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alliallialli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Death
Moderate: Murder
eversaurus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Transphobia
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Body horror
tasarla's review against another edition
3.0
Overall I enjoyed the premise of the book but felt it was not well executed.
The premise is interesting but I wish it was fleshed out more. My favourite part of the book was learning about Nancy’s world.
The book changes genre halfway through and the lack of consistent perspective (ie jumping between Eleanor and Nancy without at least some kind of line break) was jarring to read and just felt like poor writing.
The characters are all a bit flat and not very fleshed out; they’re defined solely by their doorway worlds (which we don’t learn anywhere near enough about) without any underlying complexity.
The trans characters backstory was interesting and he’s one the better & well-developed characters in the book. But then the transphobia in the later half of the book comes out of nowhere and is jarring to read compared to the context of the rest of the book
The setting of the book is amazing, I just feel the story itself was lacking and the writing style just wasn’t technically brilliant. The first half of the book had me hoping it would get better and better but it just didn’t. Overall, a good idea poorly executed.
The premise is interesting but I wish it was fleshed out more. My favourite part of the book was learning about Nancy’s world.
The book changes genre halfway through and the lack of consistent perspective (ie jumping between Eleanor and Nancy without at least some kind of line break) was jarring to read and just felt like poor writing.
The characters are all a bit flat and not very fleshed out; they’re defined solely by their doorway worlds (which we don’t learn anywhere near enough about) without any underlying complexity.
The trans characters backstory was interesting and he’s one the better & well-developed characters in the book. But then the transphobia in the later half of the book comes out of nowhere and is jarring to read compared to the context of the rest of the book
The setting of the book is amazing, I just feel the story itself was lacking and the writing style just wasn’t technically brilliant. The first half of the book had me hoping it would get better and better but it just didn’t. Overall, a good idea poorly executed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
blackeyedraptor's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.75
I enjoyed this book, although it was rushed, especially the end. This would easily have been a 5 if it had been longer and more filled out.
That being said, I really enjoyed the characters and the writing style. I actually cheered when the main character stated she was asexual, since I am too and there's far too little positive representation of that.
I'll definitely be reading more from this author. Great story, great characters, great plot and imagery, just needed more fleshing out.
That being said, I really enjoyed the characters and the writing style. I actually cheered when the main character stated she was asexual, since I am too and there's far too little positive representation of that.
I'll definitely be reading more from this author. Great story, great characters, great plot and imagery, just needed more fleshing out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
Minor: Transphobia
skogsheks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Transphobia, Bullying, and Blood
avacadosocks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Eating disorder and Acephobia/Arophobia
rachelunabridged's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Child death, Blood, Gore, Death, and Transphobia
xxfirerainbowxx's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Child death
Minor: Death of parent, Bullying, and Transphobia
angorarabbit's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
TLDR: I really enjoyed this novella. It is so nice to see an ace character.
In my meditations of what is a YA novel this is almost one. Most characters are children, but we start out with the pov of an adult. I wouldn’t have a problem with a tween reading the book, but it doesn’t have the heroic chosen one vibe that I associate with YA. So I don’t know. I liked the book though and in the end that’s all that matters, right?
The plot moves quickly, not wasting time on too many descriptions. The dialogue is crisp and believable. One is given enough information regarding backgrounds for the main characters. The High Fantasy girls group could us a little more book time. I kept getting confused who was who and it didn’t really matter too much.
The mystery was unexpected and fun though it did require a little suspension of disbelief. I did figure out who did it before the end of the book though.
I want to know about Nancy’s new adventures.I really loved Kade’s character and would like to see his growing responsibilities at the school. I’m not sure I can stand reading about Jacqueline and Jillian’s parents though. They sound truly disturbing.
I also hope that whoever makes a film or series for the telly of this does not make it into a children’s movie or dilute the themes of alienation and otherness of the novella.
Like I say, it’s easier to write lots about the books you hate than the books you love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Murder, Body horror, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Eating disorder, Transphobia, and Deadnaming