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xyzsai's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Minor: Incest
maximum_quinn's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A fascinating premise, but the female protagonist has a few moments where you are very cognizant of the fact that the author is a man (multiple comments about her own breast size, for example). It's an interesting story, but I probably won't be picking up the rest of the series due to the author's voice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Body shaming, Torture, and Classism
Minor: Vomit
itsnotalakeitsanocean's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I DNF this book ages before this site was even a thing and decided to pick it up again because I was on a paranormal fiction kick after playing Remedy Entertainment's Control (which you should definitely experience in some form or another if you've read this book).
Long story short: this book is a huge disappointment with tantalisingly good bits hidden like needles in a haystack, and could have benefitted from being shorter.
Things I liked:
Long story short: this book is a huge disappointment with tantalisingly good bits hidden like needles in a haystack, and could have benefitted from being shorter.
Things I liked:
- I liked the contrast between Myfanwy before and after losing her memory. I can see why it would be a point of contention for some people, but I felt like it fit the fact
Pre-Amnesia!Myfanwy did snoop around Chequy's finances, but lacked the confidence and was too marginalised by her peers to take the initiative. Her losing her memories gave her the push she needed to get the ball rolling in my opinion. - Chequy felt like a believable organisation. I enjoyed reading how they conducted operations, the efforts they went to cover up paranormal events
and you could feel how heavy the consequences of several of its members turning traitor were as a result. - The action/horror sequences are well written.
The flesh cube in the police station bit really made my skin crawl.
Things I did not like:
- It was pretty blatant at times that the author was a cishet man writing women, almost bordering on "breasting boobily" esque descriptions at times, and it felt overly catty.
- I struggled to suspend my disbelief during Pre-Amnesia!Myfanwy's letters to her Post-Amnesia self; specifically the fact she would be able to accurately recall every single word in all of the conversations she had. Eye for detail or not, there are some things you are just not going to remember.
- Several of the background characters feel like caricatures that are just there to fulfill a role, but at the same time if those characters didn't exist their absence would be noticeable. An example being a bodyguard for Myfanwy late into the book who is Scottish-Japanese who dies not a chapter after he is introduced, and the best I can remember about him was the author's dodgy description about how he cussed up a storm of a mixed slur Japanese and Gaelic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Misogyny and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming and Racism
kim_kv's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
4.5
I loved the premise and overall vibe if this book. Great take on the supernatural secret agency idea. Overall a big fan, I read it very quickly. I did get tired of bouncing between timeliness, it felt like it was just dragging out the main plot. Pacing needed work and there was some uncomfortable sexism- wasn't clear if it was there highlight it as a problem or was was just there. But I still enjoyed and look forward to sequel, hoping pacing is improved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
onthesamepage's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
I really had to force myself to read the first half of this book, but I kept going because it has a pretty high rating and very positive reviews. And I will say that I enjoyed the 2nd half quite a bit. But I don't think it's enough to justify the slog at the beginning, and definitely not enough to compel me to read more in this series.
One thing that almost every review mentions is the infodumping. It's done in the form of letters, and most people seem to find them witty, charming and easy to read. I was really bored with them after the first few, especially because every introduction of a new character or setting warranted anywhere between 5-10 pages of said infodumping. This is probably my biggest problem with the book.
The other issue I have is the utter lack of urgency after the shock of the initial event wears off. Our main character, Myfanwy, seems content to just go about her business, and the person or persons who supposedly wanted her gone so desperately before the beginning of the book don't do anything either. We're left in a stalemate, probably to give the author time to introduce us to the world, but it really ruins the momentum of the book.
I will say that by the end I had real empathy for Myfanwy, both the current version and the version she was before. The letters become more personal as she realizes that she is running out of time, and I thought that part was very well-written. Once the pace picks up a bit and the mystery starts to get unraveled, it's a pretty entertaining read, if you're able and/or willing to push through. But if you do end up DNFing, I don't think that's the wrong choice. I came close more than once, and probably should have just put it aside in hindsight.
One thing that almost every review mentions is the infodumping. It's done in the form of letters, and most people seem to find them witty, charming and easy to read. I was really bored with them after the first few, especially because every introduction of a new character or setting warranted anywhere between 5-10 pages of said infodumping. This is probably my biggest problem with the book.
The other issue I have is the utter lack of urgency after the shock of the initial event wears off. Our main character, Myfanwy, seems content to just go about her business, and the person or persons who supposedly wanted her gone so desperately before the beginning of the book don't do anything either. We're left in a stalemate, probably to give the author time to introduce us to the world, but it really ruins the momentum of the book.
I will say that by the end I had real empathy for Myfanwy, both the current version and the version she was before. The letters become more personal as she realizes that she is running out of time, and I thought that part was very well-written. Once the pace picks up a bit and the mystery starts to get unraveled, it's a pretty entertaining read, if you're able and/or willing to push through. But if you do end up DNFing, I don't think that's the wrong choice. I came close more than once, and probably should have just put it aside in hindsight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
mallorysorber's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body horror
arirose's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Fatphobia and Incest
ezraaa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really don't talk about this book enough, but sometimes I am reminded of it and I think of all the joy that it has given me. This book is fun, it has engaging and unique characters, a compelling mystery, and odd super powers. I love this book and these characters to pieces. I would especially recommend the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, and Gore
Minor: Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content