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betwixtbooks's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
wombatwolf's review
3.0
An absorbing story in a great setting. Southern coast literature is a gem of a thing. Snagged at times by some truly cringeworthy writing (especially dialogue) and some less-than-believable timelines and concepts. Glad I read it.
audiobookconfessions's review
5.0
I don’t know why it took me so long to read this book, but I am so glad that I finally got to it. Such a heartbreaking tale that has you connecting so quickly and your heart breaking with Kya and hoping that she would finally find her peace. The twist at the end was bittersweet but really I don’t see any other way it could have went. This is the first time I have read anything from Delia Owens and have to say I am very happy my friends pushed me to listen to it.
elizakaspar1988's review
5.0
I knew this book was hyped up and so was a little worried it wouldn't live up to expectations. But I was so impressed! I tore through this book and literally couldn't put it down at times.
This book was told from different perspectives which I enjoyed because it allowed you to hear all the different thoughts. My favorite characters were probably Jumpin, Mabel, and Jacob because of how they treated Kya and allowed her to kind of become family.
After reading the blurb I thought more of this book would be focused on the murder but really that was maybe 25% of the book, and it was mostly at the end. That didn't take away from the enjoyment for me as I found myself immersed in Kya's story.
The ending kind of surprised me but that's probably just because I liked Kya so much I convinced myself she didn't do it (he deserved it though so I'm still team Kya). Reading it with an unbiased mind it was probably obvious she did it. Either way, I highly highly recommend this read to anyone who likes character driven stories with some mystery sprinkled in.
This book was told from different perspectives which I enjoyed because it allowed you to hear all the different thoughts. My favorite characters were probably Jumpin, Mabel, and Jacob because of how they treated Kya and allowed her to kind of become family.
After reading the blurb I thought more of this book would be focused on the murder but really that was maybe 25% of the book, and it was mostly at the end. That didn't take away from the enjoyment for me as I found myself immersed in Kya's story.
The ending kind of surprised me but that's probably just because I liked Kya so much I convinced myself she didn't do it (he deserved it though so I'm still team Kya). Reading it with an unbiased mind it was probably obvious she did it. Either way, I highly highly recommend this read to anyone who likes character driven stories with some mystery sprinkled in.
dragonfruit06's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
guudlobster's review against another edition
4.0
+ Krásně napsaný.
+ Pomaloučký, ale v dobrém smyslu.
+ Nádherný popisy přírody a krajiny.
+ Postavy .
- Tak trochu nerealistický, ale mně Kyiin vývoj nepřipadal až tak nesmyslný jako jiným lidem.
- Posledních sto stran, nebavily mě ty soudy a ostatní kraviny. Plus to působilo nesmírně uspěchaně.
+ Pomaloučký, ale v dobrém smyslu.
+ Nádherný popisy přírody a krajiny.
+ Postavy .
- Tak trochu nerealistický, ale mně Kyiin vývoj nepřipadal až tak nesmyslný jako jiným lidem.
- Posledních sto stran, nebavily mě ty soudy a ostatní kraviny. Plus to působilo nesmírně uspěchaně.
donnawr1's review
3.0
I had expected more from a book that has been talked about for so long and was the best selling book of 2019. The topic hadn't really appealed to me, but after all the hype and finding that the author is a scientist, I thought I would enjoy it as much as so many others seem to. After finding a used copy for $4, I began the journey. I found the writing varied through the book, sometimes excelling and other times dragging and feeling like there was a lot of unnecessary repetition. Yes, we got that she felt lonely and abandoned. The author worked hard to make Kya's survival alone at age 10 seem realistic, but it didn't feel that way while I read it. Other things felt far fetched, like her learning to read sentences on the same day she was learning sounds from her ABCs. The insertion of the murder and investigation from the very start of the story felt disjointed and distracting to me as I was getting to know the main characters. Later it added suspense and I think the time just before and during the trial are the best in the book. I also expected to learn more about a marsh and the wildlife there, but it never quite came to life for me.
But so many people REALLY LOVED this book, I look at it and wonder what was the draw? My guess is the ability of a girl and then a young woman to be a literal survivor and to end up in control of her life. The description of the marsh as her mother was another draw for some people, but again, not enough detail for my taste. I also think the murder mystery enhanced the book and some people's love of it. But for me, I'm glad I spent no more than $4 on it and am happy to pass it on to someone else who may enjoy it more.
But so many people REALLY LOVED this book, I look at it and wonder what was the draw? My guess is the ability of a girl and then a young woman to be a literal survivor and to end up in control of her life. The description of the marsh as her mother was another draw for some people, but again, not enough detail for my taste. I also think the murder mystery enhanced the book and some people's love of it. But for me, I'm glad I spent no more than $4 on it and am happy to pass it on to someone else who may enjoy it more.
emckenzie1045's review
3.0
Closer to a 2.5
If you were to say to me "what do you think about this book?" I'd say that it is massively overhyped. Like, waaayyy overhyped. And slightly problematic in some places.
"Gee, Emma," you say, "why do you think so?"
Well, I'll tell you.
Spoilers ahead.
We're gonna start with the good things.
1. The prose was great. Really, it was very artistic and beautiful. Delia Owens, for all the complaining I'm about to do, is a very talented writer. I can't deny that. She is great at writing emotional scenes and dialog.
2. The trial scenes were by far the most entertaining chapters for me. I thought they were just so fun.
3 I won't lie, I saw the ending coming from a mile away. 100% I knew she was the one who killed Chase. I knew from the moment she first studied the fireflies midway through the book.
BUT
Despite this very obvious fact, the way it was revealed gave me chills. Like, the end of the last chapter was super well written. I think the firefly parallel was very clever, and I enjoyed it. The poem was super haunting, and again, I got chills. Which I did not expect in the slightest.
And now we move to the not good things:
1. I wanted more of the conniving, clever, and ruthless Kya that was in the ending. I think the book would have been much better if we had gotten to see that side of her the whole book, not just the last few pages. Like, How ruthless!! Also, characters lying to the audience in their heads drives me insane. I understand Owens wanted a twist, but it would have been so much more interesting to read had we known her plan to kill Chase from the beginning.
Again, GIVE ME RUTHLESS KYA
2. This book, for all the lovely prose, dragged. I listened to the audiobook, so it made it easier, but I constantly found my mind wandering from what I was listening to, which NEVER happens to me when I listen to audiobooks. It just was overall kind of boring. I feel a lot of scenes and long stretches of inner monologe could have been cut, and the book would have still had the same impact. There were times that I completely forgot about the murder plot because of all the incredibly long stretches of backstory.
3. Now we get to talk about the relationships. Oh boy.
I take great issue with the fact that the nineteen year old Tate is constant thinking about how much he wants to kiss and touch 14 year old Kya. The age difference is just... no. There is one specific scene where she's just BARELY turned fifteen and Tate starts taking off her shirt like SIR YOU ARE A LITERAL ADULT STOP IT!!!
(Thankfully he did, but it was touch and go there for a moment, kind of like me reading this book)
*ahem*
It just felt really gross to me, and I think this could have been remedied by aging Kya up like, three years at the LEAST. Or Tate aging down three. It also doesn't help that Kya has no idea what sex, kissing, or physical intimacy really means. She's so incredibly innocent, having no one to teach her what the significance of those things are. Smut in general isn't my cup of tea, I skip those scenes because they gross me out, but this especially felt all kinds of wrong.
I know that he really does care about her as a person, as we see from his perspective, but I just take major issue with that specific theme. I'm glad they got a happy ever after and whatnot, yay for true love etc, but again, just....ick. I kept waiting for this to be addressed in some way. I really hoped it would. But it wasn't.
And don't get me started on Chase freaking Andrews. That relationship was a mess from the beginning, and I can't blame Kya for pushing him off the tower.
Like, EW.
I feel like my issues with him speak for themselves.
Sir, full offense, you can go fall off a fire tower.
4. The fact that Kya somehow managed to "raise herself" at the age of six is so unbelievable. There is no possible way that she should have turned out as well adjusted as she was.
It just doesn't seem believable that all these adults in the town did nothing about a seemingly alone little girl living in a swamp. Like, I know it was the fifties, but there had to have been some sort of social services, right?
Those are my main gripes with this story. Again, it wasn't the worst story I've read. It was decent, and again, that ending and the firefly parallel was really clever. I just think that the cons outweighed the pros, and yes, I'm still bitter we didn't get more of "Ruthless Kya." I wish the book had been eerie all throughout the story, not just at the end.
I just think it was overhyped. If you loved it, great. I did not.
If you were to say to me "what do you think about this book?" I'd say that it is massively overhyped. Like, waaayyy overhyped. And slightly problematic in some places.
"Gee, Emma," you say, "why do you think so?"
Well, I'll tell you.
Spoilers ahead.
We're gonna start with the good things.
1. The prose was great. Really, it was very artistic and beautiful. Delia Owens, for all the complaining I'm about to do, is a very talented writer. I can't deny that. She is great at writing emotional scenes and dialog.
2. The trial scenes were by far the most entertaining chapters for me. I thought they were just so fun.
3 I won't lie, I saw the ending coming from a mile away. 100% I knew she was the one who killed Chase. I knew from the moment she first studied the fireflies midway through the book.
BUT
Despite this very obvious fact, the way it was revealed gave me chills. Like, the end of the last chapter was super well written. I think the firefly parallel was very clever, and I enjoyed it. The poem was super haunting, and again, I got chills. Which I did not expect in the slightest.
And now we move to the not good things:
1. I wanted more of the conniving, clever, and ruthless Kya that was in the ending. I think the book would have been much better if we had gotten to see that side of her the whole book, not just the last few pages. Like, How ruthless!! Also, characters lying to the audience in their heads drives me insane. I understand Owens wanted a twist, but it would have been so much more interesting to read had we known her plan to kill Chase from the beginning.
Again, GIVE ME RUTHLESS KYA
2. This book, for all the lovely prose, dragged. I listened to the audiobook, so it made it easier, but I constantly found my mind wandering from what I was listening to, which NEVER happens to me when I listen to audiobooks. It just was overall kind of boring. I feel a lot of scenes and long stretches of inner monologe could have been cut, and the book would have still had the same impact. There were times that I completely forgot about the murder plot because of all the incredibly long stretches of backstory.
3. Now we get to talk about the relationships. Oh boy.
I take great issue with the fact that the nineteen year old Tate is constant thinking about how much he wants to kiss and touch 14 year old Kya. The age difference is just... no. There is one specific scene where she's just BARELY turned fifteen and Tate starts taking off her shirt like SIR YOU ARE A LITERAL ADULT STOP IT!!!
(Thankfully he did, but it was touch and go there for a moment, kind of like me reading this book)
*ahem*
It just felt really gross to me, and I think this could have been remedied by aging Kya up like, three years at the LEAST. Or Tate aging down three. It also doesn't help that Kya has no idea what sex, kissing, or physical intimacy really means. She's so incredibly innocent, having no one to teach her what the significance of those things are. Smut in general isn't my cup of tea, I skip those scenes because they gross me out, but this especially felt all kinds of wrong.
I know that he really does care about her as a person, as we see from his perspective, but I just take major issue with that specific theme. I'm glad they got a happy ever after and whatnot, yay for true love etc, but again, just....ick. I kept waiting for this to be addressed in some way. I really hoped it would. But it wasn't.
And don't get me started on Chase freaking Andrews. That relationship was a mess from the beginning, and I can't blame Kya for pushing him off the tower.
Like, EW.
I feel like my issues with him speak for themselves.
Sir, full offense, you can go fall off a fire tower.
4. The fact that Kya somehow managed to "raise herself" at the age of six is so unbelievable. There is no possible way that she should have turned out as well adjusted as she was.
It just doesn't seem believable that all these adults in the town did nothing about a seemingly alone little girl living in a swamp. Like, I know it was the fifties, but there had to have been some sort of social services, right?
Those are my main gripes with this story. Again, it wasn't the worst story I've read. It was decent, and again, that ending and the firefly parallel was really clever. I just think that the cons outweighed the pros, and yes, I'm still bitter we didn't get more of "Ruthless Kya." I wish the book had been eerie all throughout the story, not just at the end.
I just think it was overhyped. If you loved it, great. I did not.
catboot's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? No
4.0