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cannolini's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm
the short story at the end of the book (the ash-born boy) does depict a detailed description of forced self harmtheespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
I have never once read a book by Schwab and walked away feeling like I was disappointed... until now. This breaks my heart to write because I truly wanted to love this book, but I just didn't.
The story itself held my interest and I finished it very quickly. The plot was unique and had a good pace to it. However, as it went on, it got really depressing, and then it got more depressing, and then it was creepy, and then it had what felt like a really open ending and THEN... to top it all off... it actually ended with a short story that was so morbid and full of uncomfortable themes that I almost quit listening to the audiobook right then and there. I couldn't believe what a turn it had taken and it was incredibly unpleasant.
That's what truly made me dislike this book the most. If it hadn't had that ending, and maybe she had written a sequel instead to kind of wrap things up a bit better, maybe I would've enjoyed it, but instead, I felt hollow inside.
Needless to say, this is not one I'll be picking up again and I'm really glad this wasn't my first taste of her writing because I'm not sure I ever would've continued reading her books past this one (GASP).
The story itself held my interest and I finished it very quickly. The plot was unique and had a good pace to it. However, as it went on, it got really depressing, and then it got more depressing, and then it was creepy, and then it had what felt like a really open ending and THEN... to top it all off... it actually ended with a short story that was so morbid and full of uncomfortable themes that I almost quit listening to the audiobook right then and there. I couldn't believe what a turn it had taken and it was incredibly unpleasant.
That's what truly made me dislike this book the most. If it hadn't had that ending, and maybe she had written a sequel instead to kind of wrap things up a bit better, maybe I would've enjoyed it, but instead, I felt hollow inside.
Needless to say, this is not one I'll be picking up again and I'm really glad this wasn't my first taste of her writing because I'm not sure I ever would've continued reading her books past this one (GASP).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Blood and Fire/Fire injury
eve_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ The strongest aspects of this book were its lyrical writing style and gloomy atmosphere. I got major Grimm’s Fairytale vibes; this is definitely a good fall-time read!
⁕ There are some big YA tropes in here: a dark and mysterious love interest, the death of parent, and a rebellious main character. All of them were well-written!
⁕ I didn’t fall in love the characters as I have with Schwab’s other books. That’s not to say they aren’t believable, I just didn’t get as invested.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ The strongest aspects of this book were its lyrical writing style and gloomy atmosphere. I got major Grimm’s Fairytale vibes; this is definitely a good fall-time read!
⁕ There are some big YA tropes in here: a dark and mysterious love interest, the death of parent, and a rebellious main character. All of them were well-written!
⁕ I didn’t fall in love the characters as I have with Schwab’s other books. That’s not to say they aren’t believable, I just didn’t get as invested.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, and Death of parent
nicheinterests's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Kidnapping
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Death of parent
aviery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Self harm, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse, Blood, and Religious bigotry
syllareads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
This relatively short book contains two stories by V.E. Schwab, both of which I found beautiful and heartwrenching at once.
The Near Witch
Main story in this short collection, The Near Witch is about 300 pages long - 300 pages of wild beauty, loss, hatred and, in the end, a young girl who listens to her heart and her father's stories and the moor around her instead of frightened voices from her own village.
I found the story both fantastical, with witches made from wind and earth, witches singing children out of bed, and realistic in the way that I recognized the way Lexi is held back by her own family even though she is just as capable, if not more so, than the men around her. I recognized things from the real world, from my own world, in the way the people of Near lashed out against an innocent rather than believe a single young girl, the quiet but resolute way in which the women of Near resist the fear in the end, helping Lexi in every way they can, quietly, secretly, but helpful nonetheless.
V.E. Schwab's writing captures all of this, and the supernatural elements of the plot, as well as I expected it to, and I'm thoroughly grateful to have read this beautiful piece.
The Ash-Born Boy
This far shorter piece is heart-wrenching within just a few pages and tells Cole's story with few words but even more emotions. I wasn't expecting for it to make me cry! But it did, and tore my heart out in the process. Schwab's words capture the boy and his tragic fate, his guilt and his pain so well I couldn't turn my eyes away from it even for a second.
In short: I loved it. I loved it and loved it, and would read it again in a heartbeat.
The Near Witch
Main story in this short collection, The Near Witch is about 300 pages long - 300 pages of wild beauty, loss, hatred and, in the end, a young girl who listens to her heart and her father's stories and the moor around her instead of frightened voices from her own village.
I found the story both fantastical, with witches made from wind and earth, witches singing children out of bed, and realistic in the way that I recognized the way Lexi is held back by her own family even though she is just as capable, if not more so, than the men around her. I recognized things from the real world, from my own world, in the way the people of Near lashed out against an innocent rather than believe a single young girl, the quiet but resolute way in which the women of Near resist the fear in the end, helping Lexi in every way they can, quietly, secretly, but helpful nonetheless.
V.E. Schwab's writing captures all of this, and the supernatural elements of the plot, as well as I expected it to, and I'm thoroughly grateful to have read this beautiful piece.
The Ash-Born Boy
This far shorter piece is heart-wrenching within just a few pages and tells Cole's story with few words but even more emotions. I wasn't expecting for it to make me cry! But it did, and tore my heart out in the process. Schwab's words capture the boy and his tragic fate, his guilt and his pain so well I couldn't turn my eyes away from it even for a second.
In short: I loved it. I loved it and loved it, and would read it again in a heartbeat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Self harm
danicaleblanc's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Kidnapping
Minor: Physical abuse
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