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blackheart's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
This was such a good read. The added depth and history of this classic tale was fantastic. The pain and rage of the main character is so relatable it make you want to be a villian too.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Death, Grief, Body shaming, Blood, Torture, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Violence
venti's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.75
feels like a set up for the next book — which i’m not complaining about because i’m sure it will be great, but would have been cooler maybe in one big volume like priory? idk 🤷 i liked alyce and aurora, but was so annoyed the whole book when alyce was constantly getting shit on. hope she kills them all in the next book! 😜
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Death, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Misogyny, War, Torture, and Sexism
im_bruns's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence
jj_tj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Torture
kirstym25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, and Violence
libby_i_guess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I genuinely can’t put my finger on it, but something about the writing feels very much like a book for teens. My best guess is the first-person POV, but i don’t think that’s all of it. I was mostly pushing through this book because I was curious, but the last third of it I actually enjoyed. Somehow, the story came alive and kept me interested. I still can’t say I loved it or anything, but I will read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death, Xenophobia, and Torture
sci_fi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
cammiico's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
When I started the book I really thought this was going to be my next all time favorite book. It was written in a style I don't typically like, short and not very descriptive. I tend to enjoy a lot of inner thoughts and descriptors when reading first person, but Heather Walter's does a very great job at painting a picture with very little. However that I'd also part of this books downfall near the end.
The retelling is great, I loved reading about Alyce and the lore Heather created around the fairies in the original was a very unique spin. Though it took me some time to understand what was the name of a person, place, or title.
SPOLIERS BELOW
I also didn't see that love reciprocated by Aurora. I get this is written in first person but there's ways to write characters motivations or expressions so the reader can get the idea or infer from context clue. Alyce is written admiring Aurora's beauty and her desire to change the Grace Laws that we never actually see Aurora's expressions very much. Only when Alyce lashes out do we get to see Aurora's features reflecting any kind of emotion.
I just found myself wishing that there was a little bit more with each chapter. It's a great retelling, I did enjoy it for the most part but I just wish that we got to see the two come together a bit more naturally. It felt oddly rushed despite happening only at the last handful of chapters. I also HATE when we get that "finally" moment and it's immediately taken away. Let readers enjoy it for longer than one chapter. Especially when that chapter is only a few short pages.
Overall I did enjoy the book. It was imaginative and a very inspired way if creating lore. But ultimately I found myself wanting just a little bit more from the scenery and the interactions. I shouldn't be able to understand and see clearly the tension and pull between Alyice and her main tormentor Rose MORE than Alyce and her main love interest.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Torture, and Violence
allisonmenck's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, and Violence
meghansarmiento97's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, and War