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conor_orourke's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
elena_revisited's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
smalltoad's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
tristanstewart's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wanted to see Hal’s continued growth, the story could have continued for a few more chapters to wrap everything up. Lot of trigger warnings for this book though. I’d say if you didn’t love the subject matter of A Little Life, stay away from this one.
elnelson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Drug use, Addiction, Eating disorder, and Incest
Moderate: Classism, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Body horror, Blood, Drug abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
ryansbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
proteincookies's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
revolutionerdy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
phoebesbookshelf's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
1.75
Thank you to Random House UK for this arc!
Despite Bratton’s prose being evocative and melodic, unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. The one specific, seriously dark plot point felt completely out of place in the narrative, with no point or consequence/retribution. I couldn’t get past this, finding it to be a bizarre addition to the story. I also felt that the present-day adaptation of the Lord/Duke/Lancaster inheritance premise didn’t quite work — there weren’t really any stakes, other than the Lancaster family probably losing their estates? Unclear.
Moreover, too many characters flitted in and out with no real sense of purpose or effect on the overall storyline — it seemed that the main point for some of them was just to flag that these are ‘Shakespeare’ characters. Finally, the Hal/Percy love story came, and ended, really abruptly. I never really felt like they knew each other, or wanted to be with each other beyond the story requiring it of them. Ultimately, Hal deserved so much better and I wish he’d had the opportunity to have some sort of chance at happiness and to see Henry rightfully punished.
I had high hopes for this book, but they fell short.
Despite Bratton’s prose being evocative and melodic, unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. The one specific, seriously dark plot point felt completely out of place in the narrative, with no point or consequence/retribution. I couldn’t get past this, finding it to be a bizarre addition to the story. I also felt that the present-day adaptation of the Lord/Duke/Lancaster inheritance premise didn’t quite work — there weren’t really any stakes, other than the Lancaster family probably losing their estates? Unclear.
Moreover, too many characters flitted in and out with no real sense of purpose or effect on the overall storyline — it seemed that the main point for some of them was just to flag that these are ‘Shakespeare’ characters. Finally, the Hal/Percy love story came, and ended, really abruptly. I never really felt like they knew each other, or wanted to be with each other beyond the story requiring it of them. Ultimately, Hal deserved so much better and I wish he’d had the opportunity to have some sort of chance at happiness and to see Henry rightfully punished.
I had high hopes for this book, but they fell short.