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aklovekorn'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
3.75
Moderate: Classism, Gore, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Bullying, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, and Xenophobia
miagic_tome's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Sumic, Yu'adir, and Kathartist religions were interesting in their differing interpretations on the same topics, like the Demiurge. But the almost one to one comparisons of language and practices to real life religions was so off putting it took me out of immersion. Reading words like Bible and confession felt so out of place in this story that tries so hard to be fantastical. Not to mention the very blatant antisemitic conspiracy theories that occurred within the world. How many religious groups can be hated for secretly controlling all the banks? At least two apparently. Considering how important it was that the main characters were religious minorities, these uncanny mentions happen quite a few times and it really struck me as odd every time, I feel like there are new practices and forms of hatred that could've taken place.
Despite the above, I really enjoyed the interactions between all the characters, good and bad. Margaret and Wes's inner monologues were immersive I loved both of them going from hate/indifference to begrudging companionship to.... more. Oh but it was like deja vu to see
As complainy as this review has been, I did enjoy this book and am open to reading more works from this author at some point.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, and Grief
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
callistag1'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: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Xenophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Violence, Classism, Animal death, and Blood
Minor: Colonisation, Death, Child death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
zoeelora's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Grief, Animal death, Hate crime, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, and Gun violence
readwithria'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
3.5
I will say that something about the pacing of this book didn’t quite click with me, and I don’t love how little time there was for resolution at the end, but otherwise this was really enjoyable! Definitely a good spooky season read for people who enjoy reading seasonally. 3.5 stars.
Graphic: Blood, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Panic attacks/disorders
samflowerv6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
The was uniquely beautiful and mysterious. If you like A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, I am certain this will hit in a similar way. I love grumpy sunshine when the boy is sunshine. They are just perfect to me. Creatures with glowing eyes in the dark, alchemy, trauma, lonely seaside manor and prejudice are some main points in the story. An overall beautiful tale of finding the people who love you as you truly are and believe in your future.
“When she looks like this, flushed and hazy and haloed by the moon, he truly can believe God exists, and her name is Margaret Welty.” '
“In the dim porchlight, she looks like something out of a poem he read in school before he dropped out.”
“How many times will she watch someone leave this place and never look back, while she is left here like a ghost to haunt it?”
“Weston, with his foppish hair and calculating smile
“If he can’t grieve his father or his impossible dreams without hurting his family or himself, what other choice does he have but to keep things light? To dazzle people so they can’t look for the cracks? He’s survived this long by letting everyone believe he’s selfish and shallow. It’s better that way. No one knows how to hurt you if you always play the fool.”
“Love is not the sharp-edged thing she's always believed it to be. It's not like the sea, liable to slip through her fingers if she holds on too tight. It's not a currency, something to be earned or denied or bartered for. Love can be steadfast. It can be certain and safe, or as wild as an open flame.”
“But if lust is so perverse, why would God make girls”
“There are punishments far worse than being struck. To be forsaken and unloved - that is the worst fate of all.”
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Cursing
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Death
the_wandering_wisp's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
I really like the idea of this world, the magical Hala, and the alchemy, but the magic of this realm leaves something to be desired. I wanted to know more about the legends and history of this world.
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Racism, and Abandonment
johnstonsami'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
4.75
Graphic: Colonisation, Cursing, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Classism, Abandonment, Antisemitism, Child death, and Death
naomidanae'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? No
4.5
I think my only issue with this book is how unclear the time period of the book is. There are phones and cars and all, but then 25 cents is apparently a lot of money. And the rifle has a magazine? Otherwise, this is a great book.
A few quotes:
"Love is not the sharp-edged thing she’s always believed it to be. It’s not like the sea, liable to slip through her fingers if she holds on too tight. It’s not a currency, something to be earned or denied or bartered for. Love can be steadfast. It can be certain and safe, or as wild as an open flame. It’s a slice of buttered bread at a dinner table. It’s a grudge born of worry. It’s broken skin pulled over swelling knuckles."
"All I know for sure is that if God or the truth or whatever you want to call it is out there and we can reach it, we’re not going to find it in that box. We’ll find it in other people.”
“Loneliness is a terrible thing. Maybe the most terrible thing.”
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
kristinallard'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
4.75
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders