spookily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: War, Grief, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Genocide
Minor: Abandonment, Child death, Drug use, Medical content, and Infidelity
prerazmisljavanje's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Confinement, Dementia, Deportation, Genocide, Body horror, Child death, Death, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief
Lik se smuva s bivšom devojkom svog dede. Okitsmeyseniab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gun violence, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Animal death and War
Minor: Dementia, Bullying, and Mental illness
tays_books'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Murder, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Antisemitism, Excrement, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Infidelity, Ableism, and Cannibalism
kyumgi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wished to see some development in Jacob's father since all of the scenes he's in are incredibly depressing, but given that this book focuses on the child protagonists, I understand why he's just another adult background character.
The mix of real history (which felt carefully and appropriately discussed) and fantasy was engaging. And I liked that for the mystery elements, there was enough to figure out major points in the story before they were explicitly stated.
My only criticisms are 1. this book is in the perspective of a privileged, rich white boy, so things like casual ableism are present, especially in the "before" normal life part of the book, and 2. some of the fast, tense parts of the story fall into classic Y/A tropes, which isn't bad at all, but it feels like there's some things weirdly missing. Some of the conflicts that would seem like a big deal were resolved in one or two lines, which I'm not sure I enjoyed. Either way, this was an incredibly engaging read and I can't wait to start on the second book.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Antisemitism and War
Minor: Ableism, Child death, and Dementia