lanternsjourney's review against another edition
This just wasn't for me. I found it very dull because I didn't connect with any characters.
sadpear's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Delightfully strange and spooky, if Edith Wharton was queer and wrote about murder
kittysaurus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rosie23_24's review against another edition
Just lost the mood and couldn’t pick it back up
shanaqui's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
Yellow Jessamine is a horror novella, following a young woman who fell heir to her family's estate and business after the tragic deaths of all her family. Evelyn Perdanu likes to tightly control her life, managing the business around the war that will all too soon come to her home, and managing her household according to her own (slightly eccentric) needs. Her solace is her garden, where the things she grows can both heal and harm.
Slowly, the extent of what she does becomes clear -- in response to the sudden appearance of something like a new plague, which leaves people empty and catatonic, after a brief period of total obsession with Evelyn. It's all very creepy and tense, both with the plague and with the fear of the enemy and the eventual death of the town, and the fear of being found out for what she's done.
Where it failed for me is that Evelyn is hard to pity, since she's ruthless despite her fragility. She thinks nothing of blinding a man, even as she's supposed to be nursing him to health. Poison is an answer that comes easily to her hand. It's hard to feel sorry for her -- for me at least -- given how culpable she is. Points for atmosphere, but the character didn't work for me: just a step too far into her own private madness to ever seem sane and worth investing in as a reader.
Slowly, the extent of what she does becomes clear -- in response to the sudden appearance of something like a new plague, which leaves people empty and catatonic, after a brief period of total obsession with Evelyn. It's all very creepy and tense, both with the plague and with the fear of the enemy and the eventual death of the town, and the fear of being found out for what she's done.
Where it failed for me is that Evelyn is hard to pity, since she's ruthless despite her fragility. She thinks nothing of blinding a man, even as she's supposed to be nursing him to health. Poison is an answer that comes easily to her hand. It's hard to feel sorry for her -- for me at least -- given how culpable she is. Points for atmosphere, but the character didn't work for me: just a step too far into her own private madness to ever seem sane and worth investing in as a reader.
tsuxis's review against another edition
3.0
this was an entertaining little read, definitely something to read on an airplane or train ride. its downside is that its ultimately a bit unmemorable. but i enjoyed it nonetheless
nicolemhill's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars. Gothic, sapphic and ultimately satisfying. The cover is to ... die ... for.
luceeefur's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75