able to connect because of this shared experience and it really adds depth to their relationship. It's fully understandable why these two people are drawn to each other and what they give to each other. There are also themes of parental neglect and abuse, though not physical. It's handled very well and it's often quite heart-wrenching.
I did feel like I wanted more from the fantasy aspect of the book. The fantasy seems to be connected deeply to religion and the bigger world is teased in the story, but not fully explored. There is an act at the end of the book that is genuinely "world-changing". This story is definitely not the place to explore that change or the repercussions of that action, since it's huge and the story is personal, but I was left feeling like a very interesting part of the novel was left unresolved.
Still, it was a perfect light read and I really enjoyed it.
Graphic: Animal death, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
fairyreader75's review
- 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
Moderate: Gore, Racism, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry
massivepizzacrust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
There were a couple of weird plot choices. It was hard to care about the characters' emotional conversations when they were happening while an injured animal was lying on the ground next to them - which somehow happens more than once. The characters' religions and ethnic backgrounds were a weird rebranding of Catholicism and Judaism that were somehow merged with the fantasy setting. I also wish we had gotten a bit more of an explanation of the characters' decisions in the plot finale,
Graphic: Abandonment, Xenophobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death, Animal death, and Blood
yami_yaki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Blood and Religious bigotry
froggydanny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Hate crime, Animal death, Religious bigotry, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Bullying
guessgreenleaf'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
Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexual content, Violence, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, and Death of parent
owl_eerie'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
4.0
I'm not sure I jive with the author's writing style (a simile or 3 in every paragraph...) but her character work was good. My only real complaint was the lack of grounding in the setting--It was very obviously Jewish/Protestant/Irish Catholic religious strife planted in a post WW1 America, shifted out of plane. Would have enjoyed it to take a firmer step further from known history instead of just... changing names but keeping things like microphones.
Listen to the audiobook; I kind of liked Wes's bad NY/Boston accent.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Animal death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Antisemitism, and Bullying
Moderate: Grief, Xenophobia, and Gore
Minor: Hate crime
raptorq's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Classism, Hate crime, Abandonment, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Minor: Colonisation
areen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
kate_den_herder's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Bullying, Religious bigotry, and Mental illness
Minor: Child death
Margaret has some undiagnosed PTSD, so there are some flashbacks