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myleejmiller's review
- 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
I could say so much more, and explain how much a story like this means to a person (of many flaws) like me, but I will simply end with this: Thank you. Thanks to V.E Schwab, the book itself, the agent who took it on, the publisher who printed it, and the readers who praised it so highly. You have made, altogether, an unforgettable tale of change, hope, and devastation. Thank you, from a reader who is just beginning to understand the impact a story can have.
Graphic: War, Violence, Blood, Cancer, Cursing, Death of parent, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Alcohol, and Death
kaziaroo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
But then Henry appeared. I honestly think I would have enjoyed the book more if I'd just skipped Henry's chapters. The story would have mostly made sense without them and I would have those hours of my life back. Although I related to some of his struggles with choosing his career path and specialism, and his situation is also sad, Henry's chapters were just boring. He mopes around all day and whenever he feels a little worse he just downs a mixture of drugs with gay abandon and no consequences the next day. His and Addie's "love" was totally unconvincing; compared to the other lovers we see her meet, Henry is by far the most dull and she only likes him so much because he remembers her. She becomes the only interesting thing about him.
I wish the book had either explored the world and history a bit more or been a couple of hundred pages shorter. I had no interest in watching Addie and Henry having nice days out and going to endless bars and clubs, or sleeping with everyone they meet. The flowery writing desperately tried to make me fall in love with the characters and settings, but it was all style over substance. My overall feeling about this book is disappointment after the hype.
I would recommend this to fans of Matt Haig's "How to Stop Time" and who want nice, deep-sounding quotes to put in their Instagram captions.
TL;DR: it was well executed for what it was but the writing was flowery, the male lead boring, the female lead unadventurous, and there was too much sex, drugs and rock & roll for my tastes.
Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Alcohol, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Stalking
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, Violence, Infidelity, War, and Vomit
rose_k's review
- 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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Toxic relationship, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Suicide attempt, and War
espressoreader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
analenegrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a beautiful read that made me feel many complicated feelings. Addie, as a character, was not the perfect heroine, she didn't always make you feel like she was doing the right thing, but her motivations were fleshed out, thought out, and clearly based in the character. She felt real. As a character, Henry was also thoughtfully written, although I wish his obvious lifelong depression had been called that because I think naming things takes some of their power, but still, his was a beautifully written tale.
Together the two characters created this beautiful love story with Addie's 300-year-long invisible life that intertwined so well with the history around her. She wasn't the main character in the history, my pet peeve in anything historical, but was, instead, a piece of many parts of history on the sidelines.
I loved the ending, I enjoyed that we didn't see Addie
This type of fantasy, especially women-led and woman-written fantasy, is always so wonderful, I only wish it wasn't reduced to tropes. I've seen this called a romance novel many times, and at the end of the day, it is many, it is everything, it is wonderful.
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: War and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Alcohol, and Confinement
amre23's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Self harm, Stalking, Dysphoria, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Rape
Moderate: Grief, Cursing, Suicide, Emotional abuse, War, Sexism, Terminal illness, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Drug abuse
Minor: Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, and Confinement
mobymaize's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Death, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Drug use, Alcohol, Murder, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Addiction, War, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Cancer
parfait52's review
- 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? No
3.5
If you enjoy reading gorgeous, languid writing that feels almost burdensome at times, with some insightful peeks into the mind of an unfortunate soul, this is the book for you. If you enjoy a clear plot with characters that are revealed through actions instead of long ramblings, this is not the book for you. Ultimately, I am glad that I read this book but I probably wouldn't want to do it again. Kind of like life itself.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol, Drug use, War, Death, Abandonment, and Stalking
Minor: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Confinement, and Cursing
skygray's review
- 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? No
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault and Cursing
marissasa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Violence, Mental illness, Cursing, Suicide attempt, War, Alcohol, and Confinement