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pandashowers'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
Moderate: Gore
soniajoy98'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Deportation
Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Incest, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Lesbophobia
kimveach'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
aileron'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
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Racism, Slavery, Vomit, and Murder
adarose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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, Death, Gore, Incest, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
sarahsbookss'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: Cursing, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
aryexo'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
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
downtown_kb'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
A southern gothic set in a coal mining town in Kentucky, this story is steeped in fictional history and lore and gives you a beautiful sense of place. The descriptions and imagery are wonderful. There's a degree of horror - think more fantastical Stephen King or T. Kingfisher dealing with eldritch horrors - and a little romance to round it all out. I found this to be less of a dark fairytale and more of what happens when you discover the fairytale is real.
There is a dark, spooky atmosphere in a town known for its bad luck, whispers of monsters, and hints that maybe greed led men to dig so deep for coal they perhaps found something darker.
While there is a lot going on, I think the pacing of this story is really good. It builds using footnotes and a change of POV which lends well to the suspense. There are stories told within the story as the protagonist, Opal, begins to discover the truth about Starling House.
Speaking of Opal, I loved her. She made for a fun narrator. She is plucky and sarcastic, cut-throat and clever. Imperfect, not beautiful - “sharp and a bit crooked”.
The love interest, Arthur, and only remaining Starling, is at first cold but through his POV you learn he is the classic tortured hero who is kind and so lonely underneath the hard shell. I really enjoyed the glimpses into the Starling House from his role. And while this romance is more of a subplot, it still has its cute moments as these two are drawn together.
This book was not what I expected, it was better and it set such a great atmosphere. I really enjoyed this read and I think it will stick with me for a while.
(This is very good on audio as well. Natalie Naudus did the mood and the characters justice.)
Graphic: Gore, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
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
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Racism, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail