A review by alaris
Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O'Neal

adventurous challenging emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

3.5

Pretty relatable characters for anyone who's got lots of online friends that are close at heart but you haven't managed to meet face to face yet. I appreciate platonic soulmates that are strong, and the tumblr/discord chat format was done pretty well and realistically. And the lycanthropy metaphor for chronic illness, and discussion of common chronic illness experiences/frustrations, was interesting.

The main character being a POC, from a white author, did feel pretty weird and like that was chosen just for more surface appeal - it had no story impact at all, like it could have been a last-minute choice to appeal to a different market. And the first half had so much understandable emphasis on the frustrations of Priya and the others never knowing how she'll feel in a given day - then mostly ignored that with chasing Brigid around. I mean, sure, wanting to help a friend can mean ignoring some pain but that won't stop your body from demanding rest, from what I've seen from friends who have chronic illnesses.
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