Reviews

The Spider and Her Demons by sydney khoo

bookbowerbird's review

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3.0

This had plenty going for it - urban fantasy in unvarnished western Sydney, a second gen immigrant who’s half girl, part spider[demon], all heart. Another girl with alexithymia and… a whole lot of something else. A lot of fighting your figurative demons when you have to mask your true self and when the way your adults love you is not the way you hoped they’d show it.

But then there was never any backstory nor plot progression beyond the two girls’s found friendship. Maybe there’s going to be the usual YA sequel, idk, but there wasn’t enough in this segment for me.

Cute cover though! :)

bookishbron's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • 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

I loved this!

maddygrace's review

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • 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

longlost's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • 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

4.5

the_argumentative_bong's review

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4.0

3.5⭐ (rounded off)

samaaka's review

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5.0

This has been such a fun book to read. An urban paranormal fantasy book set in Sydney, cannot be more perfect than this. The book starts off slow, talks about Zhi her struggles, strained relationship of a teen with their guardian or parents. It takes you into deep thoughts. I felt anger, frustration, horror and happiness throughout the book. And the action, the details felt like perfect.

samihaaaka's review

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5.0

This has been such a fun book to read. An urban paranormal fantasy book set in Sydney, cannot be more perfect than this. The book starts off slow, talks about Zhi her struggles, strained relationship of a teen with their guardian or parents. It takes you into deep thoughts. I felt anger, frustration, horror and happiness throughout the book. And the action, the details felt like perfect.

amaze_books's review

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4.0

"Zhi, high school student and employee at her aunts dumpling shop, wants nothing more than to spend times with her friends... and ensure the fact she's half spider-demon stays a secret. But after accidentally killing and eating a man in front popular girl, Dior, she discovers she may not be the scariest thing in the shadows after all."

YA Urban fantasy, POC mc, with themes of coming of age, friendship and some horror elements, this book is an amazing read. I loved it so much and this is definitely looking like a future re-read. I can't wait to see any future book the author may have in the works.

filliefanatic's review

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emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

i liked this one! not too many spiders, thankfully; most of the spider talk was how one combines human biology and spider biology. not a lot of explanation of the whole witch/demon/etc world, but i guess that reflects zhi having no clue whatsoever about that stuff.

leilaofpaper's review

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dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0