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candles_and_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death
purplehulk713's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
theillustriousgatsby's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Murder
anielabooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
katvou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gore, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
ninjawarriorprincess's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
ka_ke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
howlsbreakfast's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
readwithria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I don't have much to say as a preamble so I'm going to get straight into the lists
Things I liked:
- I like that Craig decided to group up the younger sisters to make them easier to keep track of
- I really liked the setting and how the religious celebrations were linked to location
- I think the spooky/horror aspects of the book
Things I wish were different:
- While I appreciated grouping some of the sisters together, it did make them less individualistic, which I didn't love
- I could not for the life of me figure out how old Morella, Mercy, or Honor were. I know the triplets were 16 and Verity was 6, but the two older Graces are just somewhere in between I guess? And Morella was apparently not much older than Camille and Annaleigh (19 and 18) but had been working as a midwife for 5 years before the beginning of the book? I was very confused
- I wish there had been another chapter or two of resolution between the last chapter and the epilogue. I don't actually feel like I got any closure
- I almost think the last third of the book could have been stretched into a second book. Have book one stop at the lighthouse, or even earlier
- I don't think the world-building was as strong as it could have been. I didn't figure out something major about their religion until almost 75% of the way into the book. I think the book was trying to be too much with the fantasy religion, ghost story, murder mystery, romance/love triangle, and family drama. If it had picked two or three it would have been much stronger.
All in all, this was a 3.5 star read for me. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
nutmegandpumpkin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
At first it was hard to keep track of all the names because there were 12 sisters plus more characters (though four of the sisters are dead from the beginning). Although I liked having a large cast of characters, it was a bit confusing for a while.
There were also some cliché romance moments and a bit of instalove which isn’t my favorite but didn’t ruin the whole thing.
It felt like it was trying to be a little too much all at once: a psychological thriller, horror, fairy tale retelling, fantasy, romance, family drama, mystery. I think this might be why it felt a little all over the place and rushed in some areas.
HOWEVER, I really just loved the ~vibes~ of the whole book and I did NOT expect it to get so dark and unsettling but I enjoyed that (despite it being a shock). I had also totally thought I guessed the twists but BOY was I WRONG lol.
The description was lovely and the tension, suspense, and mystery definitely kept me intrigued.
would recommend!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Death of parent