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mrsdragon'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
3.5
The author uses flashbacks and dual story lines to slowly dole out information and uses that mechanic well to up the intrigue and the mystery of the book. Unfortunately, sometimes she got so wrapped up in the details that even I started to wish she would move it along already. There were also "mysteries" that were so obvious it was painful how long it took for the truth to be recognized/explained.
I was here for the "dark mysterious god of the woods, maybe devil, kinda conjured from your drawing" trope, but aspects of Addie's relationship with the dark seemed forced, illogical, or contradictory. Despite the prose, there was a heavy-handed bit of "telling instead of showing".
And then there's the fact that while the main story follows Addie, a large chunk of the story follows another main character who is never mentioned in the jacket descriptions which...isn't really *wrong* but did seem weird.
The author also sets up a narrative device within the story that mimics the structure of the book (clever!) but which makes the first couple of chapters in the last section seem weirdly navel-gazey and self-referential. And the final chapter left me...sad.
I also just, generally had a lot of questions about
That said, the conceit was a fun one, the "holes" the author found in the curse, she did a fabulous job with how the dark both granted and twisted wishes in a way that felt both natural and inevitable once the downsides were understood.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Child death, War, Death of parent, Addiction, and Sexual content
mmmsnacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Moderate: Suicide attempt, War, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
coley_w_porter'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? No
5.0
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
laurenology's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Grief
thirza_joy'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
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: War, Drug use, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Violence, and Addiction
jtimog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Addiction
tranquiltides'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
5.0
It’s emotional in a longing sort of way, but anyone who enjoys a twist on “The Villian gets the girl” romance stories will certainly enjoy this read.
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Drug use, and War
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
alivotta'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual content
mald626's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Mental illness and Emotional abuse
persephonefoxx'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
5.0
“But isn’t it wonderful,” she says “to be an idea?”
So this book wins the award for first book this year to make me cry. It has curled up in my brain (where I am sure it will stay) like the echoes of an idea, the secondhand mark, that Addie LaRue leaves behind.
I don’t think I’ll be forgetting this story or the multitude of feelings it evoked in me for a long time.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Biphobia, Violence, and War