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lucky_stars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Genocide, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Vomit and Dementia
charlie_cheese's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gore, Self harm, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Forced institutionalization, and War
americattt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Suicide
elisaviihde's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
lanid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, and Alcohol
Minor: Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Grief
spaceteapot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Vomit, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Car accident
jayisreading's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Self harm, and Suicide
flyawaytruelove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
My favorite type of beast was the Joyous Beasts. I personally thought their lifecycle was the most unique (and maybe a bit horrifying) out of all of them. Heartsick Beasts are a close second.
I didn't feel like the narrator developed too drastically as the book. There were some points where her behavior felt a bit predictable, but she developed! Maybe as not as I hoped.
Overall, I think it's a good read! It's short and sweet so no harm in trying it.
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit and War
theatrix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
thenovelmaura's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
- <250 pages: What can I say, I liked that Ge kept things short and sweet here.
- Books in translation: I find it fascinating that I'm effectively reading the combined work of two writers: the original author and the translator.
- Audiobook narrated by Emily Woo Zeller: I immediately recognized her voice from when I listened to White Ivy and she did an amazing job with both books!
- Unnamed narrator: I liked the contrast between the narrator being a very popular and recognizable writer in her city while the reader doesn't even know her name.
- Bestiary set in a bustling city: Each chapter of this book is about a different beast, and the chapters are bookended with explanations about the beasts' appearances, habits, and social structures. In between these sections lie the adventures of our author/zoologist narrator, who writes stories about the beasts she encounters in this strange city. I loved this setup and how the beasts were not always as they appeared in the chapter openings.
- Noir vibes: Most of the chapters were written like short detective stories, with our cynical narrator wandering through the smoky streets and in and out of the Dolphin Bar in her search for clues about the beasts. The mood was dark and contemplative, interspersed with bits of humor as characters poke fun at and hang up the phone on one another.
This book lives up to its name and I loved being transported to the fictional Yong'an on my walks to and from work earlier this year!
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Suicide