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moonylovesstars'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
enzopudge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Kidnapping, and Stalking
alizasminilibrary'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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Confinement, Gore, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
takarakei'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
3.0
did w/ audio narration which was good
🌶️3/5 from what I remember it was open door but not overly descriptive
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Racism
georgisabina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
the relationships between characters dont make any sense, like at all. i can't even begin to comprehend why she would like him, given the fact that they had like three conversations, and only one of them was notable. be for real, you cant look me in the eye and tell me that after three to four conversations and a kiss that ended dare i say horribly, she's willing to give up her memories of him so he can live.
it was also very slow, despite the fact that i read it fast. it made me feel like the action was stagnant, was slowed down by unnecessary events, that had, at the end of the day, no point, in any fashion. the events that are described in this book dont seem very intentional, and i was annoyed at some points because i couldn't, wouldn't find any purpose for them. the plot twist became kinda predictable, the ending underwhelming. let's say that the turn the events took was not what i had expected, and left many things to be desired.
the characters lack a certain depth and purpose, and i truly believe that's what made this book be this much of a disappointment, really. their beliefs and struggles are all over the place. all of the potential they had falls into a sea of an unnecessary repeat of the fact that we dont know anything about them. i dont see why i should read that many pages about pippa when i don't have any bit of information (besides little crumbs of backstory about her father here and there) to understand her reasonings. or why i should put that my thought in celines past when she doesn't seem to have any regard or remorse for what shes done, and on top of that she accepts really fast that shes not made for the proper society. which doesn't really go hand in hand with her altruism and selflessness. i feel like her character could have been so much better, yet she barely passes as a midly ok one. bastien seemed to be there for the sake of a mysterious love interest, who is a concerning combination of a golden retriever male lead best friend and a bad boy with a tragic past. the rest of the characters are straight out flat, and its kinda sad to watch because every bit of their actions is predictable (like name one person who didn't think odette to be a lesbian).
the found family trope is hanging by its nails, desperately trying to be observed and taken into consideration.
i was annoyed, to say the least, at the tiny bits of french scattered along the sentences. like a full sentence is okay, but don't tell 'people we're drinking cafe au lait/she put a chemise on' (or something along the lines), it sounds stupid, honestly.
i am truly disappointed in this book, and it is, to me, pretty much a fail. (i will read the next one, tho, solely because im curious)
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Rape
phoxyphoenix's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Stalking
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
mouthy_books'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Blood
readsbymoonlight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Death and Murder
bookishromantics's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault and Stalking
Minor: Racial slurs
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review
- 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
4.25
The cast of characters are from all walks of life ad backgrounds. All of them have their own stories to tell, which made the interactions a lot more compelling as you start to theories who they are, where they come from, and what they are hiding.
The story also lends itself to a bit of theorising what was happening and even second guessing myself about it being a magical realism. This book did a lot of setup for the series, but also worked its own plot. It feels like it was written like a prequel, especially the with the ending.
I am very excited to pick up the sequel and see where this story goes. I recommend this for anyone who wants to read a historical book with gothic vibes. It does an excellent job of setting that sort of tone and mood.
Graphic: Death
Minor: Racism, Slavery, and Xenophobia