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born_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, and Death of parent
shoham's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Misogyny, Self harm, Slavery, Transphobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Alcohol
joensign's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
livlostinstereo'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? It's complicated
4.5
What a fantastic book. I struggled to put it down. Once again, Alice Hoffman delivers a masterclass on writing characters that feel so vividly real. Coralie and Eddie are wonderfully well-rounded characters.
The ONLY reason this isn't a 5 from me is because the ending felt slightly rushed. That's not to say it wasn't good - it just felt a bit rushed in comparison to the pace of the rest of the book.
But nothing will stop me from rereading this with the same love I have reread The Rules of Magic with time and time again.
The historical fiction of this story is truly immersive and just makes you want to read and learn more about the various events referenced.
If you read anything this winter, please let it be this.
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Violence, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Torture, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
meg_elyse's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Antisemitism, and Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia, Kidnapping, and Murder
katievh'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death and Self harm
georgiesutton'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? Yes
3.5
The title drew me in but it was too character heavy for me with the plot switching tenses and timelines in a way that did not add to the storyline and I just wish it had given me a bit more.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death