Reviews

The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe

robbo13's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

booktrovert's review

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dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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nisreen110's review

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

ted_umeh's review

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

obiageriaku's review

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dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

ariannereads's review

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

ayiri's review

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

aridoubra's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I want to fight everyone except Nani because, they failed her.
1, The gateman could have kept better watch and report back to the parent. Nani was just a baby.
2. The mother failed her so badly. I understand focusing on your business, but just letting your daughter go without verifying why is foul. It's giving a nonchalant and selfish parent. 

3. Ugo gets a pass because she's still young. I think she tried her best. 


4. For someone who claims to know Nani and her siblings a lot, I'm surprised Aunty did not notice that something was wrong.
5. Ephraim may you rot in jail. Such a cruel man. 
The only thing that brings me peace is that Nani and her kids are thriving. And that she renamed them. I hated those names they were called.

clotalksbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.5

What a powerful story. Although a retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth, I was glad to hear that there would be a hopeful ending when I attended an event with the author. That made listening to this bearable, as it is such a gut-wrenching story. It is so sad and terrifying that this sort of thing happens in the world. 

The characters are so well drawn, and the conflicts within are painted so fully. 

The narrators are wonderful, and I loved the parts in different languages. The setting is brought alive through the language and voice. 

I hurtled through this, desperate to see what would happen to the characters. This shows the strength of the writing, as usually with such bleak subject matter I'm in no rush to pick it up. Wonderfully tackled in this book though. 

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melc's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is a hard-hitting story of grief and trauma and how a family is ripped apart by loss. I was really gripped by this novel and loved the structure of the three sisters' different narratives. However, this structure became a little too loose towards the end and I was slightly less engaged. But this is a really strong novel, with a story which is heartbreaking at times but ultimately full of hope.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.