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hayleyfonhof's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
dorset_daisy's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide and Transphobia
jo_brekker'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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Addiction, Abandonment, Grief, Murder, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Bullying
wardenred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Everybody has a reason to want to change their lives.
Instead, it felt like I only got to witness her defeat.
I also wasn't a fan of how the whole Near plotline was handled on the whole. In magical realism books like this, I expect to see a sort of ambiguity: "Is this real, or is this only happening in the character's head?" Here, this ambiguity was handled in a pretty weird way for me. On one hand, I felt like I was expected to immediately buy it that Near is completely, 100% real. On the other hand, for at least the first 2/3 of the book there was preciously little reason to actually think so, if I looked closely at the actual events. I don't know, it was like I expected a soft shadow play and got stark contrasts, and it only served to magnify that feeling I talked about in the paragraph under the spoiler above.
Bottom line: I felt like this ended up being a story about the abusers winning, despite the successful revenge and the supposed empowerment the MC got, and I didn't like that.
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
Minor: Transphobia and Homophobia
michaela999's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
You felt so deeply, and for so long, that your very sadness grew limbs and walked away from you. You have moved mountains, Magpie Lewis, and you are only just getting started.
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence