cmbohn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.25
Really dark and gripping story. Once I got into this, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I was not prepared!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Violence, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship
samaires's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.5
cecilehvh's review against another edition
4.25
v good. v enjoyable. cannot wait for the second book.
semaykidd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jadebayne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
andipants's review against another edition
5.0
This book was hard to put down, and given my complete lack of attention span these last several months, that's saying something. Immanuelle was a fantastic character, and I appreciated that she didn't fall prey to the tired old trope of "girl growing up in a dystopian society has always hated it and obsessively dreamed of nothing but escaping/overthrowing it her whole life" — that might work if you have some idea of what else is out there, but so often it just reads like that one super anachronistically progressive character in a historical novel that comes off as completely unbelievable. For Immanuelle, though, this community is literally all she's ever known, and while her life has not been easy or terribly pleasant, the last thing she wants is to stir up trouble. Rather, trouble finds her, and she has to decide what to do about it, and apart from a few fairly minor points early on that felt a bit contrived, the plot and Immanuelle's character both grow organically, each contributing to and resulting from the other in a way that felt very real and believable.
The book incorporates several explicit themes about the nature of good and evil, female agency, power and corruption, religion, and abuse, and manages to repeatedly draw the reader's attention to them while still keeping them firmly grounded in the story. It's not light, escapist fiction, by any means, but it also never feels like the author is stopping the narrative to beat the reader over the head with a Message. The plot builds steadily, and the ending very much lives up to the expectations set, while managing to be both satisfying and thought provoking. Definitely worth the read.
The book incorporates several explicit themes about the nature of good and evil, female agency, power and corruption, religion, and abuse, and manages to repeatedly draw the reader's attention to them while still keeping them firmly grounded in the story. It's not light, escapist fiction, by any means, but it also never feels like the author is stopping the narrative to beat the reader over the head with a Message. The plot builds steadily, and the ending very much lives up to the expectations set, while managing to be both satisfying and thought provoking. Definitely worth the read.
dellatheghost's review against another edition
dark
medium-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
5.0
mollyobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Alexis Henderson may be one of my new favorite authors. Her writing is immersive and atmospheric. Her world-building is lovely - it leaves the reader informed but wanting for more details (different book but I would love to know more about the world of House of Hunger). She also deftly handles tough topics like sexism, classism, racism, religious trauma, etc. I can’t wait for whatever she writes next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Moderate: Medical trauma, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Pregnancy
This didn’t really have a tag but there is a relatively graphic scene where a young girl dies in childbirth. The book also starts with a scene where a young girl dies in childbirth but it is not graphic.pixiespice16's review against another edition
1.0
I decided not to finish this one. I had very high hopes and they fell short and I’m pretty disappointed.