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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I promise I'm not trying to be funny, but I fear I am not smart enough for this book. Was it gorgeously written? Yes, absolutely. I highlighted a lot because the sentences were woven together so beautifully. However, with so many characters to follow, I found myself getting lost. I don't think this is a "bad" book; I just struggle with what it really was. It was the most genre-bending, atmospheric, eerie book, and maybe I need to re-read, but my head hurts.
Graphic: Death and Body horror
Moderate: Murder, Rape, Incest, Eating disorder, Sexual content, War, and Animal cruelty
amiegold's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While I loved the ending, I was restless along the way with the sometimes nauseating and frustrating characters and plot lines. If you enjoy deep symbolism and dark themes, this may be a good book for you.
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault, Excrement, Alcohol, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Colonisation, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Cursing
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Gore
sophia_zaytoun_habib's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Alcoholism, Violence, Body shaming, Alcohol, Abandonment, Vomit, Gore, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Murder, Excrement, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Death, Classism, Body horror, and Blood
georgiesutton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I normally like multiple time lines and characters but this was too much back and forth with too long in between timelines to follow and make the connections. Not having dates, just using time before and after, and the sheer number of characters made this quite confusing. I felt there wasn't enough plot or chronology to carry it and I felt that meant some of the connections didn't pack the punch they should have because I forgot who was who etc.
Most of the characters had no redeeming features although the female experience was centred which was interesting there were so many women I would have liked more of.
Some of the writing was beautiful but also sometimes dragged with several long drawn out descriptions of unpleasant men getting drunk and making women uncomfortable for no real purpose.
I'm also really frustrated that
Overall this was eerie and atmospheric but not enough plot for me with hugely dislikable characters.
Moderate: Alcohol, Body horror, Self harm, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Blood, Death, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Sexism, and Sexual content
punched_out_mirror's review
- 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
4.5
Moderate: War, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Racism, Death, and Body horror
takemetomilos's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Also this book was straight up difficult to read, but it was worth it in the end. I’m a big DNF kinda guy, and the multiple time periods and points and views and endless characters in what is a genuinely complex story should have made me want to stop, but the writing itself was just to lyrical to give up. And then in the last third of the book you can’t help but being swept away. Trust the process w this one. Def not a quick read and I feel like I need a book club to unpack everything but I loved it.
Deserves a revisit. I LOVE REVENGE STORIES❤️
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual violence, Rape, War, Slavery, Colonisation, Death, Confinement, and Misogyny
Moderate: Pregnancy, Incest, and Drug use
Minor: Eating disorder, Vomit, and Animal cruelty
porporina's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Vomit, Alcohol, Abandonment, Body horror, Misogyny, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexism
ashwaar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
nialiversuch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Excrement, Blood, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexism, Colonisation, Death, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Classism, Body horror, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Rape, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, and Incest
sorcha's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Vomit
Minor: Blood, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Eating disorder, War, Addiction, Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault