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obfuscatress's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Quite frankly, I would have rated this booked even less favourably had I not enjoyed the first half of it. The second half was simply confusing, the themes lost in a contradictory narrative. Was the author trying to make a point about women lacking agency, being unfairly deemed insane and imprisoned for not conforming to social standards of the times, and being dismissed as artists and intellectuals without good reason? It certainly seemed that way for the first half or two thirds of the novel, but by the end, that was not what was being conveyed anymore. Nor was it a testament to how psychosis can be a deeply terrifying experience to go through if you're the only person that doesn't recognise you've lost touch with reality, which would also have been a compelling narrative. Instead, the characterisation and motives became inconsistent, betrayals were sudden due to poor foreshadowing, and even the plot itself became difficult to follow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Child death, Violence, and Murder
emil7793's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence