Scan barcode
librarymouse'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? It's complicated
5.0
Heads up: It's very gory. Remember going into the novel that mermaids originated from myths in which they lured sailors to their deaths to eat them.
The book does finish quickly after extended suspense, but I think I may enjoy that a good part of it was left unresolved. Tori coming to tolerate and then to love(?) Olivia was good closure for the plot point of Anne's death that started the novel, offering the possibility of Tori being able to move forward from her sister's death, if not move on from it. I hope there's a sequel. There's enough still left unfinished for one, though I've seen that the publishing company may have rejected McGuire's proposal.
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Cannibalism, Confinement, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Body horror, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual content
Cannibalism tagged for humanoids eating humanssav_22'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Grief, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Medical content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Vomit
aimzthereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Cursing, Confinement, Gore, Violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Medical trauma, Grief, Death, and Blood
Moderate: War, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Vomit, Sexism, Mental illness, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Biphobia, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
sophiareadswaytoomuch'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? Yes
5.0
I got quite attached to the cast of characters, and the changes in narrator were handled very well. McGuire also doesn't shy away from having bad things happen to the current POV character, which I think was a good choice. The characters were all quite fleshed out, even the ones who were only seen briefly. They responded realistically in the situations they were in, and the switching perspectives did very well in maintaining the feeling of the novel's scope.
I also quite liked the framing device of the documentary and occasional 'found footage' esque bits and pieces. The plot takes a while to pick up, but the time taken to establish characters, motivations, and the setting really makes the payoff that much better.
Overall, this book is lots of fun, decently spooky, and well written. I highly recommend it. Especially for fans of mermaids, horror, and the occasional slasher movie.
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Blood, Mental illness, and Gun violence
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Gore, Death, Grief, Violence, Gun violence, Animal death, Blood, Medical content, and Ableism
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Confinement
Minor: Biphobia
michaelamiller'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Medical trauma, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts