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tessays's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer
cgreenstein's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Creepy, creepy, creepy. This is a good look at how unprocessed grief and unaddressed trauma have long-term effects, as well as how abusive relationships develop slowly and then become hard to leave because it's hard to self-identify as someone who's in an abusive relationship. Other reviews take issue with the heroine, as she makes seemingly incomprehensible decisions that put or keep her in danger, and while I see where they're coming from, for me her decisions were poor, yes, but they struck me as being entirely rational for her character, as well. Freya wanted to finally have something of her own, something where she was special and adored and the center of attention, and --as someone who lives in a family of artists but who is not engaged in an artistic line of work-- she wanted to be involved in the world of art, enveloped by creativity and passion, living the sort of compelling life that she thought her sister had (and, I think, the life that Freya thinks might have been possible for her if her mother's death hadn't cast Freya into the role of household peacemaker and steadying force). Does Freya make absolutely terrible choices? Yes. But it's all in line with the gothic novel trope (the book blurb likened this to Wuthering Heights, and I think that fits), and it all makes sense if you view Freya as someone who needs to find / do / become something that justifies her existence to herself. After over a decade of being "the good one," the one who causes no trouble and therefore receives no attention or notice, she's allowed herself this one rash choice (and it's a doozy)-- and now she feels compelled to make it "worth it" somehow, which has her digging a deeper and deeper hole into increasingly poor choices.
Anyway, I found this very suspenseful, and the prose is lovely.
Anyway, I found this very suspenseful, and the prose is lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Minor: Cancer
moiralyle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Violence
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