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lucybbookstuff's Reviews (376)
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Might edit this later, but just wanted to get these thoughts down. These are the complaints I held throughout reading this book:
- I might have gotten more out of it if the blurb and the opening chapter hadn't told me the whole plot. If what happened to the sisters was more of a surprise. This is part of why it felt so slow for me. It just felt like a long way to say what had already been summarized and I was waiting for something new to happen... and nothing really did.
- I somewhat wish that the Iris Chapel/Sylvia Wren perspectives had been more mixed together. It felt like an awfully long time to wait to get back to the protagonist we were first introduced to (even if they are the same person).
- While I appreciate the feminist themes and the critique of the treatment of women, I found it extremely heavy-handed and also completely mystifying. Which was maybe the point but didn't work for me. Why this family? Why Belinda's line? What was it all for? And why did it happen this way?
- Lastly, it seemed like the gun legacy and the victim ghosts were going to be a much bigger part of the story, and that was interesting to me, but it was disappointingly sidelined.
Okay that is a lot of complaints lol, this wasn't my favorite book. But despite all of that, I did find it interesting and well-written, and I was invested in Iris's story. Just wish it had been executed a bit differently.
- I might have gotten more out of it if the blurb and the opening chapter hadn't told me the whole plot. If what happened to the sisters was more of a surprise. This is part of why it felt so slow for me. It just felt like a long way to say what had already been summarized and I was waiting for something new to happen... and nothing really did.
- I somewhat wish that the Iris Chapel/Sylvia Wren perspectives had been more mixed together. It felt like an awfully long time to wait to get back to the protagonist we were first introduced to (even if they are the same person).
- While I appreciate the feminist themes and the critique of the treatment of women, I found it extremely heavy-handed and also completely mystifying. Which was maybe the point but didn't work for me. Why this family? Why Belinda's line? What was it all for? And why did it happen this way?
- Lastly, it seemed like the gun legacy and the victim ghosts were going to be a much bigger part of the story, and that was interesting to me, but it was disappointingly sidelined.
Okay that is a lot of complaints lol, this wasn't my favorite book. But despite all of that, I did find it interesting and well-written, and I was invested in Iris's story. Just wish it had been executed a bit differently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Self harm
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I found it lacking. I would have loved the same story but with a lot more detail and maybe some different perspectives.
Also, big sigh at this teen girl written by a man.
Also, big sigh at this teen girl written by a man.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved it. I do kinda still want a book of this time period from Feyre's POV, but oh well. I really enjoyed this and Nesta's story is incredibly important to the overarching plot.
As usual, I'll never say these are literary masterpieces lol. Far from it. The world building is absolutely bonkers and confused, and way too many of the big moments are far too convenient.
However, the lovable characters and the journeys they go on to heal from their traumas are so endearing and interesting. That's what keeps me reading these. And what has me pissed that I probably have to wait several years for a new one. 😤
As usual, I'll never say these are literary masterpieces lol. Far from it. The world building is absolutely bonkers and confused, and way too many of the big moments are far too convenient.
However, the lovable characters and the journeys they go on to heal from their traumas are so endearing and interesting. That's what keeps me reading these. And what has me pissed that I probably have to wait several years for a new one. 😤
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm sitting here trying to think of a reason I might knock half a point off my rating, but I'm coming up empty! Another review I read mentioned they didn't connect with the big ideas about metaphysics and various pseudoscientific theories, and normally I wouldn't love that either, but it was presented so matter-of-factly and in such a digestible way, I didn't take issue with it at all. Which is honestly a major feat in the writing, when the science doesn't go completely over my head. So, 5 stars it is.
Loved everything about this. I'm a very gullible reader and I don't have wild theories or think anything is obvious until the author's hints are dropped for me to pick up (so thankful for that because then mysteries actually serve their purpose for me). And this book was *expertly* crafted for picking up hints and changing my hypothesis every 50 or so pages. It was a lot of fun. The unreliable (and hilariously endearing) narrator. The world-building. As I said, the expertly-crafted mystery. Just perfect.
Loved everything about this. I'm a very gullible reader and I don't have wild theories or think anything is obvious until the author's hints are dropped for me to pick up (so thankful for that because then mysteries actually serve their purpose for me). And this book was *expertly* crafted for picking up hints and changing my hypothesis every 50 or so pages. It was a lot of fun. The unreliable (and hilariously endearing) narrator. The world-building. As I said, the expertly-crafted mystery. Just perfect.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not fully in love with Backman's writing style (mainly the way everything falls so neatly into place that it's almost a real-life fairy tale), but I AM fully in love with his incredible characters and his all-too-relateable musings about being human.
Had a really fun time with this book and getting to know this entirely loveable cast.And despite myself, I DO love a happy ending. 😊
P.S. The main twist took me completely by surprise. I suppose it probably is true that women are less likely to do stupid shit like this. 😂 However, I shouldn't have counted it out, because... all humans are idiots. 😉
Had a really fun time with this book and getting to know this entirely loveable cast.
P.S. The main twist took me completely by surprise. I suppose it probably is true that women are less likely to do stupid shit like this. 😂 However, I shouldn't have counted it out, because... all humans are idiots. 😉
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Too short and boring for me lol. I get the idea behind the novella but I just want 500 more pages of action. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Nice and cozy, though.
Nice and cozy, though.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Just amazing. Uniquely and exquisitely written. It was tough to read, yet I couldn't put it down. Probably partially the engaging writing, and partially racing to get to her freedom from the horrific situation the book depicts.
It's so easy to ask "why did they stay?" - but that's one of the most horrifying parts of abuse: just how GOOD abusers are at it.
It's so easy to ask "why did they stay?" - but that's one of the most horrifying parts of abuse: just how GOOD abusers are at it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes