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laurak483's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It's a powerful story about the female experience, the inherent dangers of living as a woman or marginalized person in general, and how the cycle of abuse perpetuates itself. I really feel like intense acts that happened in the final chapters were set up purely to turn this from a standalone novel into the trilogy the author wanted, and I personally think that's a mistake. I think this book was so heavy so much of the time, I would personally have enjoyed it more if we got the more uplifting part of the ending we as readers were hoping for without the violent events that will clearly be the focus of the next book (trying to talk about it without spoilers).
For the first time in a long time, I think this is a series I won't be continuing. Not because it isn't well written, I enjoyed the author's writing style. Just because it is a rather hard read, and I am honestly not invested enough in seeing more of these characters for the apparent plot point the next book(s) will tackle. The biggest strength this book has, and the thing that really was apparent and stuck out to me the most, is it's also an ode to the resilience of women. Between reading this book and listening to the song "Labour" by Paris Paloma on repeat, I am overly filled with ancestral feminine rage and I definitely need a palette cleanser after this.
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Suicide, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Pregnancy
kmami'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
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Misogyny, Trafficking, and Sexual content
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Murder, Abandonment, Suicide, Violence, Abortion, and Torture
golelifsu'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence
fleurfiles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Slavery
emmyh_reads'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? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Violence and Abortion
catmac91's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content
michaelcattigan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Abandonment, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
carmentxx'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Slavery, Child death, Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, Medical content, Suicide, Racial slurs, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Colonisation
scsarah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual assault, and Slavery
Minor: Kidnapping
catell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Death, Blood, Suicide, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Sexism, Infidelity, Grief, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Rape, Child death, Violence, Trafficking, Body shaming, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault