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book_loving_dragon's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Minor: Rape
courtnoodles's review
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
frantically's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
"but they've been murdering young men every summer for 200 years!" so what? we all have our faults
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Grief, Misogyny, Confinement, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, and Death
meduza's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
stephiesheena's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-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? Yes
5.0
It has been a while since a book has captured me as much as this one has. Which is precisely the reason why it gets 5 stars.
Yes, there’s insta love but to my own surprise, more than anyone else’s, it doesn’t bother me.
This story just packed the right amount of drama, suspension, mystery and hope.
I had to calm down right when I finished it because the ending was just sooo emotional and my head whirled with thoughts in ALL directions and my heart felt too many feelings at the same time.
That a story about three dead sister coming back yearly to haunt a town, the inhabitants of which had them declared witches and murdered 200 years ago, should also be a story about love, sacrifice and hope seems contradictory but I tell you, my friends, the author does such a wonderful job.
The way she draws this connection between the reader and the characters is amazing! I went into it blind, and I’m so glad I did. The story starts where quite a few YA-books start, to be honest – at a summer party after school has ended for the term. But what draws you in and keeps you glued to the pages (at least that’s what it did to me) is the saga, the so called curse, that has it’s beginning 200 years before and haunted the town every summer ever since.
The Swan sisters, who died in the year of 1823, come back on June 1st every year to inhabit/borrow the body of three young unassuming girls and get their revenge on men and boys from the town.
Up until the summer solstice few of the male citizens and tourists, if any, are safe from the scorned and angry women who once wandered the same streets having men, young and old alike, marvel at their beauty.
Penny Talbot knows the tale about the Swan sisters as well as the rest of Sparrow, but rather than making a spectacle of it she’s always been wary. Always thinking the stories and legends to be true – one way or another.
Also, she is sceptical of this one stranger, Bo. He turned up in her town without having heard of the Swan season once? Doubtful.
And so begins the story about two young people trying to figure out if the sisters are actually real, and, if yes, how they can be stopped – all the while having to deal with dead men being found floating in the sea, seemingly drowned, while the town is sure who murdered them.
I urge you to read this, my friends! This has everything a book needs – it’s even a little spooky when you read it at night.
Also, I would so love to share my favourite quote from the book, but I fear it would give away too much. So, just know that this mysterious and eerie story also tugs at your heartstrings quite a bit.
Yes, there’s insta love but to my own surprise, more than anyone else’s, it doesn’t bother me.
This story just packed the right amount of drama, suspension, mystery and hope.
I had to calm down right when I finished it because the ending was just sooo emotional and my head whirled with thoughts in ALL directions and my heart felt too many feelings at the same time.
That a story about three dead sister coming back yearly to haunt a town, the inhabitants of which had them declared witches and murdered 200 years ago, should also be a story about love, sacrifice and hope seems contradictory but I tell you, my friends, the author does such a wonderful job.
The way she draws this connection between the reader and the characters is amazing! I went into it blind, and I’m so glad I did. The story starts where quite a few YA-books start, to be honest – at a summer party after school has ended for the term. But what draws you in and keeps you glued to the pages (at least that’s what it did to me) is the saga, the so called curse, that has it’s beginning 200 years before and haunted the town every summer ever since.
The Swan sisters, who died in the year of 1823, come back on June 1st every year to inhabit/borrow the body of three young unassuming girls and get their revenge on men and boys from the town.
Up until the summer solstice few of the male citizens and tourists, if any, are safe from the scorned and angry women who once wandered the same streets having men, young and old alike, marvel at their beauty.
Penny Talbot knows the tale about the Swan sisters as well as the rest of Sparrow, but rather than making a spectacle of it she’s always been wary. Always thinking the stories and legends to be true – one way or another.
Also, she is sceptical of this one stranger, Bo. He turned up in her town without having heard of the Swan season once? Doubtful.
And so begins the story about two young people trying to figure out if the sisters are actually real, and, if yes, how they can be stopped – all the while having to deal with dead men being found floating in the sea, seemingly drowned, while the town is sure who murdered them.
I urge you to read this, my friends! This has everything a book needs – it’s even a little spooky when you read it at night.
Also, I would so love to share my favourite quote from the book, but I fear it would give away too much. So, just know that this mysterious and eerie story also tugs at your heartstrings quite a bit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Death
manola's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
starlesscircus's review
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
cherryufos's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed reading this book; finished it in only a couple hours after picking it up. I would have rated it 4 stars but the ending ruined it for me.
I didn’t like how Bo was in love with Hazel even after she admitted to killing his brother and Penny’s dad. Plus, they knew each other for like two weeks. There is no way or reason he should have an undying love for his brother’s murderer where he still visits her. I also think he’s doing Penny dirty by being with her while pining for the ghost of the girl who was in her. Just feels icky.
I just wasn’t a big fan of Hazel’s character, she felt naive and too self-important.
But other than the ending, I really enjoyed the book and recommend it!
I just wasn’t a big fan of Hazel’s character, she felt naive and too self-important.
But other than the ending, I really enjoyed the book and recommend it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Misogyny
dlrosebyh's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.75
this book took me by surprise. it’s one of the books i feel so connected to— no doubt i got attached to the characters.
i didn’t really give it 5 stars because i didn’t really love the insta-love trope, but i enjoyed their romance. i also guessed the major plot twist, so it didn’t really blew my mind off as other people say it will. it was dark— very dark, but not scary. though, at some times i felt scared for the main character and her love interest.
i definitely sobbed at the end; it was so selfless of her to do that.
in summary, this book made me suffocate in the best way possible. the atmosphere felt very real.
i didn’t really give it 5 stars because i didn’t really love the insta-love trope, but i enjoyed their romance. i also guessed the major plot twist, so it didn’t really blew my mind off as other people say it will. it was dark— very dark, but not scary. though, at some times i felt scared for the main character and her love interest.
i definitely sobbed at the end; it was so selfless of her to do that.
in summary, this book made me suffocate in the best way possible. the atmosphere felt very real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Grief and Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, and Confinement
ackatienza's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Death
Minor: Death of parent and Grief