arsenicmind's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Sexual assault
magnoliabloomfield's review
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.75
Very very slow paced. Writing the accent annoyed me so much. The characters don’t recognize their own accent and you should write what they mean or else you distract the reader and distracted readers aren’t immersed in the story. We are bombarded with so much information about Kya in the beginning when we don’t necessarily want that much, and then later so much that we actually would have wanted to know was withheld. Also it felt like the author created a lot plot hole fixes on the spot and didn’t edited them into the story further back to foreshadow. For instance Jodie’s scar. If we knew he had it from the beginning we could have felt recognition when we see a scarred man later instead of getting a big chunk of backstory explaining it when what we really want is to stay in the present moment. Overall I was underwhelmed and unsatisfied. Don’t get the hype at all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
bgay09's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Pretty good book. It wasn't the best book I have ever read in my life but the story was interesting and I did want to see how it ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic relationship
elisabethshanahan's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Death, Murder, Child abuse, and Grief
Minor: Car accident and Racial slurs
cait's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Racism, Rape, Alcohol, Sexual content, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Blood, Bullying, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Death, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
conbeeni's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, and Death
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
sreddous's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I LOVE when a location is a "character" as much as the characters are, and, boy, this is an easy setting to get lost in. The descriptions are lovely and the pacing, especially in the first half, really shows what it's like to live in these kinds of rural communities. There's some emotional, heart-wrenching stuff in here -- it's really well done, the way Kya has social issues and doesn't know how to interact with people. Her connection with nature is truly believable and beautiful. The connections with the people she does have feel well-built-up, and I adored the friendships with Kya and Jumpin' and his family and Tate.
I think what didn't work for me quite as well are some of the details and then the overall pacing -- I actually sort of found myself wishing that there wasn't a murder accusation, that this was just a slice-of-life story about how a little girl survived in the marsh. The murder trial stuff felt a bit too rushed in the end -- without spoiling too much, I don't think there was enough buildup to show why Kya would make the choices she did. The framing seems to be that "this is the first time she had to actually live in fear, worrying someone was going to come find her" but... that's pretty much expressed in one scene, when there should have been a lot more nuance to that given how the rest of her life has played out.
Also, the "Rural North Carolina" accents.... abruptly stop about halfway through. It seems that once Kya learned to read and write, she totally and completely stopped talking like a rural "country" person -- I don't buy it. It's too extreme. I'm picky about accents being written literally out in books overall, but because for the first half of the book it was consistent, I found it immersive. But we have a character going from: "What d'ya mean? It ain't just that. I wadn't aware..." to : "Jodie, maybe I'm just tired right now. In fact, I'm exhausted." and I don't think that's realistic. Just learning to read and replacing some words such as "ain't" wouldn't stop a person who is otherwise really isolated from the diverse ways different people speak from changing their accent THAT much, I feel like even people who travel internationally and immigrate don't have their accents change THAT much. So it bugged me, it almost felt like the message was: "if you're an uneducated country bumpkin you talk with an accent, and if you can read, you don't" or something? Which I think is judgmental and unfair.
Still, accepting this for what it is, this was an "easy read" in the sense that it was indeed pretty easy to get swept away in the swamp and marsh landscapes and stormy hot weather here. Immersive stuff!
I think what didn't work for me quite as well are some of the details and then the overall pacing -- I actually sort of found myself wishing that there wasn't a murder accusation, that this was just a slice-of-life story about how a little girl survived in the marsh. The murder trial stuff felt a bit too rushed in the end -- without spoiling too much, I don't think there was enough buildup to show why Kya would make the choices she did. The framing seems to be that "this is the first time she had to actually live in fear, worrying someone was going to come find her" but... that's pretty much expressed in one scene, when there should have been a lot more nuance to that given how the rest of her life has played out.
Also, the "Rural North Carolina" accents.... abruptly stop about halfway through. It seems that once Kya learned to read and write, she totally and completely stopped talking like a rural "country" person -- I don't buy it. It's too extreme. I'm picky about accents being written literally out in books overall, but because for the first half of the book it was consistent, I found it immersive. But we have a character going from: "What d'ya mean? It ain't just that. I wadn't aware..." to : "Jodie, maybe I'm just tired right now. In fact, I'm exhausted." and I don't think that's realistic. Just learning to read and replacing some words such as "ain't" wouldn't stop a person who is otherwise really isolated from the diverse ways different people speak from changing their accent THAT much, I feel like even people who travel internationally and immigrate don't have their accents change THAT much. So it bugged me, it almost felt like the message was: "if you're an uneducated country bumpkin you talk with an accent, and if you can read, you don't" or something? Which I think is judgmental and unfair.
Still, accepting this for what it is, this was an "easy read" in the sense that it was indeed pretty easy to get swept away in the swamp and marsh landscapes and stormy hot weather here. Immersive stuff!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual violence
connieshew's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
The book was exquisite and I devoured the bulk of it in a few days. Owen writes with great detail and really showcases her knowledge of nature which significantly adds something to the book. Despite having watched the film beforehand, I was still shocked by some parts of the book and would highly recommend this book.
The story is incredible and highlights the resilience of the main character Kya, who although had a difficult childhood alone in the marsh, was able to develop and learn from nature and her chosen family.
The story is incredible and highlights the resilience of the main character Kya, who although had a difficult childhood alone in the marsh, was able to develop and learn from nature and her chosen family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Racism, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual violence and Racial slurs
briskknight's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I thought I would dislike this book when I first starting reading. I did not like the imagery and it made me uncomfortable. I don't like marsh, mud, humidity, etc. I do like boats and the water, but not that area of the water. I am so glad that I kept reading. To say that the setting grew on me is an understatement, I yearn for it now. This novel is absolutely incredible! Fantastic. I saw the ending coming but was so engrossed that I forgot the prediction, so it still hit me hard. I enjoy the mix of introspection and slice of life and murder investigation/trial. There is something that I think would have tied things together better, which makes this just shy of 5 stars. That being said, this book is much closer to 5 stars than 4.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, Racial slurs, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Infidelity and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
jozefinkak's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adored this book! The hype is well deserved. It contains the most satisfying conclusion I’ve read in a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Sexism, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Murder