samanthaleereads'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
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
renyoi'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Body horror, Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Colonisation, Animal death, and Child abuse
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism
junowo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
It’s hard to discuss this book without spoilers, and I recommend going into it knowing as little as possible. If you enjoy piecing together parts of a mystery, you will enjoy this book, because it creates its mystery masterfully. At some points I felt frustrated that I didn’t have answers, but now that I’ve finished it I think each answer came at the right time.
If you enjoy the dark style of fairytale found in Grimm stories, you will have as much fun as I did reading this.
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Murder, Grief, Death of parent, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Colonisation, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
crowleaf'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Animal death
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gore
Minor: Confinement and Murder
s_lorenz's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Violence
niccisbooked's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I read a lot of reviews before I started, so maybe that helped set my expectations: Most of this book is like trying to interpret someone else's fever dream. The late chapters are where the "fairytale" starts to come together a bit
Spoiler
(though not conclude, as it's a circular narrative)Now, some very spoiler thoughts:
Spoiler
I'll throw in my two cents on what I thought was going on.The most solid answer we get for the plot is, of course, the game of Change About, where players change roles when told and can never go back to what they once were. The changing roles of this story being: Goody, Eliza, Captain Jane, and Granny Someone. Hope is always the same, and what her name implies. Red Boy, though the "same," is born anew from the hearts of each Eliza ... I think Red Boy is Rage because rage in your heart is mentioned towards the end, by Faith. Each woman had a lot of rage in her, and it can be used for good/evil/everything in between ... I'm fairly satisfied with my interpretation here. As for the neverending cycle, I saw some reviews suggest it's the cycle of abuse ... but, though abuse features heavily, I'm not sure that it fits for the woods/the cycle. Then again, I'm not sure what I would call it! Maybe madness, or suffering, or ... traps of our own making? Idk! Thats just my thoughts :'D
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Animal death, Death, and Violence
anni_swanilda'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
Graphic: Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Minor: Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
rachelunabridged's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Toxic relationship
alaunaw's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Child abuse, and Blood
Minor: Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis