mommah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Overall I really enjoyed reading from this author. I would love to read from her again.
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Gore, Grief, Violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
wordswithcolor'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
3.75
Graphic: Trafficking, Gaslighting, Sexism, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Blood, Addiction, Misogyny, Violence, Pregnancy, and Suicide
unicornofthesea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Bullying, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gore, Classism, Suicide, Death, Sexual content, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Confinement, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Animal death and Fire/Fire injury
tiana_king's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Gaslighting, Blood, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Outing
Minor: Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death
cjreadstoomuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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: Pregnancy, Sexism, Misogyny, Bullying, and Death
Moderate: Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Outing, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
bookishchef's review
- 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
2.25
But the rest...
Oh the rest...
I went into this book with low expectations. To be reminiscent of the Handmaid's Tale is quite a big claim, so my expectations plummeted to the lowest circle of Hell.
And that's where my expectations would have remained if the first quarter of this book wasn't so good.
The mystery is interesting. And the flower language worldbuilding feels very unique and not too far removed from our own world at the same time. The author keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Is the magic real? Who are the Poachers and what motivates them? Why is Kiersten such a bitch? They're interesting questions, and the answers weren't bad either but the way we got those answers...
At about the 25% mark the story starts to drag a bit. This is made up for by Liggett's excellent writing. At this point, you don't know whether Tierney is spiraling into madness or whether the world around her is truly mad. The plot doesn't move forward, but the story remains interesting.
Then at the 50% it all goes to shit.
Suddenly, we get introduced to the most bland love interest I've ever read about. He has no personality and falls for Tierney for no discernible reason. And of course, Tierney loves him back despite him having the personality of unseasoned chicken.
The author rushes us through a love story. And when I say rushes, I mean RUSHES.
And then, after some shenanigans we're back to the plot and the mystery and the book is actually really good again until the last fucking chapter.
What the fuck was that love story doing in this book? This story really really really did not need a romance plotline. The book would have been an easy 3 (or maybe even 4) star for me if the romance had not been there. It takes away from the themes of the book and undercuts its message. I don't understand how you write a book about sisterhood and fighting the patriarchy, and then have the MC only care about her male love interest for half of the book. Aaaaaaaaaaaaah.
The book also has very white feminism vibes. Can't quite put my finger on what exactly rubs me the wrong way, but to begin with, the book has 0 characters of colour
Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Murder, Death, Animal death, Blood, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Medical content
Moderate: Vomit and Lesbophobia
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, and Infertility
planreadrepeat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The overall theme of men ruling and women submitting is laid out with a nice bit of world building. How brutal the girls, and women, are to each other seems far fetched until you think of the Salem Witch Trials and other acts of mass hysteria.
The ended was hopeful and sad at the same time. Good read to make you think of power in society.
Graphic: Misogyny and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Blood, Bullying, Cannibalism, and Grief
Minor: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
mozimmerm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Wow, I’m still reeling from the ending. That was unlike anything I’ve ever read, and it was very interesting. I never knew where the story was going to go. It always surprised me. I definitely said “oh wow” multiple times while reading this 😅
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
Moderate: Animal death, Cannibalism, Death, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
auri_underthing'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
Horror. Desperate. Clawing.
Woah. That was… intense. A haunting and almost grotesque story about a girl becoming a woman and realising she can be just as powerful as a man.
Read it in one sitting.
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
a_wren_that_reads's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Pregnancy, Suicide, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Child abuse, Deportation, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Misogyny, Animal death, Biphobia, Body horror, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gore, Grief, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Fire/Fire injury