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madi_brown'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? No
3.25
Number 1: THIS BOOK WAS SO SLOW!! When I tell you there are parts of the summary that don't even become a part of the story until the second half of the book, you know it's slow. Some people could probably get past the pacing, but ocassionally having a semi-interesting bit of info every 30 pages or so doesn't cut it for me.
Number 2: I wish we learned more of some of the side characters' stories. I was left wanting to know more about Isobel and Tsukiko and their lives outside of the circus. I understand that the author wanted to focus on Celia and Marco more because of a desired effect (not knowing everyone's story and life outside of your experiences with them), but come on! I want more Kiko!
Number 3: I did not enjoy the subtle time jumps that happened almost every chapter. It made it hard for me to get very into the story becuase the time line was all over the place. i.e. going from like 1886 to 1902 in the most causual manner and then in the next chapter going back to like 1889.
Overall I think this would be a book that is better to be an assigned reading at school rather than on your own because there is a lot of symbolism and it involved quite a bit of Googling for me because I don't know tarot meanings or things of that nature.
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Child abuse and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
ramakn22's review against another edition
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Suicide, and Abandonment
vireogirl'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
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
aas'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
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol
froggiebog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Confinement and Murder
Minor: Suicide and Fire/Fire injury
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
vas_17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
That being said, very few of the many questions were answered and the characters fell completely flat, while the circus was dazzling. I’m left feeling unsatisfied and maybe even frustrated. Like the MAIN source of “conflict” has a mysterious origin that is never explained and the magic throughout the book is difficult to understand. The world-building is an illusion, just like the circus.
Graphic: Child abuse and Confinement
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
tiernanhunter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief and Fire/Fire injury