The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
cepbreed's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thank god I can finally say I have finished this book. Poor Nathaniel Hawthorne because the way in which I had to read this did not afford him much grace. I rushed through the entire book in complete boredom in order to be able to write a final essay with as much competence as possible. My paper is on generational trauma ruining the concept of "home" for the characters and I arduously underlined every quote that could help my cause. That work definitely sucked much of the enjoyment out of the reading process. Even though I rushed through this whole novel there were moments I liked. Holgrave and Phoebe falling in love was a surprising but adorable addition to the narrative and the moments after Judge Pyncheon's death were so well done. Hawthorne doesn't get enough credit for being able to paint a scene like he does for the fictional palace he imagines for men like the Judge. Though I don't remember it well I have read The Scarlet Letter and I liked this more than that. Take that opinion with a grain of salt though because I read that book as an underclassmen in high school and back then I had very little tolerance for the classics.Â
Graphic: Death and Classism
Moderate: Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Blood and Forced institutionalization
feeling_myshelf's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Misogyny, Colonisation, Classism, Racism, Blood, Sexism, Mental illness, Slavery, and Death
jessiecat's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Confinement
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Racial slurs
Minor: Misogyny
dawntin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I liked the book’s message of breaking away from generational curses and trauma. The characters are all distinct and their lives are mildly magical. This book would have been more interesting though if it wasn’t for the super long-winded descriptions. There was too much telling instead of showing, and it made it difficult to keep track of what was important.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Confinement and Mental illness
novelyon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Confinement, and Mental illness
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Murder
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