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karydiazc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I have to admit I was expecting more...
I mean, it was a fitting ending to the story, but at the same time I felt it rushed.
And my question is... What is going to happen to Gallant once Olivia is not there anymore? What if she decides to have children?
I liked Olivia as a character, she was interesting to read, how she could picture and feel the world around her. She felt real, a curious girl who has always wanted something and is finally getting it, although not as she expected.
Matthew was very human. He was afraid and tired of everything. You can definitely see how that shaped his actions throughout the book.
Edgar and Hannah were mostly side characters, and didn't have much relevance to the actual plot, but I liked them.
This book was dark and I was expecting some closure at the end, however, as I mention at the beginning, the ending was fitting for the type of story and the information given to Olivia. We as readers know the same about Gallant as she does. Therefore making her actions understandable and not childish or rash, since Olivia was filled with curiosity for a world she did not know anything about.
I would have liked to rate the book higher, but I was expecting a bit more of action at the end and I would have liked more information about her parents. Still, in real life we don't always get the answers we seek.
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
reading_bear22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Self harm and Blood
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Violence, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
sageandcitrus's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, and Self harm
samanthaeumir's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
macaroons06's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Self harm, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Eating disorder and Gore
juan_adhd_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The thing is, I just really love VE Schwab. I love how her prose can be both beautiful yet haunting: a shiny rose, vivid and colorful; its stem full of sharp thorns, tangling around a skeletal hand. This story was as dark, mysterious and fantastical as I hoped it would be. Though I wouldn’t describe it as fast paced, I was constantly kept at the edge of my seat, savoring the rich setting that is the Gallant manor along the way. The illustrations and the diary were beautiful, a perfect picture of Olivia’s parents’ relationship. This book, I think, will stay with me for a long time to come, and will probably remain one of my favorites of 2024.
Graphic: Child death and Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Self harm, and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent and Abandonment
theinkedpath's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Mi último libro del año :)
La verdad es que Schwab nunca me decepciona. Historia de casas encantadas, fantasmas y misterios para acabar el año. Me pareció muy interesante el concepto de la historia y cómo la articula...además de que la protagonista es discapacitada (y eso siempre le hace escalar puestos en mi ranking).
La única pega que le pondría es que se me ha hecho corto (y que lo he tenido que dejar por trabajo un poco de lado, así que perdí un poco el hilo. Pero este último detalle es cosa mía).
A pesar de lo que dicho anteriormente, me lo he pasado muy bien y este libro me ha envuelto completamente hasta el punto de no poder hacer otra cosa que leer.
EN:
The last book of 2023 and I could not ask for something better! Ghostly enchanted houses full of secrets and spirits! Give me more, please!
I loved the concept of the story and how it developed. It was very immersive and I loved that we had a disabled main character, which rarely happens. I was very focused on the story, even when, because of work I had to abandon it for a bit, but I could not do other thing other than reading.
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Blood, and Grief
rinku'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? No
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment
leonormsousa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail