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xcinnamonsugar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Bella's origin story initially reads like a misogynistic rewrite of Frankenstein. The narrator (Candless) discovers that his doctor friend (Baxter) has resurrected a beautiful 25-year-old woman (Bella) and given her the mental faculties of a literal child.
As the story progresses, Bella assumes the role of a young child trying to understand the ways of the world, and why its rules promote inequality and exploitation. She routinely calls out instances of misogyny and colonialism.
I felt slightly dissatisfied by the conclusion. There were still too many gaps and unanswered questions, even after accounting for the fact that we are reading conflicting accounts by two unreliable narrators. Perhaps weaving in so many complex topics came at the expense of a watertight storyline. The narrative did get boring at times, and I wish Bella's POV had been fleshed out more.
Moderate: Suicide and Sexual content
lennie_reads'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
jenamthompson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
torturedreadersdept'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Classism, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Violence, Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Child abuse, Suicide, Addiction, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Racism
louiepotterbook'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Incest, Miscarriage, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Suicide, Blood, Gore, Gaslighting, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
issyd23'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
3.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Self harm, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Classism, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Abandonment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Biphobia, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Suicide, and Terminal illness
bdingz'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide, Sexism, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content and Gun violence
Minor: Child death, War, and Forced institutionalization
lattelibrarian'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
5.0
It begs the questions of women's narratives, and who is allowed to tell them. It also begs the question of control, of medicine, of loving and living out of necessity or out of survival.
I'm somehow at a loss of words for this book--it was so much better than I could have imagined and brought my curiosity to new depths; it's sparked imagination like no other.
Moderate: Suicide, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Minor: Domestic abuse
lost_in_stereo's review against another edition
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content
ruthallison2000'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Medical content