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meagan_young's review against another edition
4.0
Really sweet and I liked the idea of getting to literally see what kinds of things a person’s heart would contain. It was a quick read because it’s so short, but there also wasn’t a ton of relationship or backstory development for the same reason. I still felt like there was enough there to set up an interesting plot and characters. (There was a very dark and emotional few chapters toward the middle that were pretty rough to get through, btw.)
dinapetko's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
5.0
whatsherface6's review against another edition
3.0
Fun concept. I liked the start and the fast pace of the story. But it all slowed down and became repetitive after we entered the heart. I was beyond bored by the third chamber.
Not sure why... but I'm gonna move on to the next in the series.
Not sure why... but I'm gonna move on to the next in the series.
dreambornnicole's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Normally I eat up books by Holmberg, but this one was just fine. Maybe it’s because it was an early work or something. I just didn’t vibe with Ceony as much as I usually do. And the plot felt rushed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Animal death, Suicide, and Death of parent
br1sr3alm's review against another edition
4.0
Very quickly b/c of the world created in Charlie's words, my brain turned the visuals into a stop animation type of film like Coraline in order to comprehend the brutality of the Excisioners and the description of the environment Ceony found herself trapped. This has a very Gaimanesque quality (hence Coraline or even The Ocean at the End of the Lane), and while I agree with many of the reviews that this could have been more detailed, and her emotions could've stayed in check, I enjoyed the whimsical albeit violent tale that crosses many genres.
simplysope's review against another edition
4.0
A fun take on the young fantasy genre. The main character is fun and smart and it is interesting how the majority of the plot takes place in a human heart. The spin is refreshing. Only gripe? I am so tired of female protagonists falling in love with other characters after a few mere days of interaction. Ceony is wonderful and powerful without needing to turn into a doe-eyed love struck teen. (I will say the way the love is constructed is fairly more believable than many other books) Still a good read tho. Looking forward to reading The Glass Magician.
bbrreenna's review against another edition
4.0
Really 3.5 stars. Definitely more of a young-adult novel, which is pretty self-evident within the first few pages. I enjoyed the novel and thought it moved at a very nice pace. It was an easy read for an afternoon by the pool or at the beach!
sailaranel's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
freevortex's review against another edition
3.0
Too long in one place, read like a much shorter book. But I like the overall story so I'll see how the second book turns out.