Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Sezon Luster

this one is deep, dark, and depressing. I actually started reading in March of 2022 and have now just finished it. The twist of the novel is something I would hope never happened and yet, it is a loosely based story of the author’s experiences.

Content Warnings

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A beautiful look at trauma and recovery. I loved the characters and mcLemore’s style. This book really handles trauma well and vividly illustrates what it’s like. I also love food magic! It was great having an m-spec protagonist as well. Strong content warnings for rape, bullying, harassment, homophobia, and panic attacks.

Content Warnings

hell_o_ana's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

lyd41's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was just so beautiful. The writing was full of imagery that felt poetic in nature. I am so glad the author decided to share their story.

Content Warnings

mandkips's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

nerdinthelibrary's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

I hold him. He holds me.
I am held. He is held.

This book... god, this book really hit me. I've only read one other Anna-Marie McLemore books, When the Moon Was Ours, and I read that way back in 2018/2019. I gave it a 3.5, really liked it but didn't adore it. In the years that followed, every book McLemore put out was one I was interested in but for some reason just never picked up. Until finally in 2021 I impulsively pre-ordered The Mirror Season. For the first 40ish pages of this book, I felt how I remembered feeling while reading When the Moon Was Ours - I was liking it but not loving it, more respecting what was clearly fantastic writing than actually enjoying anything. And while I wouldn't necessarily say I enjoy this book, I did begin to fall in love with it after those first 40ish pages. It really snuck up on me and suddenly I was reading almost all of it in one sitting.

This is a tough book. There were moments when I was gripping it so hard I was genuinely worried I would break it. There were other moments where I had to hold back tears. But there were also moments where I was smiling so wide it must have looked silly. The relationship between Celia and Lock is one of the most beautiful I've read in a very long time. The complex dynamic they have because of what they've been through and their different but oh so similar experiences, and the way they navigate their relationship... I just loved it. McLemore's writing is as strong and gorgeous as ever, making me adore a book in my dreaded first-person and present-tense. A much-needed reminder that I need to prioritise their books more.

Not a book I would recommend without caveats (please look at those trigger warnings), but one that I will recommend with my whole heart.

We cannot keep each other together. Neither of us can do that for the other. It's our own work. But we help each other keep track of the pieces.
We make sure nothing gets lost.

Content Warnings

supikarolcia1's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

More...