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brukneem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting
abookwormspov's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
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
purplepenning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Undeniably beautiful writing in a turn of the century fairytale that is groundedly gritty and soaringly ethereal. I don't care for circuses, but it was the exact right venue for this story. This one didn't knock me off my feet quite as much as The Starless Sea, which I read first and with no expectations. Partly, I think, because I wasn't as enamored with Marco as I maybe was supposed to be and I wasn't as satisfied with the ending here, but mostly because:
"The finest of pleasure are always the unexpected ones."
Definitely recommend for fans of The Starless Sea and Alix Harrow's Ten Thousand Doors of January.
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
Abuse of magic/violation of personal agency: stealing memories, advancing by magically enhanced charm and looksitsheyfay's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
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
jayfanboi'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? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Gaslighting and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide
dkayayay'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
My favorite part about the book would be the circus itself and the writing. The circus, with its many wondrous attractions, was the only thing that really captured my attention. The writing overall of this book was stunningly intricate and atmospheric.
Maybe with another re-read, with the right mood, I might enjoy it more than I did.
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
spookily'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
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Torture, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
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