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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
Agency, individualism, devotion, this book is a delightfully queer retelling of the classic mad scientist. In a Frankensteinian tale of ethics and the human sprit (or inhuman...), a pair of devoted and reclusive 1800s gays, as they're wont to be, learn what it means to have their worlds turned over by love. A devotional love for an experiment turned more, a familial love spurned on by an outsider turned daughter, and most importantly, a new understanding of love, gained by letting go. They tackle their feelings of intimacy for a new form of sapient life, while a young girl tackles significantly more sapphic levels of the same and for the same. This book was beautifully written and playfully academic, and the carrier of one of the most beautiful and horrific love stories I've ever read. It took love from beyond the veil of death to whole new levels. I cried, I laughed, I retched, I will be coming back.
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lyrical prose, botanical wonders, moral ambiguity, commentary on cloistered-yet-found/created-family, living in a greenhouse, autistic “confirmed bachelor” and egomaniac “confirmed bachelor, this book as it all and more.
I really enjoyed the thread of what does it mean to be human or at the very least sentient (and the question of morality that goes along with that) as well as the interesting coping skills of the characters.
If I could give partial stars I would probably do 3.5, just because the middle of the book slows down with a lot of minutiae and back-and-forth waffling of the characters working with and against each other. At some point I was like make up your mind Gregor.
There are probably some plot holes (outside of the fantastically macabre experiment going on inside the greenhouse) regarding the villagers, but honestly the excellent writing and the concept of the book were too good to really get bogged down by that - it felt like a willing suspense of disbelief situation.
I really enjoyed the thread of what does it mean to be human or at the very least sentient (and the question of morality that goes along with that) as well as the interesting coping skills of the characters.
If I could give partial stars I would probably do 3.5, just because the middle of the book slows down with a lot of minutiae and back-and-forth waffling of the characters working with and against each other. At some point I was like make up your mind Gregor.
There are probably some plot holes (outside of the fantastically macabre experiment going on inside the greenhouse) regarding the villagers, but honestly the excellent writing and the concept of the book were too good to really get bogged down by that - it felt like a willing suspense of disbelief situation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Suicide, Murder
A Frankenstein retelling mixed with herbology/plant-magic.
It has taken me some time to finish this book as the characters fell flat and discouraged me from finishing it. As well as come conflict not being resolved and a feeling of unjustified resolution.
The thing that did keep me engaged to read this was the descriptive, lush writing the author held.
LOOK AT TRIGGER WARNINGS!
Some VERY disturbing parts so be careful please.
It has taken me some time to finish this book as the characters fell flat and discouraged me from finishing it. As well as come conflict not being resolved and a feeling of unjustified resolution.
The thing that did keep me engaged to read this was the descriptive, lush writing the author held.
LOOK AT TRIGGER WARNINGS!
Some VERY disturbing parts so be careful please.
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a solid 4.5 for the majority of the book, i genuinely loved the writing style though it took a bit of getting used toThe issue for me was the sex scene near the end, it icked me out and almost stopped me finishing the book
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes