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stellahadz's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
The pacing of the book was slower than I would have liked; it took me almost 200 pages to really get into the story. I think there's also something about the Victorian-esque writing style that doesn't totally resonate with me -- I didn't feel like I could fully connect with any of the characters, and most of them were just downright unlikeable. (My copy was the 20th anniversary edition with an afterword by the author, and I'll just say I agree with what she has to say about Nancy!)
I can see why this book is popular; it's well-written (I especially liked the setting descriptions and worldbuilding) and explores aspects of Victorian life that aren't always included in the literary canon. However, I think the genre and writing style simply weren't for me.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Miscarriage
thatchickengirl23's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Grief, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization
amina_writes_books'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
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Outing
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
helen777'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
4.5
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia
Sex work/prostitutionnekopersona'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage and Lesbophobia
ranbara'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
juliastern__'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
marleywrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Miscarriage and Racism
lautreamont's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Miscarriage and Racial slurs
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Colonisation