areen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
the pain...
so the entire execution as a backstory of the queen of hearts was brilliant! I felt I was in wonderland and actually learning the past of the queen of hearts. I loved being in the world despite feeling so suffocated by the people always saying the same things to Catherine, but that's also a sign of how well executed it was, down to each character. now if this was a different story set in wonderland I would've found a new comfort favorite. that just made this book all the more heartbreaking (heh) to me.
Spoiler
although I felt the scene where Jest died was a little anticlimactic, edit: I can't stop thinking about this book, and now I think it being anticlimactic was the better choice (apart from realizing that Jest was definitely injured enough to not move in that scene and despite that he jumped in immediately to save Cath TT TT) bc if that scene was as sad as I was imagining, then I wouldn't be able to pay attention to the climax of the book, aka her becoming the queen of hearts we are familiar with. this is a story about the queen of hearts and not Cath and Jest's lovestory, afterall.so the entire execution as a backstory of the queen of hearts was brilliant! I felt I was in wonderland and actually learning the past of the queen of hearts. I loved being in the world despite feeling so suffocated by the people always saying the same things to Catherine, but that's also a sign of how well executed it was, down to each character. now if this was a different story set in wonderland
Spoiler
with a happy ending between the mcs,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
ishanibose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Death, and Misogyny
Minor: Body shaming
arieslofi's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
well! i want to say that the premise is something that i really enjoyed, and it's only its execution that i wasn't an absolute fan of, including some of the writing, though not all. the writing itself felt very "try-hard" with its weird britishifcations that reminded me of 2013 when everyone was obsessed with the uk and everything british (as i mentioned in a previous update), with repetition that happened far too often, not the kind that serves as some sort of writing device (this does happen and i do enjoy it), but the kind that makes you wonder if there was any kind of editing involved in the publication of the book. besides that, the writing isn't too bad and didn't get on my nerves too much, and i actively enjoyed some parts of it.
i really liked the character of mary ann especially, though i'll say cath was neither here nor there and jest completely failed to be compelling to me, kind of pointless to me. speaking of pointless: the romance.
this book could have been really good, personally, if we hadn't had any type of romance involved, only a girl losing her dreams and having to deal with being stuck in a loveless marriage with the king until she snaps. i would even have enjoyed it if there had been romance involved, though differently. if, for example, it would have worked perfectly, and it was how i was expecting the book to end.
the ending itself felt unsatisfactory to me,
generally, not a bad book, per se, but it left me wanting a lot more, so i can't say i'm exactly happy with it. the premise is much better than the execution itself, though it only goes south around 70% of the book for me.
i really liked the character of mary ann especially, though i'll say cath was neither here nor there and jest completely failed to be compelling to me,
Spoiler
which made his deaththis book could have been really good, personally, if we hadn't had any type of romance involved, only a girl losing her dreams and having to deal with being stuck in a loveless marriage with the king until she snaps. i would even have enjoyed it if there had been romance involved, though differently. if, for example,
Spoiler
instead of jest taking her away and the last 30% happening the way they did, she had, just like before, stuck with the king, a fool (which could have served as a callback in dialogue!) only for jest to come back and her, tired and betrayed, called for his head. he was, after all, a wanted criminal,the ending itself felt unsatisfactory to me,
Spoiler
there was no real build-up to this sudden change in her behavior (though we are given a reason) and we only get a glimpse of it some chapters before. i feel like showing her ability to be genuinely evil and ruthless throughout the book would have worked better—even if we kind of get those moments in very small doses, like her stealing from the pumpkin patch and her intensity at playing croquet, although this latter felt more like a "this happens in the original story!" bit.generally, not a bad book, per se, but it left me wanting a lot more, so i can't say i'm exactly happy with it. the premise is much better than the execution itself, though it only goes south around 70% of the book for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death, Misogyny, and Body shaming
Minor: Gore, War, and Eating disorder
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
This was a book that I enjoyed reading. I think Meyer's writing style is more fairytale inspired than fairytale retelling. I would say this book was a combination of prophecy, romance, Victorian-era gender roles, and the weirdness that can only be found in Wonderland.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Murder, Blood, Misogyny, Grief, Death, and Sexism
Moderate: Body shaming, Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Animal death, Classism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: War and Kidnapping
leonormsousa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, War, Animal death, Fatphobia, and Sexism
torrents's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Grief
Moderate: Murder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Death
Minor: War
subjecta5's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Suicide
zoepagereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While yes, I did enjoy reading this book, it also let me down. I mean, the second I added to my TBR I knew it would be sad and I knew it was almost 500 pages, so I thought I would fall in love with the characters and then sob. But when characters died, I wasn’t that sad. In the end it just felt wasted, especially with people I know who have amped me up for crying with this. And though I know it defeats the purpose of this book, I wonder if it would have been better as an original story set in Wonderland instead of a Queen of Hearts origin story. 3.75⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
japanasi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
not often are characters, esp. female ones, allowed to become dark/evil and not be punished for it (in the end)! of course I knew what ending this story would take but I didn’t expect to like the unfolding this much. it was so enjoyable to read, plus all the little hints to the characters you’re familiar with from the original.. Catherine turning from dreamer to unhinged queen was amazing and the book’s last sentence? 💯.
Spoiler
Off with his head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Misogyny
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am shooketh. This was so fucking good. Goddamn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Violence, War, Body shaming, Dementia, Murder, Classism, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcohol