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vaguelyredhead's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, and War
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, and Slavery
Minor: Sexism and Antisemitism
firefly_ninja's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: War
readingelli's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Hangingfraeyalise's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
5.0
What a lovely, lovely story that exists in our world with us, and what a pleasure it is to exist at the same time.
This book will stay with me for a long time. It was very detailed and long winded, but the details could not be cut without substantially changing the story and making it worse.
Everything builds so slowly, it moves like a thunderstorm.
The ending made me cry, all my feelings are very complicated about it, but I am happy with the ending and how everything wrapped up.
I'm so grateful that we, the Readers, got to see the entire story with all the parts.
I was a bit intimidated by this book because of the length, but I am so glad I found the courage to begin it. What a world. What a story.
This book will stay with me for a long time. It was very detailed and long winded, but the details could not be cut without substantially changing the story and making it worse.
Everything builds so slowly, it moves like a thunderstorm.
The ending made me cry, all my feelings are very complicated about it, but I am happy with the ending and how everything wrapped up.
I'm so grateful that we, the Readers, got to see the entire story with all the parts.
I was a bit intimidated by this book because of the length, but I am so glad I found the courage to begin it. What a world. What a story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, and War
In a book set in the 1800s England during the Napoleonic Wars with one of the main characters being a Fairy with no regard for human life, there is a fair amount of horrors that come with it. Also in a book with over 1000 pages, there's no way to have a story without some potentially triggering content. I will say Clarke does an excellent job of talking about sensitive topics, and mentions of some of the more horrible things, while blunt on purpose, are thankfully brief.adverb17's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A great version of a great genre combination! Clarke did her homework to write like it's the 1800s; as far as I can tell through the voice the social commentary is poignant and funny (a few questionable words were used). Well-done characters, intrigue, and moral grayness. I was glad to be in this world for as long as this book was; really it needs more length/different pacing in the ending to give a more satisfying conclusion to all that build-up. I like how the magic system isn't strictly defined--makes it almost dark academia thematically.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Blood, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia and Slavery
spreadabook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
I got through a thousand and six pages for this bloody thing to make me cry on the last page. I don't think I've enjoyed a book this much in years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Rape
amsswim's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book. Scratches the same itch as Good Omens does for me in some ways. I do attribute it to getting me back into fantasy, I started this last year and got 40% through then my hold went up. Finally was able to finish it now and I'm happy I did.
For lovers of magical fantasy and characters with significant interpersonal relationship issues, this is the books for you. Love the footnotes and constant character pov rotation.
For lovers of magical fantasy and characters with significant interpersonal relationship issues, this is the books for you. Love the footnotes and constant character pov rotation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
meecespieces's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Slavery
lizziaha's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
This book reads like a classic. I’ve seen it described as a slow burn but I’m not sure it’s burning towards anything really. The author clearly has mastery over characterization and tone, but I found it boring. I wished there had been more focus on the women of the story. And I wished that the characters did anything. There is never really a moment that the pace quickens. There is hardly a climax and even less of a conclusion. It wasn’t a bad way to spend 21 hours, but I probably wouldn’t reread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“This is to be mortal, and seek the things beyond morality.”
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is one of the longest books I have ever read, but also one of the best. Clarke flawlessly blends historical fiction with fantasy, while taking care to write in the style of the period. I’ve heard it described as if Jane Austen wrote about magic, which feels spot on. Although this may not be for everyone, don’t be put off by the length. The ending is well worth it:)
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is one of the longest books I have ever read, but also one of the best. Clarke flawlessly blends historical fiction with fantasy, while taking care to write in the style of the period. I’ve heard it described as if Jane Austen wrote about magic, which feels spot on. Although this may not be for everyone, don’t be put off by the length. The ending is well worth it:)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War