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pm_me_book_recs's review
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
5.0
I listened to an ALC via Libro.fm
The narrator was not my favorite, I would highly recommend physical format. The voice given to Opal felt more weak/whiney than I would imagine her being. Also not having a Southern/Appalachian accent reaaaallly irked me! -Although, bonus point for saying Louisville the correct way.
It was so cool to have representation from small town Kentucky in this genre! My family is from Cave City (specifically Mammoth Cave grounds) and I could realistically imagine each of these characters and locations. I really enjoyed this gothic tale- slow burn but intense romance, family secrets, social commentary, supernatural happenings, haunted mansion, found family and all the small town drama! I don't want to give any of the plot away, but watching Opal come full into power and self-agency was very satisfying. The character relationships grow and mature organically awkward, as traumatized and walled off people do. It was fresh, to see healing happen within a story so dark.
There were some moments of interaction that were a bit irritating and immature, that just felt a little off, but I'm not certain if it was influenced by my dislike for the narration, or if it was actually the content.
The narrator was not my favorite, I would highly recommend physical format. The voice given to Opal felt more weak/whiney than I would imagine her being. Also not having a Southern/Appalachian accent reaaaallly irked me! -Although, bonus point for saying Louisville the correct way.
It was so cool to have representation from small town Kentucky in this genre! My family is from Cave City (specifically Mammoth Cave grounds) and I could realistically imagine each of these characters and locations. I really enjoyed this gothic tale- slow burn but intense romance, family secrets, social commentary, supernatural happenings, haunted mansion, found family and all the small town drama! I don't want to give any of the plot away, but watching Opal come full into power and self-agency was very satisfying. The character relationships grow and mature organically awkward, as traumatized and walled off people do. It was fresh, to see healing happen within a story so dark.
There were some moments of interaction that were a bit irritating and immature, that just felt a little off, but I'm not certain if it was influenced by my dislike for the narration, or if it was actually the content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Police brutality, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence
sarahyjackson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
An incredible, atmospheric contemporary Southern gothic triumph.
Unreliable, sharp edged, tenacious heroine? ✅
A sentient house whose walls and eaves and panes strain and warble and tend? ✅
A boy who wants to tend flowers but chooses to wield a sword? ✅
A story which asks questions about what it means to be from somewhere generally but from the Upper South specifically? ✅
I’d follow Alix Harrow just about anywhere - Underland included.
Unreliable, sharp edged, tenacious heroine? ✅
A sentient house whose walls and eaves and panes strain and warble and tend? ✅
A boy who wants to tend flowers but chooses to wield a sword? ✅
A story which asks questions about what it means to be from somewhere generally but from the Upper South specifically? ✅
I’d follow Alix Harrow just about anywhere - Underland included.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Classism, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
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