sarah_speaks'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Injury/injury detail, War, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
chrisljm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Child death, and War
Minor: Pregnancy
vigil's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Grief, Injury/injury detail, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Death, Blood, Child death, and Violence
rhm04'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? No
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Blood, and Child death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
eatingbrains's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
While I agree that the premise is reminiscent of the movie Spirited Away and Uprooted by Naomi Novik (two things I enjoyed thoroughly), it was very much written for a YA audience. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think the main difference between YA classics and contemporary YA is that the classics are written to be understood by younger audiences but will still have a broader appeal.
At the end of the day, this one missed that mark for me. It was very much full of emo, cringey moments, insta-lovey when I could have sworn they were initially portrayed as enemies. The pacing was bizarre and very jarring (which could be attributed to a dream-like quality, if I was being generous). Situations were convenient when needed to be, and I often had to suspend my disbelief to continue reading. Lastly, the characters were lacking development and the repetition got old (referring to all of the grandmother's grandmother bits, and so many sentences starting with "But").
Minor: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Miscarriage, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Grief, Injury/injury detail, and Medical content
maublew'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: War, Grief, and Injury/injury detail
wikikapusta'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
4.75
Moderate: Miscarriage and Child death
Minor: Violence and Death
wackly93's review against another edition
3.25
Minor: Child death, Grief, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
clairew97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Miscarriage, Death, Death of parent, Infertility, Blood, Child death, and Grief
stellarheroics's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Child death, and Violence
Minor: War, Fire/Fire injury, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, and Blood