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rubyredders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
I felt very distant from the characters, short of a general feeling of
Despite the shortness of the story it felt like it really dragged to me. It took until after the first 50% before I felt anything other than god I hope this speeds up soon.
The world sounded interesting but I just couldn't engage with it and found the mapping of the place difficult (although I think that was kind of the point, it was still somewhat frustrating)
The ending left me more confused as to if I was supposed to feel some grand awe inspiring emotion or not - that was it? Huh, ok then.
The references to other media and locations were neat though when noticed, such as the allusion to C.S.Lewis' Mr Tumnus speaking to Lucy under the lamppost early on in the first half.
I think this is one of those books you'll either really enjoy or will struggle to connect to and for me it was the latter.
The slow start and unsatisfying ending is what ultimately has me giving this such a low rating though I can see how this would be a compelling story for others if you can really sink yourself into the mystery of the world early on, as Piranesi has such an optimistic view of the world and joyful nature that you want to see him achieve a happy ending
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Death, and Abandonment
chiming_bells's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I felt the dropped clues exciting enough that while you can guess what’s coming - the build up is satisfying, and the conclusion darkly poetic.
Graphic: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
medini_l's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Abandonment, Confinement, Gaslighting, Death, and Kidnapping
acorny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abandonment, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Death
godfrina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
When the Moon rose in the Third Northern Hall I went to the Ninth Vestibule.
If I have to read the word "vestibule" one more time this year...
Look, I gotta be honest, I did not love it.
Obviously, I read it for the hype / just wanted a shorter story inbetween other reads. I don't know what I expected.
The first 40% or so were an absolute slog for me. I dredged through, like Piranesi through the Drowned Halls; I was this close to my first DNF for the year.
Don't get me wrong, the prose as a whole is beautiful, albeit almost unintelligible. There is paragraphs of "I read it, but that's it". It knits together in the end, yes, however, it left me with an "huh"-feeling, with looming ✨anxiety and dread✨ behind it. I did not think it inspirational or hopeful.
I upped my initial rating of 2 for the second half of the novel to 2.5 as I clearly had a lot of thoughts right after finishing the story and that in itself always counts for something in my book.
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Death, Mental illness, and Gun violence
spoiledmilk's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.25
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child death
lola218_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
Moderate: Slavery, Death, Dementia, Grief, and Murder
ebp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Slavery
Minor: Child death, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
aprica'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? It's complicated
5.0
This is my first time reading something by Susanna Clarke and it makes me want to go back and read her other works!
Graphic: Kidnapping and Abandonment
becca_w_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Graphic: Gaslighting, Confinement, Death, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Death, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Abandonment, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child death, Cursing, and Mental illness