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btg's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Mary is a curious scientist with little patience for unjust social structures, coming to us at the beginning of the book after a year in mourning of her stillborn child. Henry, her husband, is a gambling addict with daddy issues who, frankly, personifies male privilege and has even less patience or awareness of politics than his wife, much to their detriment. Due to the death of Henry's father, the two travel back to his childhood home for the will reading and to meet Henry's sister, Maisie, who is chronically ill (in an excellent portrayal). It is here our story begins, as eventually financial difficulties, He ry's actions, the discovery of letters from Victor Frankenstein inspire Mary and Henry to attempt to bring back a pleisaur to life and restore their professional reputations.
I expected the book to be very dark as a Frankenstein retelling, and I'm delighted to say that while appropriate for spooky season, it is quite hopeful in time. The relationship between Maisie and Mary is quite cute and healthfully portrayed (which is helpful with balance, as Henry is truly a jerk).
Enjoy Our Hideous Progeny if you'd like to dip your toe into Gothic literature but still want happier endings and romance. This will not please readers looking for action packed or grimdark work --it's ultimately a book about living and hope, even as it's difficult to hold it.
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexism
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
hiddenfallacies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
From its real-world details (that had me pausing in my reading to look up the historical context) to its richly expressed environments, I found myself lost in this story quite easily. The narrative often made me feel as if I was experiencing the world alongside Mary, sharing her sorrows and triumphs and everything in-between. Perhaps that was one of my favorite things about this novel - all of the characters felt real.
The only thing preventing this from being a five-star read is that I felt the story ended right as it was truly beginning for Mary! I would love to see the follow-up the author joked about in their note at the end.
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Vomit, and Colonisation
lisavandonselaar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
jodean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Drug use, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Colonisation
g_monaghan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
"Pride was the sin of believing oneself capable of great things, worthy of better. It was the worst sin a woman could commit. Had I pride? Of course"
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Violence, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
thealmightykatt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Gun violence, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
throwback682's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Racism, and Death of parent
cosypuck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
nere's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this note for note radiates love for frankenstein whilst still evolving and coming into its own. much like. our hideous progeny. delectable
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
jenniferropell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Infertility, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury