mermaidmoonqueen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
annas_bookshelf_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
overall very disturbing with an unsatisfying conclusion. check full list of trigger warnings before reading!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Death, Physical abuse, Animal death, Sexism, Bullying, and Suicide
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Homophobia
laquellegeix's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
celenac's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Although the story has a mysterious atmosphere, to the readers nothing really is a mystery about Wybrany -- the book's premise doesn't hide what kind of school Wybrany is and the fact that it puts up a facade. There aren't any big surprises in the story, and the buildup is very gradual, but I still think it's an interesting read. I kept wanting to read more, even though there weren't really any cliffhangers.
It's a disturbing story because of how all the students and staff normalize the power dynamics and abuse going on at the school and how such normalization makes it hard for anyone to speak the truth. Everyone knows what's going on and knows that others know too, but they leave everything unspoken to maintain an idealized image of the school for outsiders and themselves. It was interesting to get to know the different characters (particularly the teachers) through various interactions and conversations showing their complacency. The writing style is straightforward and not dramatic or flowery at all, and that complemented the whole unbothered, "nothing is wrong" vibe of the community at the school well.
Although the story has a mysterious atmosphere, to the readers nothing really is a mystery about Wybrany -- the book's premise doesn't hide what kind of school Wybrany is and the fact that it puts up a facade. There aren't any big surprises in the story, and the buildup is very gradual, but I still think it's an interesting read. I kept wanting to read more, even though there weren't really any cliffhangers.
It's a disturbing story because of how all the students and staff normalize the power dynamics and abuse going on at the school and how such normalization makes it hard for anyone to speak the truth. Everyone knows what's going on and knows that others know too, but they leave everything unspoken to maintain an idealized image of the school for outsiders and themselves. It was interesting to get to know the different characters (particularly the teachers) through various interactions and conversations showing their complacency. The writing style is straightforward and not dramatic or flowery at all, and that complemented the whole unbothered, "nothing is wrong" vibe of the community at the school well.
slimychimera's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Self harm, Suicide, Classism, Animal cruelty, Murder, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Bullying, Animal death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Fatphobia
Minor: Trafficking, Medical trauma, Vomit, Racism, Homophobia, and Misogyny
rayuelita's review against another edition
4.0
Este era el último libro que me quedaba pendiente de la autora y siento que ha sido el más flojo (dentro de su obra, claro) de los que he leído. He disfrutado mucho de los símbolos propios de sus obras (Cárdenas, Vado, los perros, gatos y pájaros, la repulsión, las relaciones de poder).
Me parece magistral la primera parte de la historia: Sara Mesa sabe manejarse en las historias cortas. Pero se llega a hacer pesada la segunda parte, donde apenas hay respiro en la monotonía que plantean las páginas.
Queda claro que la autora sabe representar lo turbio (en este caso, en una historia más distópica, como 'El incendio invisible', que su obra más reciente) y, en este caso, quiero destacar la representación que traza de las relaciones de poder cuando hay sexo de por medio, qué maravilla.
En fin, de todas formas yo leería cualquier cosa que Sara Mesa escribiera, incluso su lista de la compra, así que no puedo ser objetiva.
Me parece magistral la primera parte de la historia: Sara Mesa sabe manejarse en las historias cortas. Pero se llega a hacer pesada la segunda parte, donde apenas hay respiro en la monotonía que plantean las páginas.
Queda claro que la autora sabe representar lo turbio (en este caso, en una historia más distópica, como 'El incendio invisible', que su obra más reciente) y, en este caso, quiero destacar la representación que traza de las relaciones de poder cuando hay sexo de por medio, qué maravilla.
En fin, de todas formas yo leería cualquier cosa que Sara Mesa escribiera, incluso su lista de la compra, así que no puedo ser objetiva.
rouge_red's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
I don't think I got what the author probably wanted me to feel by the end of this book, but it was just kind of interesting to read, especially the slice-of-life narratives from the students to that of the substitute teacher- from mostly mundane to mundane and beginnings of a man unraveling. Clearly something is wrong, and I got an indication of this when the headmaster said they didn't discipline the students, rather the kids policed themselves...which I think is a terrible fucking idea. So I didn't find this book unsettling at all, not even when Bedrigare was wandering around an empty school by himself, but I guess someone else might be more into the gothic aspects of this book. I overall just found this the kind of book with a school setting that I liked. Lots of messed up things behind closed doors and people not knowing how to to play the game, and how effective isolation can be when everyone else is in the know.