mandi_lea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
cinnamonpuns'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? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Pedophilia, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault
ms_elchert's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Police brutality, Rape, Death, Misogyny, Trafficking, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Vomit, and Religious bigotry
kindredspirit7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Classism, Drug use, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Blood, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
cazastrophe'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Violence, Abandonment, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual content, Vomit, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Rape, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
annabelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
While there are some magical realism/supernatural elements, so much of the story is realistic in how adults and the systems we have fail vulnerable women. I appreciated how that was a focus of the story and the book stressed how these girls deserve respect. It was definitely a violent book, yet not overindulgent in describing the graphic details of the horrors these young girls experienced which I appreciated.
Some moments did get a little girlboss-y feminism at times, but I don’t think it was too bad overall. I appreciate some unapologetically angry women enacting revenge.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
jillaay_h's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Sexism, Pedophilia, Murder, and Trafficking
simply_fran'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Misogyny
chb'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? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Murder, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Infidelity, and Grief
Minor: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Drug use, Trafficking, and Sexual assault
cheye13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The synopsis is more accurate than the elevator pitch I got. These are adult women (though I wouldn't call them all "middle age") who always sort of had these magic powers, and are just now beginning to embrace and express them after meeting each other and beginning to uncover a conspiracy. Essentially it is much more a crime/mystery/thriller with a little magic than it is a true paranormal.
This book gave me so much more than I expected, and I truly enjoyed it. It's cathartic, angry, vengeful. Satisfying in every way I wanted from it. It was also terribly sad. There's a lot of heavy, tense, and upsetting memories and flashbacks, and the crimes involved in the conspiracy are abhorrent. I did find myself tearing up more than once. But the book's message is clear and vindicating and never once felt exploitative.
I was genuinely pleasantly surprised by this book; this is what I want whenever I pick up something in the "women killing men" genre but rarely ever hope for. This one finally delivers.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, and Trafficking
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Classism, Gaslighting, Rape, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual violence
Minor: Gun violence, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Suicide, Grief, Abandonment, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, and Fatphobia
essentially an Epstein revenge fantasy; the story is primarily intended as cathartic, but while the majority of the crimes occur off-page, the story does not shy away from acknowledging their occurrence.