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basil_touche's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
At first I was really into the victorian style of writing and a story involving magical female bodyguards with a sapphic romance on the side. But then the book dropped the bodyguarding aspect less than 100 pages into it and instead
Around five chapters focused on just the romance and
It's a real shame as I love the idea of a fantasy book set in a victorian setting with the period appropriate writing style but this book just did not fullfill anything for me. Waste of time.
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content and Suicide
blewballoon's review against another edition
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Murder, and Alcohol
lbelow's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
wishbea's review against another edition
The chapter titles seem like they're trying to be funny but come across as pretentious. The author's commitment to the very unique narrative voice is impressive, but attempting to understanding Delly and all the made up slang made reading this book a chore. The pacing is dreadful too, which doesn't help.
The classism is done in an interesting way and the queernorm society was intriguing at least.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Murder, and Classism
snickahz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
lim's review against another edition
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Drug abuse, Gore, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
willowd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Is this book amazing? No. But was it fun? Certainly.
A bit heavy on the accents, so if that bothers you, skip it. I recommend listening over reading this story, due to the accent & grammar. If you're a non-native speaker, some of Delly's made up words might be more challenging. I found the dialogue very enjoyable to listen to. Oh also - the chapter titles are delightful.
I found the second half a bit drawn out - but I truly warmed up to the old lady and her mouse. The pacing of the second half could have been tweaked, or used another twist.
Now, somehow my book club thought this was marketed as sapphic (Idk where, because I didn't see anything like that? I dunno, I didn't look super hard!) and I want to be clear that it's not. The main character is clearly bi/pan. The main couple is two ladies, but there is sexual content that is not sapphic, and there is no wlw sexual content. However, the sexual encounters the MC has before are fairly glossed over, and honestly, as someone who doesn't love romance novels, was fine by me. I've read too many books with sudden love nonsense! With everything else going on, it sounded too exhausting for a romp.
I think this author has promise, especially in the realm of audiobook. Maybe even a play? I look forward to her next work, and hope that it gets marketed accurately!
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Drug use, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
rachellyeah'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Gun violence, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
szuum'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death and Death
Minor: Sexual content and Suicide
quasinaut'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall, I feel like this story had its moments but could have benefited from more editing to tighten up the story and flesh out the characters. Sometimes the characters' actions felt too ill-conceived and/or conveniently timed to advance the plot. The accents and slang helped establish the world but at times veered into being heavy-handed and confusing. The intrigue wrapped up surprisingly quickly -- I kept expecting something to go wrong, or an earlier character to reappear, or someone to actually be working for the other side.
I look forward to seeing what C. M. Waggoner writes next. Even if this one had a few moments that missed the mark, I quite enjoyed getting more adventures in this world!
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content and Abandonment
Minor: Suicide