Reviews with content warning for Addiction - El Club de Las Chicas Afortunadas

Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

El Club de Las Chicas Afortunadas by Charlotte Nicole Davis

24 reviews

booksoversecondbreakfast's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark hopeful sad 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: No

This was so good!! I read it via audiobook and I really enjoyed it. It was a real page-turner by the halfway mark, though just a little slow leading up to that point. It was a page-turner with an highly engaging plot, but it was also filled with deep exploration into the human experience and to systems of oppression. I appreciated the fact that the book touched on topics such as human trafficking and sexual assault, but did so in a way that I didn't find triggering to my own PTSD.

The characters were loveable and has satisfying character development, the twists weren't too predictable, and it had a strong empowering theme of community and found-family, all of which I really enjoyed. This is a book I want to purchase a physical copy of because I'll probably come back to read this one again.

Content Warnings

avocadosocks's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Content Warnings

onegalonelife27's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional 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: Complicated

We enter the story in Clementine’s point of view on the night of her sixteenth birthday, where she’s getting ready to meet a man. However, once they meet, it doesn't take long for things to escalate and for Clementine to end up with blood on her hands. The rest of the story is told in Aster’s, her older sister’s point of view.

With Aster’s chapters following we learn of the world of Arketta, which an empire took over and any rebels became Dustbloods, people cursed to not cast shadows and their descendants born without shadows. There’s also fairbloods, people who do have shadows, the privileged class of the world. Many of the dustbloods give their daughters to the welcome houses, where the girls work as sex workers after they turn sixteen and are tattoos, flower looking tattoos that will hurt them should they rebel against orders or go covered for too long. We don’t get to see much of this life because Clementine and Aster along with friends Mallow and Tansy, and finally local prima donna Violet run away. Because Violet claims she knows where a woman known as the Ghost Lady, rumored to be able to remove the favors. So thus begins a life on the run for these young girls.

This is a good example of a found family, with each girl getting a chance to shine, and the group overall bonding over their travels in hopes of freedom. We certainly feel sympathetic towards Clementine’s predicament, her sister and two friends for helping her cover up the murder. Violet acts more snobby, due to being born from fairblood thus having a shadow, yet with her own point of view we do become more fond of her, like Aster does. Also I’ve got a soft spot for ladies doing crime, call me crazy. Support women’s rights and wrongs.

I also love the idea of a fantasy world being more centered around 19th century culture, especially one that has a Wild West. Especially in this world where ghosts are real and can be violent against the living, ghost town has a whole new meaning.

I really enjoyed the story, with great reveals and action, but also some great heart. I’m hoping I can read the sequel soon.

Content Warnings

passionatereader78's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous 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: Yes

Content Warnings

ghostlyprince's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional 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: Yes

Content Warnings

kodiex's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark sad tense fast-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: Yes

Content Warnings

tigger89's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous emotional 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: Yes

This was decent YA, blending an exploration of escape from slavery with a fantasy western setting. I liked how distinct the girls were, each bringing strengths and infuriating flaws to the team. The plot was somewhat more frustrating, alternating between the thrilling escape and scenes that stopped the narrative in its tracks while the characters work a heist. I get what Davis was going for with the western outlaw vibe, and there was in-universe justification for why they needed the money, but the bigger heists(thinking specifically of the one where they rob the bank) didn't really work for me in the flow of the plot.

My favorite thing about this book, other than the characters, was the ending. Without spoilers, I found it to be bittersweet, yes, but also empowering, though I understand why many readers might have been frustrated. While I'm reading this as a standalone, it is first in a duology, and I feel like where things left off works perfectly for either situation.

Something worth mentioning is that the point of view shifts abruptly after the first chapter. The opening is told from Clementine's point of view, but before they escape the narrative shifts to her sister Aster's head, where it remains for the rest of the story. I do understand why this was necessary, as we really did need to see the inciting incident happen rather than merely hear about it. It might not have stuck out so much if we'd had similar scenes from the other characters, or more scenes from Clementine's point of view, but as it was it felt strange.

Important question time: do the horses die?

To the best of my recollection, all the horses remain unharmed in the narrative, though they are loosed near the ending of the story.

Content Warnings

carolined314's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Escaping to freedom, in an action-packed series of events, learning one's own agency, choosing friendship, and so much more.

Content Warnings

eilidhmo's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Mixing a magical fantasy and western is such a great combo and I really enjoyed every time we got to see a little more about this world our characters live in. The growth of Aster as a main character was also great to see and her arc was very much an integral part of the story, if a bit predictable at times.

Stories about found family bonds, overcoming past traumatic experiences and fighting the system are always ones I enjoy, I just found that there was something missing for me personally with this one. I really wanted to love this book as it came so highly recommend to me by a friend but I just liked it. I definitely had to talk myself into picking it up and reading a couple chapters a few times but overall I enjoyed the story.

This world has so much potential and I hope more of it is explored in books to come as Davis is an extremely talented writer. If dark fantasy adventure, standing up for yourself and sisterhood are your jam, definitely give this book a read!

Content Warnings

kell_xavi's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Fantastic story of survival and sisterhood among five teenage girls who escape sex trafficking into a fantasy wild west landscape of saloons and forests and robberies (by them) and horse-riding and mining and dust. Davis writes well, with good pacing and style all the way through, save a few too many “here’s what we learned along the way” moments near the end. Her characters are bright and real, with Aster and Violet standing out in particular in the thick darkness of their emotions. It’s a good group to follow. I wasn’t sure why the girls continued using their welcome house names after they’d left, as it’s not really explained and didn’t feel quite right, but I was satisfied by most everything else in the pages of this book.

Content Warnings

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