simplythegirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
slow-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? No
2.0
So I'm not the intended audience for this book and usually I give an extra star for that but I think this series has some major problems. I'll start with this book specifically
The plot revolves around getting Ethan back. There's no real stakes it's pretty predictable. There are a few interesting new characters which I'd love to have seen more of. The pacing is also pretty slow. I love Link, Macon, and I love Liv and John so I got through the books because I wanted to see them and know what happened to them. Ethan and Lena are okay in comparison. I think Ethan is the most underdeveloped and bland character and the book focus on him a lot.
This book series has not aged well and I would not let my kids read it unless they're concious on why its problematic
She's an underdeveloped character compared to all the white characters too. Poc get shafted in books like this and this is a clear book that did not do poc justice. Also the civil war is referred to multiple times as "the war on cotton" and never mentions racism in the south. I guess because this book is majority white people the author thought it was fine. She tries to make it seem like everyone in the town holds onto old ways(implied racist ways too) but will seriously and casually skim the topic of racism thr only violenc in flashbacks are eone by union soldiers again over cotton. That should tell you something about the author. Amma also does voodoo which is a stereotype. She's always been under Ethan's family in the hierarchy and no amount of good Ethan's family did for slaves in the past can justify her place, sacrifice, and underdevelopment. I really would have preferred Ethan stay in the afterlife.
The plot revolves around getting Ethan back. There's no real stakes it's pretty predictable. There are a few interesting new characters which I'd love to have seen more of. The pacing is also pretty slow. I love Link, Macon, and I love Liv and John so I got through the books because I wanted to see them and know what happened to them. Ethan and Lena are okay in comparison. I think Ethan is the most underdeveloped and bland character and the book focus on him a lot.
This book series has not aged well and I would not let my kids read it unless they're concious on why its problematic
Spoiler
Amma sacrifices herself for Ethan. The only African American woman gives up her life for this white boy. This screams "white savior." The systematic and societal statement on that is tragic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent
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