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aysha_blake'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and War
brianneh'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, and Murder
friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
chronicacademia'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: Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury
northern_wind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Blood, Grief, and Murder
bethy_joy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and War
Minor: Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
kayanoelle'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? Yes
4.5
When I started the book, I was a little shocked by how dark the themes were, it definitely took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Let me tell you, I suffered with them. Everyone is just miserable all the time tbh and I almost started crying like 5 times because everything was so unfair haha.
Wren is an incredible protagonist, I felt like everything she did or thought was SO in character for how she grew up and everything that happened to her.
And Oak… dude, are all the characters in Holly Black’s books destined to despise themselves? ‘Cause it does feel that way.
I don’t know why but this book really took me by surprise, I couldn’t put it down and I love the complexity of the characters, how everyone is morally gray and the fact that I can understand why they all did what they did even though it’s all messy now. How they’re all struggling with themselves while also trying to be a decent person.
And the fantasy setting was lovely as always. (Lovely is probably the wrong word but you know what I mean.)
My only point of criticism is that the story was too fast paced sometimes, they were in one place and then somewhere else two pages later. And the conversations were too short and people kept getting interrupted. But maybe that’s just my personal issue because I do love my dialogue in books. And Oak and Wren and Tiernan and Hyacinth felt like my personal travel buddies haha.
Idk I just want y’all to give this a chance if you’re still considering.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape and War
kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Torture and War
sh543's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Abandonment
nojgli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It's been a hot minute since I've read anything with such raw emotions, all while accompanying a handful of characters with their own complex personalities, backgrounds and feelings. Since it's a pov book, you're given many clues to figure out the twists except they are always worse than you'd think.
I advise people to check TWs because child abuse is basically the core of the story, but if that does not trigger you or you're ready to face it Holly uses language that will both rip you apart with with rawness and make you feel seen.
Also Holly of you're reading this, we got the memo with the hooves , for me personally I think you overdid it. And they are not sexy.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail