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snavehannah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault
iamthecampion'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault
Minor: Death
moss_martii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual assault
christopher_shiprack'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? It's complicated
4.5
Here we follow four artists with very different styles, mediums, ambitions, and motivations, as they seek to find meaning in their work and to decide if they hate or love one another. This multi-POV (but still third person) story offers compelling story arcs for each of our MCs and we learn about them at the same rate that they realize more and more about themselves.
The story centers around two young women, Louisa and Karina, who begin as distant, almost regretful, college roommates and evolve into passionate and warm lovers. Delightfully sapphic. A love story that feels earned by the end.
The pros are beautiful, filled with just the right amount of detail and all of the emotional weight. The pacing at times felt a little off, but I think that is mostly because I could't stand Preston (one of the MCs) and although I did find myself empathizing with him at times, I was always eager to move past his chapters.
I would call this novel dark academia adjacent. Much of the dark academia tropes and atmosphere is here, but overall the story reaches beyond the subgenre forming a mix of dark academia and more broad contemporary literature.
Perfect for lovers of contemporary and literary fiction.
Minor: Sexual assault
sjanke2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Casting: ironically, Phoebe Bridgers as Karina and Daisy Edgar Jones as Louisa
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
bella_cavicchi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
wormsforbrains's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
coming back to bump it down from 5 stars because
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use, Physical abuse, Suicide, Dementia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
escharlton's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide
crisp_biscuit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
exeuntomnes'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
4.75
Sirens and Muses has the perfect atmosphere for a story set in the world of art.
The story follows four different points of view: Louisa, Karina, and Preston, all art students at an elite art school called Wrynn, and Robert, a sulky art professor. We accompany the students throughout their complicated relationships with each other and their dedicated art practices as everything slowly begins to tear apart around them.
This book was both appealing and thoughtful. I really enjoyed the exploration of art, power, youth, and class; it was truly a page-turner from the start. Angress explores each character's personality in a truly unique way and how they are able to relate to their peers and the world around them.
The way each story of the characters masterfully intertwine felt entirely real and fascinating.
This story deeply moved me. I can't truly explain why. I loved the flawed characters, the longing to create something worthwhile, and the messy relationships that truly despict what it is to be part of the art world, the sensitivity and the self-doubt that this entails.
To be honest, the only thing I could say I didn't like or enjoy as much as the rest of the book was that the ending felt a bit rushed, but it was exciting and lovely to be able to read those last passages, which ended the story on a beautiful bittersweet note.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault