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traa's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Colonisation, Deadnaming, Grief, Pregnancy, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Blood, Torture, and Suicide
Minor: Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, Vomit, and Ableism
booksteastories's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Melanie is dying. It is something she has always known about herself, which is why she accepts her father's seemingly simply overprotective ways. Harry is a boy who has it all -- good looks, money, popularity -- except for the fact that his girlfriend has a terminal heart condition. Despite that, Harry and Mel's love for each other could not be stronger....or could it? As strange, deadly things them on a journey together, their bond will be put to the test.
Okay, look. I know my faux-blurb isn't the best but the less you know, the more fun it will be. Also, this is a companion novel to Middlegame and although you do not need to read it to enjoy Seasonal Fears, it will be more enjoyable if you do so.
First of all, let me just say -- there is a lot of explaining going on here. I'd say at least 30% of the book is just events and concepts being explained and then re-explained to the characters, a lot of the time by the same person. Of course, the writing was amazing, so the explanations weren't really anywhere close to unbearable but they were noticeable.
Harry and Mel (as characters) were good characters to follow -- I mean that as in they weren't annoying. Their behaviour was always solidly based within who we saw them as and their reactions never seemed unreasonable. We follow Harry more than we follow Mel, which is a bit of a pity because I found her a little more interesting but Harry is complex and well-written enough to also be a worthwhile investment of narration.
Harry and Mel (as a couple) were wonderful, their relationship was well written and believable. The fact that they're together is not a spoiler but anything else would ruin the fun for you, so.
Now, plot. Well-paced and simple to follow as long as you understand the terminology, and like I said, great pains were taken to make sure that you do understand how this world functions. I don't know if the build-up was quite worth the pay off at the end, some plot lines were resolved quite quickly when we had expected them to take longer but nothing felt rushed.
Middlegame characters do make some reappearances here, which I found delightful. This book takes place about six months from when Middlegame ends and the actions of the characters are shown to have had impact.
Atmospherically, I do not think that Seasonal Fears quite compares to it's predecessor -- it feels... a bit more comical at times? Or maybe a little more light.
Overall, a highly enjoyable read! Great characters, fascinating world, brilliant writing. Some plot lines where resolved a little too fast when compared to the buildup we had had and there was just a dash too much explaining, but those are all minor things to me.
Okay, look. I know my faux-blurb isn't the best but the less you know, the more fun it will be. Also, this is a companion novel to Middlegame and although you do not need to read it to enjoy Seasonal Fears, it will be more enjoyable if you do so.
First of all, let me just say -- there is a lot of explaining going on here. I'd say at least 30% of the book is just events and concepts being explained and then re-explained to the characters, a lot of the time by the same person. Of course, the writing was amazing, so the explanations weren't really anywhere close to unbearable but they were noticeable.
Harry and Mel (as characters) were good characters to follow -- I mean that as in they weren't annoying. Their behaviour was always solidly based within who we saw them as and their reactions never seemed unreasonable. We follow Harry more than we follow Mel, which is a bit of a pity because I found her a little more interesting but Harry is complex and well-written enough to also be a worthwhile investment of narration.
Harry and Mel (as a couple) were wonderful, their relationship was well written and believable. The fact that they're together is not a spoiler but anything else would ruin the fun for you, so.
Now, plot. Well-paced and simple to follow as long as you understand the terminology, and like I said, great pains were taken to make sure that you do understand how this world functions. I don't know if the build-up was quite worth the pay off at the end, some plot lines were resolved quite quickly when we had expected them to take longer but nothing felt rushed.
Middlegame characters do make some reappearances here, which I found delightful. This book takes place about six months from when Middlegame ends and the actions of the characters are shown to have had impact.
Atmospherically, I do not think that Seasonal Fears quite compares to it's predecessor -- it feels... a bit more comical at times? Or maybe a little more light.
Overall, a highly enjoyable read! Great characters, fascinating world, brilliant writing. Some plot lines where resolved a little too fast when compared to the buildup we had had and there was just a dash too much explaining, but those are all minor things to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Torture and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Deadnaming
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