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oceanbluetay's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Deadnaming, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
theirgracegrace'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? It's complicated
4.5
My most adored parts of the book are the descriptions of the circus venues, from the enigmatic Labyrinth to the Wishing Tree and the Ice Garden. The symbolism of a circus that is adorned in black and white, and it is the visitors who bring colour to it, shows immaculate sense of the book's themes. I was immediately drawn to the character of Bailey and loved how the narrative slowly incorporates him and the rêveurs. A delightful tale with a bittersweet ending that I look forward to reading next time the circus rolls into town!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Vomit, and Classism
One of the side characters get hit by a trainstaceyinthesticks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Minor: Death and Pregnancy
nadia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I was here for the mystery and intrigue...but then it unfolded in a way that I wasn't expecting and couldn't get on board with. And I was disappointed.
On top of that, some explanations for things, or where things were left, felt unsatisfactory given the build-up. I don't need everything laid out to me, not at all, but given the slow build-up and anticipation, I expected a little more here.
However, the vibes were immaculate and I loved the writing, the setting, the atmosphere, and the cast of characters on the whole, but when I try and give this book a 4.5-star rating, it feels too generous given how disappointed I was with what turned out to be a key element of the book.
I wasn't looking forward to giving The Starless Sea a go given the little I'd heard about it, but now I'm excited to check it out, even if it ultimately ends up not being for me.
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent
Minor: Blood and Pregnancy
daisyfont'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
3.5
This was the book I read before going to bed. Erin's description of the (probably gigantic) circus is beautiful, but I didn't feel very much for the characters. I didn't really care about the development of the story, the characters or the ending.
I also have her other book, The Starless Sea, on my book shelf. But it will remain there for a while, I think.
Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism and Grief
Minor: Murder and Pregnancy
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
moonchild_cos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
laneys_library'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy
talonsontypewriters'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
uranaishi'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
4.75
March 26, 2014
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Sexism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol