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bella613's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
There's no mystery when there is no clues. If you leave your reader completely in the dark it doesn't hook them in. It's assumed that the grace year is meant to be a way to control young women, but if you want to subdue them, why would you tell them they have strong magical powers? What is the incentive for them to get rid of their magic, and what is the plan for this glorified no-supply camping trip to do the trick? It's a cool idea for a premise but wayyy underdeveloped because none of it made any sense.
I did enjoy the later-middle part of the book, which introduced a lot of possible outcomes.
The ending, in summary, was extremely disappointing. I have no idea if there is a sequel planned but I have no interest in reading more of this.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Violence, Cannibalism, Sexual harassment, Excrement, Pedophilia, Animal death, Biphobia, Animal cruelty, Child death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Medical content, Bullying, Infertility, Rape, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Fatphobia
arsmagicalibrorum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Miscarriage and Medical content
organizedxchaos'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Vomit, Animal death, Misogyny, Excrement, and Bullying
Minor: Cursing
thehannahclaire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Death, Medical content, Bullying, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Suicide
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
kaleighmadden'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Blood, Child death, and Sexism
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gore, and Medical content
kirkspockreads's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Confinement, Murder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
emilywemily6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Trafficking, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Suicide, Death, and Self harm
Moderate: Medical content, Ableism, and Sexual content
Minor: Infertility
rinku's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Cannibalism, Torture, Gore, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Infertility, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
unicornofthesea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Bullying, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gore, Classism, Suicide, Death, Sexual content, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Confinement, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Animal death and Fire/Fire injury
bookishchef's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
But the rest...
Oh the rest...
I went into this book with low expectations. To be reminiscent of the Handmaid's Tale is quite a big claim, so my expectations plummeted to the lowest circle of Hell.
And that's where my expectations would have remained if the first quarter of this book wasn't so good.
The mystery is interesting. And the flower language worldbuilding feels very unique and not too far removed from our own world at the same time. The author keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Is the magic real? Who are the Poachers and what motivates them? Why is Kiersten such a bitch? They're interesting questions, and the answers weren't bad either but the way we got those answers...
At about the 25% mark the story starts to drag a bit. This is made up for by Liggett's excellent writing. At this point, you don't know whether Tierney is spiraling into madness or whether the world around her is truly mad. The plot doesn't move forward, but the story remains interesting.
Then at the 50% it all goes to shit.
Suddenly, we get introduced to the most bland love interest I've ever read about. He has no personality and falls for Tierney for no discernible reason. And of course, Tierney loves him back despite him having the personality of unseasoned chicken.
The author rushes us through a love story. And when I say rushes, I mean RUSHES.
And then, after some shenanigans we're back to the plot and the mystery and the book is actually really good again until the last fucking chapter.
What the fuck was that love story doing in this book? This story really really really did not need a romance plotline. The book would have been an easy 3 (or maybe even 4) star for me if the romance had not been there. It takes away from the themes of the book and undercuts its message. I don't understand how you write a book about sisterhood and fighting the patriarchy, and then have the MC only care about her male love interest for half of the book. Aaaaaaaaaaaaah.
The book also has very white feminism vibes. Can't quite put my finger on what exactly rubs me the wrong way, but to begin with, the book has 0 characters of colour
Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Murder, Death, Animal death, Blood, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Medical content
Moderate: Vomit and Lesbophobia
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, and Infertility