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kathleendayle's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
In concept, SUCH a fascinating idea. In execution, poorly done. The story felt disjointed, and characters inadequately developed. Because there wasn’t enough differentiation in characters’ voices, I found it difficult to keep all the names and relationships straight. The plot twist felt like it came out of absolutely nowhere (but not in a good way). I wanted to like this book, wanted it to be a novel exploration of race and colorism entwined with a modern retelling of a classic fairy tale, but mostly I just felt confused the whole way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Racism, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Rape
eu_grace's review against another edition
This book is unnecessarily transphobic it left me feeling so revolted by the last 3 chapters. So uncalled for and literally did nothing but make me hate the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
eastpt's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
valent1ne's review against another edition
4.25
I love how she writes families & children sooooooooo much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Transphobia
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Rape
eener's review against another edition
mysterious
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Soooo many layers to my appreciation of this book, definitely looking forward to reading this author's other work :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Sexual assault
kulera's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Do not read this book if you are trans or experience gender dysphoria.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
msradiosilence's review against another edition
0.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Abandonment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Racism
Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Alcoholism
Minor: Pregnancy and Rape
btaylorb's review
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I have complicated feelings about this book… the two narrators for the audio edition were fantastic, really captured the voice of Boy and Bird.
The resolution if you can call it that is unsatisfying, even deeply problematic, following a meandering plot. My favorite part was Bird’s section, which I wish had been longer and given more space for the relationship between Bird and Snow to develop and lead to more of a climactic confrontation with their mother. There are also plot and character details that are SO subtextual the first time they come up that when they are named outright later on they left me wondering if I had missed something.
The prose in this book is beautiful, wry and observant and successful at the mythic/magical realism balance of making the unusual seem normal and necessary. But the detail of not showing up in mirrors as a red herring annoyed me! Why focus on breaking the “spell” on Boy’s father in the end rather than exploring what that shared experience means for Boy, Snow and Bird, how that functions as its own kind of spell? IDK. I’m cautiously eager read other books by Oyeyemi because the writing style is so good, I just hope the plotting gets more thoughtful.
The resolution if you can call it that is unsatisfying, even deeply problematic, following a meandering plot. My favorite part was Bird’s section, which I wish had been longer and given more space for the relationship between Bird and Snow to develop and lead to more of a climactic confrontation with their mother. There are also plot and character details that are SO subtextual the first time they come up that when they are named outright later on they left me wondering if I had missed something.
The prose in this book is beautiful, wry and observant and successful at the mythic/magical realism balance of making the unusual seem normal and necessary. But the detail of not showing up in mirrors as a red herring annoyed me! Why focus on breaking the “spell” on Boy’s father in the end rather than exploring what that shared experience means for Boy, Snow and Bird, how that functions as its own kind of spell? IDK. I’m cautiously eager read other books by Oyeyemi because the writing style is so good, I just hope the plotting gets more thoughtful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Child abuse, and Classism
Minor: Transphobia and Rape
tetromino's review against another edition
medium-paced
1.5
Idk what to even say about this book. It was like, fine, for the majority. I was just kinda plodding through it for reading challenge purposes. Then BOOM an extremely out of place, and frankly offensive, ending. I can't even tell if the author intended it to be so rancid but it certainly came off that way. Fucking eeeyikes, no matter how you want to interpret it, to present a character's way of gender presentation (or possibly mental illness, as the book maybe implies???) as a spell they need to "break" by convincing the person they are miserable actually is a bad look.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia