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annahamburger'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
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual content, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Minor: Fatphobia, Miscarriage, and Alcohol
phillyhufflepunk's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Death of parent
naychapman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Infertility
kkylezzz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Passive suicidal ideation/intention briefly alluded tojencolumb0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
And I will never get over Daphne
Given that the Shondaland team had trouble breathing life into Anthony’s story and they improved so thoroughly on the source material, here, I’m not sure I’ll bother with reading the rest of the series. I have better things to do than spite-read until Season Three drops, like catch up on all of Alexis Hall’s releases . . . or watching Regé-Jean Page breathe life into Dungeons & Dragons.
Suffice it to say that I am even more impressed with the Shondaland team’s ability to succeed as they have with the adaptation after reading this.
Graphic: Pregnancy and Abandonment
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
thienly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Rape and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
em_davies7019's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infertility, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Fatphobia and Injury/Injury detail
kb33's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Minus that, it was an enjoyable book.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
cadybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism and Classism
lucyselim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
And then they got married and ruined it. Even without mentioning 'that' scene, the plot was, in my opinion, ridiculous. I did not love those episodes of the TV show either, but as I was reading it I couldn't help but just laugh at the ridiculousness of some of it. It was difficult to keep up with their constant mood swings and comings and goings.
Putting the plot to one side, the writing was honestly just meh. It was very jarring to find modern day slang and colloquialisms with regency-era settings. I assume Quinn was trying to make a period piece seem modern and more approachable for younger audiences, but using simple English would have sufficed. I am glad they managed to get a better balance in the TV show.
Another thing I did not like was the stark contrast between Quinn trying to write strong modern women in one moment, and then having them reduced to needing a man the next. 'Then he was completely within her, and she thought she would die from the pleasure. Never had she felt so full, nor so completely a woman,' in particular made me throw up in my mouth a little.
Despite this, I am going to read the next one (because I hate myself) but because I have heard it to be many people's favourites. Mostly, however, because I borrowed the first three books in a compendium from the library and I still have time left before needing to return it. Overall this book really wasn't that great for me, but I can understand the appeal and I hope the next one provides me with better luck.
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Infertility, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism