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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
it's a trip to witness devon evolving from a sheltered, naive child unbeknownst of the world's dangerous reality to a harrowed woman who makes tough choices and willing to do anything to protect her child. how the world and the system oppresses and commodifies her, and how she grows into herself to game and turn against them.
what i like most abt the book is its worldbuilding, how dean takes advantage of the 'eating books' idea oft fantasized by book lovers and turns it into this dark, gripping, yet understandable story propelled by its own rules, culture, politics and machinations that mirror the real world in many aspects. how it could be hiding in plain sight is intriguing as well, and i rly am fascinated yet disturbed reading it. moreover, while the novel can turn very dark w/ its concept of mind eaters, much of the violence and gore feel true and never gratuitous.
it's a lil weird though how the 'present' takes place in such a short period and oft gets overshadowed by devon's more interesting past; only when the crew reaches the ravenscars' manor that things truly pick up in the present. furthermore, a few parts is predictable and the climax feels rushed, cutting off when neither devon nor the reader has had time to fully process things. a sequel seems certain though and im interested to see how things develop w/ devon's hopeful rescue of salem.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent and Forced institutionalization
purplepenning's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Gore, Violence, Addiction, Blood, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Acephobia/Arophobia, Body shaming, Rape, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Infertility, Abandonment, Body horror, Vomit, Cursing, Drug use, and Gun violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, and Trafficking