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codexvraenise's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Well, what can I say? Due to the given information on the back of the book, I thought I would read some sort of folk fairy tale woven into modern life, which was the reason why I bought the book in the first place. After some chapters in I realised, this was not what the book wanted to be. It reminded me very much of "Pan's labyrith" in the way that the reader/watcher is presented with two stories at the time: one about a magical world next to our own and one real but very gruesome, which pushes especially a child's mind to escapism and a twisted understanding and justification of experiences. While reading bit by bit the reader is invited to follow the (dark) magical telling of the main character, Cassandra, and/or to translate all her words to "their real meaning". This is how all the unreal, fantastical and therefor distant things get an all too real and (certainly for many readers) disturbing touch.
Even if the book wasn't what I expected from it and wasn't quite my type I still have to say, that I found it very "entertaining" and read it almost in one go. The way Cassandra connected her reality with the opinions and perceptions of others was very fascinating and creative and the writingstyle of the story (newspaper articles, excerpts of a psycological book written about Cassandra, the idea of her heirs reading her/this manuscript) conviced me to go on reading.
Although, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone easily, as the "real" or even the mythical aspects of the story can be quite distressing. I guess this is a book which finds its audience and not something you just give someone as a birthday present.
Even if the book wasn't what I expected from it and wasn't quite my type I still have to say, that I found it very "entertaining" and read it almost in one go. The way Cassandra connected her reality with the opinions and perceptions of others was very fascinating and creative and the writingstyle of the story (newspaper articles, excerpts of a psycological book written about Cassandra, the idea of her heirs reading her/this manuscript) conviced me to go on reading.
Although, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone easily, as the "real" or even the mythical aspects of the story can be quite distressing. I guess this is a book which finds its audience and not something you just give someone as a birthday present.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Abortion, Gaslighting, Suicide, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cannibalism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Infidelity
Minor: Bullying, Blood, and Death of parent
bookishwxnds's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Minor: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
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