Reviews

I wanted to be dazzled, baptized, converted. Instead I was mostly befuddled. This is one of those unusual cases where I felt like the author's careful attention to the cadences of the prose actually detracted from the story. I was so busy nodding my head along to the rhythms of the words that I felt like characterization and plot slipped past me. Contrast this with my readings of [a:Juliet Marillier|8649|Juliet Marillier|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1373081365p2/8649.jpg]'s works, in which I am sucked so thoroughly into the lives of the characters that everything else--world-building, prose, plot--only added to the thrill of my emotional investment. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm realizing now how essential my attachment to the characters are to my enjoyment of a story, and that sometimes pretty words aren't going to cut it.

ettuladyblue's review against another edition

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5.0

Brilliant and beautiful! The prose unfolds so lyrically, it feels more like a song than a book. It has a true fairytale feel, with all the darkness and light that implies.
A classic fairytale blended with the rise of Communist Russia. The characters play against their tropes, upholding and subverting them. Just a solid satisfying read based on a premise you'd never expect to work. But it does, and it does so beautifully!
Highly recommend if you're looking for a new take on some old stories. You're in marvelous hands.

zoebeketova's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

cas_the_second's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

baekchen's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

what else to say other than that this was pretty much perfect and everything i ever wanted. angry at myself for waiting so long to read it, but i'm so glad i finally did.

_lovebug_'s review against another edition

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I-
wtf did I just read??
like I do not know how to rate this
I feel weird like unsettled and confused like my brains been fucked with I have no words no thoughts head empty

that's all

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