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mthereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.0
Hoo boy. Where to start with this book?
I guess I'll start by saying that I really did like it. Lots of nature in this book, and it's actually very accurately depicted which is a big bonus of Glendy Vanderah's biology background - I'm very drawn to her books because of that. This story is also a great deep dive into different types of relationships. It wraps up so nicely after a lot of hard emotions get sorted out, and you're definitely meant to have all sorts of warm fuzzies when this book is over.
However. This book should come with about a hundred trigger warnings stamped on the cover. The official blurb only gets at a fraction of them: abandonment, abduction, abuse, addiction - and I'm only in the A's! (I tagged 20[!] content warnings for this book on StoryGraph.)
I honestly would have given this book all 5 stars if the last two chapters didn't have such an intense focus on teen pregnancy and a very weirdly crowded birthing scene. Absolutely unnecessary and not my vibe at all.
But if you like books where the characters are very close to nature, and like books about complicated familial relationships, and don't mind about a zillion potential triggers, you'll love this book!
I guess I'll start by saying that I really did like it. Lots of nature in this book, and it's actually very accurately depicted which is a big bonus of Glendy Vanderah's biology background - I'm very drawn to her books because of that. This story is also a great deep dive into different types of relationships. It wraps up so nicely after a lot of hard emotions get sorted out, and you're definitely meant to have all sorts of warm fuzzies when this book is over.
However. This book should come with about a hundred trigger warnings stamped on the cover. The official blurb only gets at a fraction of them: abandonment, abduction, abuse, addiction - and I'm only in the A's! (I tagged 20[!] content warnings for this book on StoryGraph.)
I honestly would have given this book all 5 stars if the last two chapters didn't
But if you like books where the characters are very close to nature, and like books about complicated familial relationships, and don't mind about a zillion potential triggers, you'll love this book!
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
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