book_snail's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.25
If you like cosmic horror with a massive heaping of biblical allusions and a gothic romance vibe, this book is probably for you :)
Graphic: Incest and Colonisation
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
The forced institutionalisation isn't so in the normal sense; it'sSpoiler
more a woman who is restrained against her will for fear of her committing suicide and killing othersthird_bookworm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I stuck with this book because I was expecting it to do something interesting or subversive. It did not. The plot was not good or interesting enough to make up for the deeply uncomfortable themes throughout, and the revelation at the end was boring and disappointing.
It was well-written and the worldbuilding was very fun; I especially enjoyed the excerpts at the beginnings of the chapters. It just wasn't worth it to grit my teeth through the entire plot and theĀ romance plotline just to enjoy the worldbuilding and writing, and I don't care enough about Christian theology to have enjoyed the commentary on that.
Spoiler
I think I would have been fine with either the glorification of Christian missionaries OR the incest plotline, but both of them at the same time was too much. The incest was deeply uncomfortable for obvious reasons, but it ended up bothering me almost as much that the entire institution of Christian missionaries working with English colonialism was treated completely without criticism. The combination made it frustrating and rather disgusting to read.Spoiler
It was well-written and the worldbuilding was very fun; I especially enjoyed the excerpts at the beginnings of the chapters. It just wasn't worth it to grit my teeth through the entire plot and theĀ romance plotline just to enjoy the worldbuilding and writing, and I don't care enough about Christian theology to have enjoyed the commentary on that.
Graphic: Incest and Colonisation
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