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caribbeangirlreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Audiobook narration - FIVE STARS. Seth Numrich definitely earned that Audie Narrator Award. And the surprise of having Stephen King play the grumpy Mr. Bowditch was chef's kiss.
The first 1/3 of the book was a solid four stars. I LOVED the writing, the characters, and the story. And then that big event happened that completely changed this book. This 2/3 of the book is where the actual "fairy tale" happens. For the next 1/3 of the book, we had the mc, 17yo Charlie (narrating as his adult self) doing a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. I was bored. I only made it through this section of the book on the back of the outstanding audiobook narrator. Then Charlie arrived at "the city" and the plot finally started to move along. At the end, all I can say about last 2/3 of the story is that it was ok.
But I can't end this review w/o discussing some issues. First, there was a LOT of lazy writing in this book. Charlie was constantly telling us how the beings/situations/locations in his journey reminded him of xyz fairy tale. If he mentioned Rumpelstiltskin one more time . . . Heck, King even name dropped one of his books! This book also felt like it borrowed (and not well) from Tolkien, The Hunger Games, and other stories. Second, can we talk about the sexist language in this book? The constant use of the words b*tch and c*nt to describe women that were unlikeable. But, OF COURSE, the princess was beautiful . . . and blonde. Which leads me to King/Charlie's love of racist H.P. Lovecraft and the trope in which the saviors/royals and blonde and blue-eyed. Just no.
This book could have been a three, but the lazy writing and overt sexist language and depiction of the women in the story left a sour taste in my mouth.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
alexmall029's review
3.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Injury/Injury detail
itsheyfay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Genocide, and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and War
wildflower_magic's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
mandaraffe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Infertility
boglord's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Infertility, Sexism, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Rape, Cannibalism, and Colonisation