Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
1 review
mhairimc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Quite possibly the worst book I have read.
It reads like the first draft, where every idea is put on the page and then was never returned to for editing.
The pacing is all over the place with several massive plot culminations happening in quick succession, quick changes in location and poor characterisation.
The author is trying too hard to communicate a certain atmosphere within the narrative that sadly they do not handle well. The result is unfortunately incoherent and at times unreadable in its reaching for quirky and cosy.
Too many side characters are introduced purely to add diversity, as they are only defined by their physical characteristics and never mentioned again. In turn this distances the reader from the main characters as they are given the same space within the narrative as these side characters and therefore no sentiment or emotion occurs when plot points are focused on them.
The supposed romance is never developed, no feeling or sentiment is invoked in the reader when the main love interests interact and therefore the pay off is hollow especially with the other plot devices surrounding the relationship. Their time on the page together amounts to so little of the narrative that for long stretches you forget that it is a plot thread at all.
The time not dedicated to the romance is taken up by what could be interesting portrayals of the expectations and relationships that exist within communities and families, but instead amounts to false platitudes and cliches, leaving any experienced reader no doubt about where the plot is headed, which indeed it does. A different author would be able to make you care about these characters, instead the overwrought sentimentality leaves you cold and uninterested.
The magic system is confused and incoherent, I feel because the author is trying too hard to reconcile it with their obvious conservative Christian beliefs. These are apparent in the narrative with repeated references to guns, stereotypes of city environments, the obvious disdain for science based medicine and the traditional gender roles enforced throughout. The beliefs are also communicated to the reader through bible stories and psalms discussed between characters, so the conclusion of the ideological position is not purely through connecting the recurring refrains mentioned above.
There are some deeply insensitive handling of themes surrounding abuse, misogyny and mental illness. Including a particularity insensitive suicide attempt by the main character, after which several characters make jokes about murdering her in the what feels like minutes after the attempt occurs. In addition to this the central theme of sacrifice is handled in such a clumsy and misogynistic manner that the entire novel is coloured with mean asides and judgements of the predominantly female characters, while the central male characters are forgiven for their misdeeds by simply existing within the main characters eyesight.
I feel that this book has been marketed to a niche it does not fulfill, badly written and at times uncomfortable to read. I will never read any of the authors subsequent work.
It reads like the first draft, where every idea is put on the page and then was never returned to for editing.
The pacing is all over the place with several massive plot culminations happening in quick succession, quick changes in location and poor characterisation.
The author is trying too hard to communicate a certain atmosphere within the narrative that sadly they do not handle well. The result is unfortunately incoherent and at times unreadable in its reaching for quirky and cosy.
Too many side characters are introduced purely to add diversity, as they are only defined by their physical characteristics and never mentioned again. In turn this distances the reader from the main characters as they are given the same space within the narrative as these side characters and therefore no sentiment or emotion occurs when plot points are focused on them.
The supposed romance is never developed, no feeling or sentiment is invoked in the reader when the main love interests interact and therefore the pay off is hollow especially with the other plot devices surrounding the relationship. Their time on the page together amounts to so little of the narrative that for long stretches you forget that it is a plot thread at all.
The time not dedicated to the romance is taken up by what could be interesting portrayals of the expectations and relationships that exist within communities and families, but instead amounts to false platitudes and cliches, leaving any experienced reader no doubt about where the plot is headed, which indeed it does. A different author would be able to make you care about these characters, instead the overwrought sentimentality leaves you cold and uninterested.
The magic system is confused and incoherent, I feel because the author is trying too hard to reconcile it with their obvious conservative Christian beliefs. These are apparent in the narrative with repeated references to guns, stereotypes of city environments, the obvious disdain for science based medicine and the traditional gender roles enforced throughout. The beliefs are also communicated to the reader through bible stories and psalms discussed between characters, so the conclusion of the ideological position is not purely through connecting the recurring refrains mentioned above.
There are some deeply insensitive handling of themes surrounding abuse, misogyny and mental illness. Including a particularity insensitive suicide attempt by the main character, after which several characters make jokes about murdering her in the what feels like minutes after the attempt occurs. In addition to this the central theme of sacrifice is handled in such a clumsy and misogynistic manner that the entire novel is coloured with mean asides and judgements of the predominantly female characters, while the central male characters are forgiven for their misdeeds by simply existing within the main characters eyesight.
I feel that this book has been marketed to a niche it does not fulfill, badly written and at times uncomfortable to read. I will never read any of the authors subsequent work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Gun violence and Racism