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amazelan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Abandonment, and Alcohol
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ophelia is a reader, someone who has the power to read the history of an object with her fingers. Content to work in her family's museum, her life is upended when her family announces that she is to be wed to Thorn, the treasurer of Pole, a distant Ark. Ophelia is whisked away to a world she does not know that is drenched in snow and where she comes to understand that dangerous political plots boil under the surface. As she tries to understand her new home and the family she is joining, she is pulled into the politics of this society while attempting to hide her identity.
Dabos creates a unique world that she populates with a full spectrum of characters. Ophelia is an easy main character to root for, especially considering the other characters she is surrounded by, though she really comes into her own at the end of this first book. Dabos's descriptions create a lush world full of snow, excess, streets inside of buildings, and lots of mirrors. The world was instantly intriguing and one of the pieces that kept me interested throughout the book as we get to know more about Ophelia. Dabos also does a good job of bringing the reader into the same state as Ophelia, questioning the motivations of the characters that surround her as she slowly learns more about the Pole. Though the evocativeness of the writing was a high point, the writing did also wander. Dabos gives a full picture of the world sometimes to the detriment of the plot. Since this is a translated work, it is unclear to me if this is an issue with the translation or if it is true to the story in its original French as well.
I am interested in where the story goes next and will definitely be picking up the next installment. Dabos' worldbuilding is incredibly engaging and she has set up political plots and questions that I think will be explored more fully in the following books.
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Death, and Suicide
mypatronusisajedi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Drug use, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
aunteaandbiscuits's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Bullying
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
peachmoni's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Torture, Toxic relationship, and Blood