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l_e_lavalle'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? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Biphobia, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Body horror
Moderate: Outing, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Mental illness
nightmare_maven'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Car accident
Moderate: Mental illness and Outing
alli_the_bookaholic13'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? Yes
4.0
This was an excellent YA queer mystery thriller. If you’re not already intrigued by that alone, there are potential cult elements, a mysterious band disappearance from almost 20 years ago, a queer girl coming to terms with her sexuality, and a weird thing in the tunnels beneath the school that can grant wishes.
The writing style was really good. It was super easy to follow, and the author developed the creepy and unsettling atmosphere really well. I was completely sucked into this story, and I didn’t want to put it down. It did feel a little slow at times, but I enjoyed the mystery aspect and also the relationship aspect.
Finch has lived a pretty sheltered life, but after her parents death, she starts at Ulalume. She and Selena are drawn towards each other, and I enjoyed seeing Finch come to terms with her crush on Selena. Their relationship was really good, and I liked how it developed over the course of the book. Finch is also drawn down into the tunnels beneath Ulalume where she accidentally pulls something into existence in their world.
Selena was also a good character. I liked her confidence and how she owned her identity, and I really felt for her when we learned how she’d suffered before getting to this place where she could own it. Her toxic friendship/relationship with Kyra was very unsettling, and Kyra only became worse as the book progressed. Selena is drawn not only towards Finch, but she’s also pulled into the mystery of the thing in the tunnels when Kyra discovers it and gets her friends involved.
This got pretty dark at times, and the ending was really intense. I really liked the friendships that developed in the book, the romance, and the creepy mystery.
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Death, Murder, Death of parent, and Animal death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Grief, Suicide, Alcohol, Drug use, Medical trauma, and Outing
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Finch wants nothing more than to go to Ulalume Academy, a boarding school especially for artistically talented girls, to play the piano. But after a visit to the island in Maine, a tragic accident (or is it?) leaves Finch without her parents and completely changed. Meanwhile, Selena is dealing with her own problems at the Academy and wants nothing to do with Finch's weirdness.
This is dark and creepy all the way through, which I loved! The atmosphere is really good and the plot is super interesting. I really love the kind of accidental cult stuff that happens throughout the book. I also love the sapphic relationship and the discussions of identity within this book.
I didn't love the character development and felt like the pacing felt a little off. Things happened too fast to really be believable and organic for me. Other than that though, I enjoyed this dark academia!
Graphic: Death of parent, Car accident, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Bullying, Outing, Animal death, Gore, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
themagician's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Gore, Grief, Outing, Body horror, Vomit, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol and Toxic friendship