hagiasophia's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
what an interesting reading experience. this book was gross, gory, visceral and beautifully written. It started off a little slow but I was sucked into the story about 100 pages in and found it totally immersive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Rape
alexanderp's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
An incredible read. One of the most inventive horror tales I've read in years and told with incredible depth and heart.
Not sure I'll look at werewolves the same way again.
Not sure I'll look at werewolves the same way again.
rowanvin's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
jaqofmosttrades's review
5.0
Um, there are no words for this. I’m so confused. Also I’m crying. This is beyond. WHAT JUST HAPPENED
cmgreen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
allegedmusician's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
lightfoxing's review
3.0
This book was good. It was important. It just maybe wasn't for me. The story itself was at times engaging, at times not. I cared more for Cyrah's story than for Alok's, whom I didn't feel I really got a chance to know until maybe the very last chapter. The prose was at times excellent, at times a bit jarring and clunky. The mythology woven in was extremely interesting, but I sometimes would have liked more of it, and at other times liked less of it.
maryrobinette's review
3.0
This has a really lush sense of place through the use of evocative language. Coupled with an ambitious structure, I really wanted to love this novel.
I had difficulty with some of the thematic elements, particularly with the rape narrative. As much as the author portrays Cyrah as a strong woman, she still winds up being defined by this single incident. I could see the efforts the author made to undermine this trope, but it still troubled me.
That said, the language and sense of place are really compelling. I think the novel is at its best during the passages where we go deep into sensory details.
I had difficulty with some of the thematic elements, particularly with the rape narrative. As much as the author portrays Cyrah as a strong woman, she still winds up being defined by this single incident. I could see the efforts the author made to undermine this trope, but it still troubled me.
That said, the language and sense of place are really compelling. I think the novel is at its best during the passages where we go deep into sensory details.
beansterpie's review
5.0
This was a really interesting interpretation of werewolves, and the fact that it took place in India was different than a lot of typical werewolf stories you find in America.
At first, it was a little hard for me to get into the transcription part of the story, especially because I didn't realise how much of the story was taken up by the past. I started reading the transcription, thinking it would be a few pages at most, but really it's about half the book. Once I got past the first 'chapter', so to speak, I found myself utterly invested.
At first, it was a little hard for me to get into the transcription part of the story, especially because I didn't realise how much of the story was taken up by the past. I started reading the transcription, thinking it would be a few pages at most, but really it's about half the book. Once I got past the first 'chapter', so to speak, I found myself utterly invested.
mxcaswell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0