selenatothemax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
aas'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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Child death, Vomit, Confinement, Death, Blood, Murder, Violence, Grief, and Kidnapping
deanchaudhri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.5
Minor: Kidnapping and Violence
miller8d'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? No
4.0
Spoiler
I was surprised by most of the book, and deeply appreciated that the magic of this universe was both fantastical and simple, both logical and inexplicable. I found myself confused about the storyline/losing focus frequently throughout the book, which normally would bother me, but it felt like I was experiencing the same thing as the narrator LOL, which I enjoyed. I found the narrator’s genuinely kind soul very touching and deeply enjoyed the process of discovering what had happened. I didn’t realize it was a mystery novel until halfway through which is awesome. The well-established isolated world meant that, with the appearance of each new person or information, it was genuinely shocking. Very interesting and refreshing read.Graphic: Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Kidnapping, Gun violence, Dementia, Confinement, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Death, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Vomit and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Trafficking, and Blood
Although this book covers many dark topics,Spoiler
beyond the main topics of confinement and kidnapping and gaslighting,Spoiler
there is a gun and attempted shooting, but nobody actually gets shot, and there are no graphic details about it, etc.aidareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Vomit
maelstrom712's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Death
Minor: Grief and Violence
Spoiler
dead bodies and skeletal remains are described moderately in a respectful manneranoveldestination's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
However, I think the mystery could've been maintained while still revealing some information earlier on. Upon the revelations toward the end of the book, the first half of the book felt pointless. I think too long was spent establishing the character and the setting at the expense of the pacing of the plot. I think the pacing would've benefited from revealing slightly more information about the mystery in the first half of the book. Currently, it feels like there's a lot of info dump in the last half of the book, and the focus on the plot towards the end shifts the focus away from the character development the author is trying to show. In summary, I think the plot and characters could've been balanced better throughout the book.
I also don't think the mystery of the novel is dependent on this information being withheld. The mystery comes from the strong writing style and voice. Consequently, I don't see the rationale behind withholding so much information until the last 50 pages. I was also disappointed with the ending. Piranesi is a complex character, but the plot he found himself in felt simple, and the simplistic ending and explanation seemed to diminish his development.
Graphic: Kidnapping
Minor: Violence
faye_jonesy'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
4.75
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Cursing
Minor: Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cursing, and Vomit
fraxisle's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Grief, Confinement, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Death, Gun violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual assault, Child death, Abandonment, Fatphobia, and Violence
kimtazo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Gaslighting
Moderate: Kidnapping and Gun violence
Minor: Suicide and Violence