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_david_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed the logic used by the characters in the book. If they're acting irrational or making assumptions, they're aware of it and/or it's challenged later on. For a second I thought a cliché (key location hidden in plain sight) would be dragged out, but then a main character just plainly said "of course I already looked there, duh" a few pages later.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the house. It reminded me of Encanto's house but in a horror setting. You'll probably enjoy the characters if you like YA's. They have a lot of growth to do with big impacts of their lives. At certain moments, the main character's self-pity annoyed me and
The big lessons are a bit obvious in the book, but the main character actually points it out and sounds like she needs it, so I don't mind it as much.
A warning to people with trauma related to drowning or corruption (e.g. being blackmailed). Both are big themes in the book.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, and Slavery
Drowning, water Mines, claustrophobia Corruption: blackmailing, bribing, rich people fucking over local area/nature/people for the sake of earning more moneyteajay_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Incest, Sexual content, and Classism
abicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
eileenbrooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Honestly the romantic relationship was the least compelling part to me. Really enjoyed the level of world-building and context — felt real and expansive enough to be real without being overwhelming. Loved the historical and supernatural aspects in a story primarily about a young woman figuring out life and family.
And the epilogue is beautifully clever.
Not too dark either — enough to feel a little spooky but not draining or a sense of dread or anything. I wouldn’t call it light-hearted, just a nice middle ground.
A great read!
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Alcohol
kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Opal was a funny as shit protagonist, and Arthur was so sad and pathetic in a very cute way. I love when men are described as ugly and annoying at first sight but by the end of the book your heart is like vVvVvV. do you get me
I also loved the narrative style; things were kept from Opal, but not from the reader; Arthur’s chapters were deliciously revealing while Opal still went 100mph towards answers. Loved it.
Jasper was sweet and made my older sister heart grow 3 sizes. your baby brother that you spent so long protecting becoming a protector in his own right is so !!! the sibling relationship was everything
Eleanor… my unhinged queen and ally white woman… incredible work
the funky little lesbians also made my day, Opal being the most oblivious straight to ever het only added to her charm lmao
10/10 read, buying this is print but thank you to BCPL for the ebook <3
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Incest, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Slavery, Blood, Car accident, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
lauramcc7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death, Incest, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
lianaet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
And weirdly in the nature of this book, that just makes sense.
The unsettling vibes of the writing were amazing and just sucked me right in all the way through. It felt slow to progress but never in a bad way. And Opal as a flawed woman protagonist was an amazing character.
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Racism, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest and Vomit
jowiththetbrshelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
silversparkles50's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse and Alcohol
ciwanski's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Loved the homage to beauty and the beast in the story, love the found family aspect, and love a man who is constantly kneeling for a woman
Also the first book I’ve read where the two main characters are supposedly ugly??? Felt (surprisingly?) represented.
I feel like this review makes this book sound like a romance and, like, it IS a love story, but it’s definitely not a romance and I love it for that
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism