maregred'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
5.0
Graphic: Murder and Bullying
Moderate: Classism, Alcohol, and Gore
Minor: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
nikolemrtnz'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
valgarciq's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Classism, Death, Cursing, and Infidelity
cdt96'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Vomit, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Drug abuse, Biphobia, Blood, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Eating disorder, Bullying, Addiction, Homophobia, Outing, Self harm, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Biphobia, Cursing, Classism, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
xcharlotteliz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Classism
Minor: Eating disorder
lisa_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a pretty intense read but it completely captivated me. I started reading at 9pm and read until 3am because I just couldn't stop. And then I woke up and continued reading until I got so hungry I had to get out of bed.
This book really gave me all of the emotions. I was happy (though not a lot), I was really really angry, I was super sad (and cried). All in all, the characters are super flawed but also so amazing to read about.
All the twists and turns where so unexpected and even in the last few pages EVERYTHING changes! I was crying because I was so sad for Oliver, and then after reading the last sentence I just didn't know what to think anymore. I pretty much thought about this book for the rest of the day after reading it, and I'm sure that it's going to stick with me for quite a while.
I had a few theories about what happened and they turned out to be true (which amazes me because I usually never figure stuff like that out) but it didn't lessen my enjoyement at all.
I read this book as an ebook and I definitely need to get a physical copy! I had the urge to annotate so incredibly often! And I really feel like it would still be an amazing experience rereading it. And then I can annotate everything! :D
So basically, read this book! I don't know what else to say. I thought it was amazing and so incredibly well done and well written. Especially if you like Shakespear and/or like acting (which is both true for me) READ THIS BOOK! (Oh and also maybe read the trigger warnings - especially domestic abuse / toxic relationships)
Moderate: Abandonment, Drug use, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Suicide, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Murder, Addiction, Body horror, Classism, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Drug abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Violence, and Vomit
lidia138's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Classism, Addiction, Grief, and Death
manonh90'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Grief, Death, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Murder, Classism, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, and Violence
Minor: Self harm, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Infidelity
tinyjude'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
4.0
Pretentious, dramatic and passionate theatre kids who bring to life shakespearean plays both in ans offstage, are a tangled mess of emotions and riddles while also being quite flat characters. I liked the writing, it was fitting for the theme and atmosphere. I loved some passages and use of the plays throughout the story to obscure and bring light to the characters' feelings. I enjoyed the drama and the story. I had my doubts about dark academia books but this one made it for me and now I know I yearn for more books with theatre actors as protagonists being unhinged and frustrating. I also liked the references to some motifs in Shakespeare's plays (ghosts, lies, blood, guilt, madness). As a Shakespeare enthusiastic, especially his tragedies and villains, I am content.
Spoiler
The parts that mostly bother me are for example, what exactly did send Alexander spiraling into overdose? Was it the guilt in all cases? Did Richard haunt them so bad as a ghost like in Macbeth? Did Wren knew all along it was James? I needed to see them descend into madness more.
At some point I truly thought I was being lied by the internet and my own biased analysis, which always searches for some homoerotic subtext, because HELL the moments between Oliver and James were sparse. Those weren't even crumbs, I was holding the ship with a thread and both eyes closed, going by instinct. So yeah, the slow-burn was way too much, as it didn't deliver the relief you would expect after so many "heteronormative looking" scenes (idk how to describe it bc the book had me doubting my bisexual suspicions and then rooting for a poly relationship between Oliver Meredith and James). (What do you mean a botherly kiss that is not quite brotherly? but yeah, only one brief kiss, nothing else, no more scenes between them that hint at their feelings before or after halloween. I am not even asking for a love confession or any grand gesture, but more subtle scenes between them, more tension... idk i went insane, i am in pain but i also apprecite how complicated their relationship is, as they were best friends, brothers, partners in crime, lovers, enemies...). Or more about the internal turmoil they had going on realizing they are queer, which we barely got because they didn't want to think about it... I wanted to see how they come to terms with their sexuality, the guilt and love they felt (this specially)!!!
I probably forget many things I want to say but frankly I have been reading 3h non-stop and cried at the ending, so cut me some slack.
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual violence, Classism, Misogyny, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
mblanke'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
3.25
Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Grief, Murder, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Gore, Homophobia, and Classism