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simareading'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual violence, Self harm, Body horror, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abortion, Death, Colonisation, and Excrement
Minor: Homophobia
talonsontypewriters's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Murder, Rape, and Death of parent
Moderate: Kidnapping, Child death, Abandonment, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Sexism, War, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Vomit
Minor: Classism, Homophobia, Transphobia, Colonisation, Abortion, Dysphoria, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, and Racism
Smoking. Urination. Discussion of and explicit descriptions of rape, as well as depiction of aftermath, but no extended scene. Sexual coercion, victim blaming/justification of rape (by character; criticized by others and narrative), discrimination against sex workers. Pregnancy and birth by rape. Decapitation. Metaphorical mentions of bestiality. Sexual relationships in a shapeshifter-unique dynamic compared to but not necessarily equivalent to parent-child dynamics, where one party has sometimes been raised by the other since youth; discussed and alluded to, but not graphically shown on-page.aardwyrm's review
- 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: Death of parent, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Cannibalism, Classism, Rape, Child death, Death, Drug use, Excrement, Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, War, Abortion, Animal death, Body horror, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Kidnapping, Stalking, Vomit, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Torture
kateofmind'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Cannibalism, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Vomit, Sexual violence, Murder, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Colonisation
kaabtik's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It gives an interesting new spin on old folktales, stretching and twisting their origins that make sense for the people in the story and for us as readers to connect to our own beliefs. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it, though at times it was difficult due to the content. It was everything up my alley and it did not disappoint at all.
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Vomit
Minor: Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
2000sanimeop's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
The Good
The writing is competent and has a good flow. I enjoyed the kind of Interview With a
The Bad
The author's understanding of women appears to be wholly limited to the pain and suffering inflicted upon them by men. That's all there is for women in this joyless book. Initially, I appreciated the rage that Cyrah feels in response to the constant violence visited upon her, but it's ultimately impotent and meaningless.
Speaking of meaningless, the very first thing I did after finishing this book was google
In general, this book is a total slog, despite being on the shorter side. The world Das has created is downright Hobbesian, and I can only read so much of that before I wonder if there is a point to it all.
The Smelly
This book is obsessed with stank, and not in the way people horny for werewolves usually are. If I had read a print copy of this rather than listen to the audiobook, I genuinely would not have finished it. Why do these characters piss and shit themselves so much?! If you think I am exaggerating, go ahead! Read this accursed thing to prove me wrong (
In general, it did seem like Das tried to write from an informed perspective, but he really, *really*, missed the mark.
Graphic: Excrement, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Blood, Rape, and Misogyny
whatellisreadnext's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
nithya_natalya's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CONTENT WARNING, sexual assault and abuse
This book does contain rape. While it was hard to read, as a survivor myself, I found Cyrah's story resonating with me, not in a triggering way, but in a way that felt liberating. She is always depicted as a powerful, multi-dimensional human. It never felt as though the male characters were the ones "empowering" her. Her power was not something given or taken by men. She was driven by a power that already and always existed within herself.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Gore, and Blood