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.severelyhopefulcloud'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
2.5
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Kidnapping
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
carbs666's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I really liked how Clarke leverages the limitations of first person perspective and takes the concept of the unreliable narrator to an extreme here; I don't think the book would work without these choices. I also liked that the book sort of felt like it could be an appendix or a companion to another book, which helped keep the fantasy elements fairly grounded in a world that feels real.
My main issue with the book is that the ending came on suddenly and feels unresolved. For some reason it didn't feel right to me that Piranesi is returned to "the real world" and I felt a general unease about his future. Also all of the characters, even the one narrating, are still very much a mystery to me and many of their choices don't make sense. Those issues aside, it's a good book and well worth the read!
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Kidnapping
Minor: Gun violence and Death
isabyrne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Trafficking, and Toxic relationship
sketchydelusion's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Moderate: Mental illness, Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Kidnapping
Minor: Emotional abuse, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
thebookfetishist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Gaslighting, Death, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Slavery
natgzmun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Violence and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
englishrobin210's review against another edition
3.75
Spoiler
when Arne-Sayles was revealed to be a predatory gay man. Frankly, an unnecessary detail for the story and put a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the book.Graphic: Kidnapping, Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting
Moderate: Murder, Trafficking, and Slavery
Minor: Excrement, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault