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sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
beautifulpaxielreads'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
For this reread, my original opinion of this book still largely stands - this is an incredibly good read chock-full of excellent character development, diversity, plotting, and worldbuilding. And Vanja's snarky, irreverent narration is just GOLD.
I did pick up on a couple of things that I appear to have missed the first time I read this. The theme of privilege, more specifically around the privilege enabled by wealth, influence, and good looks. What choices do you have to make if you don't possess these things?
The other thing that niggled at me (and caused me to drop my rating by 0.5 for this reread)was that
Onto Painted Devils!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing and War
bree_h_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror and Eating disorder
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
aytac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
mlottermoser's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Classism
r_a_bell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Gore, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
vivavia'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
mpbookreviews'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
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
beautifulpaxielreads'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
5.0
First of all, let me heap praise on the way this novel has been constructed, because oh, wow. The only way I can describe it is like one of those Russian matryoshka (or nesting) dolls. The overall novel is divided into three parts. Within each part are "tales" - initially told in the third person in a fairy-tale style to illuminate a past event, before switching back to the present day in first person, our narrator and (somewhat anti) heroine, Vanja. And that isn't even the end of it, because each tale is further divided by chapters. Confused? Don't worry, it makes sense once you read it. Oh, and one more thing - the beginning of each "tale" is accompanied by stunning black-and-white illustrations, which I have just discovered that Owen created herself. Seriously, it isn't fair how one person can have THIS much talent.
The world-building is brilliantly intricate and comprehensive, which isn't something I say a lot when it comes to fantasy novels. But this one was *chef's kiss*.
Diversity in characters is spot-on, too. Even though this world is clearly inspired by central Europe, within that Owen has taken care to include people of other ethnicities and religions, briefly sketched but still vivid. LGBTQIA+ rep is also pretty solid, with various minor (and major, although I won't spoil who) characters who identify as being somewhere on that spectrum.
And the characters, I could go on and on (except for Adalbrecht, he's evil and nasty, and Irmgard barely rates a mention for the same reasons). First up, Vanja. I really appreciate how Owen wrote her character. Almost straight away I admired her cleverness and ingenuity, although she wasn't the most likeable at first. But Owen dropped subtle hints as to why Vanja behaves the way she does before it is explicitly revealed later on in the novel. I figured it out pretty early, and it was nice to be proven (mostly) right.
Emeric is an absolute cinnamon roll, and I loved the way he
Ragne is hilarious and I adore her cluelessness, humour, spark, and honesty. The character of Gisele was well done too, and I loved the
The plotting was excellent too, and that final climactic twist had me gaping.
I'm pleased to hear that there is a sequel coming, and I'm looking forward to reading it when it comes out. Brava, Margaret Owen!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing