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romiress's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reread in 2021, and I am a bit less enthralled with it than I was. Original review below:
Oh man. I loved this book. I really did. Somehow it managed to take several elements I despise and make them into fantastic literature. I hate love triangles. I really do. Most of the time they are entirely unconnected to the main plot and quite poorly done. This love triangle felt important to the plot and realistic. You could understand why she fell for both men, which is a small miracle in the YA genre, where I almost never feel like I know what they see in each other.
The ending was fantastic (and definitely not a cliffhanger), and the book wraps itself up nicely enough that it could count as either a stand alone or as part of a series, and I'll no doubt end up reading the rest just because I enjoyed the first so much.
It felt atmospheric, and most of all realistic. Not in the monster bit, which was realistic enough to get a pass, but in how the characters reacted. The characterization feels excellent, and I felt like everyone developed through the story.
Oh man. I loved this book. I really did. Somehow it managed to take several elements I despise and make them into fantastic literature. I hate love triangles. I really do. Most of the time they are entirely unconnected to the main plot and quite poorly done. This love triangle felt important to the plot and realistic. You could understand why she fell for both men, which is a small miracle in the YA genre, where I almost never feel like I know what they see in each other.
The ending was fantastic (and definitely not a cliffhanger), and the book wraps itself up nicely enough that it could count as either a stand alone or as part of a series, and I'll no doubt end up reading the rest just because I enjoyed the first so much.
It felt atmospheric, and most of all realistic. Not in the monster bit, which was realistic enough to get a pass, but in how the characters reacted. The characterization feels excellent, and I felt like everyone developed through the story.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, Torture, Medical content, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
kristenm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! I didn't expect for us to actually travel to Moreau's island (I didn't actually read the blurb) so that was a nice surprise. In a way I was glad the whole book wasn't set in London. Despite Juliet being 16, I found most of the time this didn't read as a YA. She was very mature, and complex in her thoughts. There were definitely some steamy YA type "love scenes," but the rest of the novel was very adult in tone.
I will admit the last quarter was a bit much for me. There were almost too many twists. I'd rather the main reveal be more developed, as I got a bit bogged down with so many sudden revelations about nearly everyone and everything.
Note; when I warn there is animal cruelty, I mean it. There are graphic descriptions of animals suffering, as well as allusions to the suffering and abuse of animals throughout. It fits in the story, and it's not gratuitous, but could definitely be upsetting to some readers.
Normally I wouldn't consider reading a sequel to a book like this, but it is based on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde so I am all too tempted....
I will admit the last quarter was a bit much for me. There were almost too many twists. I'd rather the main reveal be more developed, as I got a bit bogged down with so many sudden revelations about nearly everyone and everything.
Note; when I warn there is animal cruelty, I mean it. There are graphic descriptions of animals suffering, as well as allusions to the suffering and abuse of animals throughout. It fits in the story, and it's not gratuitous, but could definitely be upsetting to some readers.
Normally I wouldn't consider reading a sequel to a book like this, but it is based on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde so I am all too tempted....
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Violence and Medical trauma
Minor: Medical content and Chronic illness
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