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msrae89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
lydiasturges's review against another edition
- 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
The quiet despair of Marlinchen was utterly breathtaking and tragic. I loved the simultaneous whimsy and horror of the story. I do enjoy a good unreliable narrator who just doesn’t know what’s going on and gives off the vibe that they are slightly losing their mind. The abuse she suffered at the hands of her family should have made her mean and cruel, but Marlinchen really is a kind person. I also loved Sevas. A delightfully complex character who cares so deeply.
While some aspects of the story were easy to see coming, I didn’t care because it was executed so well.
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
jeslo's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Cannibalism, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Please please please please read with carecallistag1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
comfy_anna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Abortion and Abandonment
jordyfrombookclub'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Vomit and Cannibalism
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
njrebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
ceebee86's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
I am not fully convinced of its "horror" label. There were moments where I thought it was disturbing and gross for sure--just like The Juniper Tree fairy tale. But this was more sad than anything.
I found Marlinchen to be a bit aggravating at first but it really does just take some getting used to. She's not so much aggravating as she is sad. The profound effects of abuse permeate her very mentally ill mind.
On this subject I thought the novel really hit. It was very real. The parental and sexual abuse, the honeymoon reconciliation and the rest of the stages in the cycle of abuse, the way siblings grow to use each other for their own survival, and the trauma bonding, were all just so so real.
My one major gripe is that it did slip into a repetitive or redundant style. The book mentions breasts and nipples a lot. And yeah maybe there was an intent to it thematically, but at some point it just became too much. I was tired of it.
And also the constant "I am ugly and my two sisters are beautiful" schtick. I get it. Characterizing women only by their one most defining physical feature is very much a fairytale trope, but it's so tiresome in the context of a contemporary novel.
I believe Reid said this book thematically revolved around the advancement of society under capitalism. That was an undercurrent across the book as a whole. And I thought it established the atmosphere and setting really well.
Overall, a decent read but not for the impatient or those with weak stomachs.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Antisemitism
courtzab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The writing was beautiful! I'm just not certain that gothic horror is for me.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Cannibalism
multiplyoctopi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Vomit
Moderate: Animal death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, and Death of parent