bookishchef'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? Yes
2.25
But the rest...
Oh the rest...
I went into this book with low expectations. To be reminiscent of the Handmaid's Tale is quite a big claim, so my expectations plummeted to the lowest circle of Hell.
And that's where my expectations would have remained if the first quarter of this book wasn't so good.
The mystery is interesting. And the flower language worldbuilding feels very unique and not too far removed from our own world at the same time. The author keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Is the magic real? Who are the Poachers and what motivates them? Why is Kiersten such a bitch? They're interesting questions, and the answers weren't bad either but the way we got those answers...
At about the 25% mark the story starts to drag a bit. This is made up for by Liggett's excellent writing. At this point, you don't know whether Tierney is spiraling into madness or whether the world around her is truly mad. The plot doesn't move forward, but the story remains interesting.
Then at the 50% it all goes to shit.
Suddenly, we get introduced to the most bland love interest I've ever read about. He has no personality and falls for Tierney for no discernible reason. And of course, Tierney loves him back despite him having the personality of unseasoned chicken.
The author rushes us through a love story. And when I say rushes, I mean RUSHES.
And then, after some shenanigans we're back to the plot and the mystery and the book is actually really good again until the last fucking chapter.
What the fuck was that love story doing in this book? This story really really really did not need a romance plotline. The book would have been an easy 3 (or maybe even 4) star for me if the romance had not been there. It takes away from the themes of the book and undercuts its message. I don't understand how you write a book about sisterhood and fighting the patriarchy, and then have the MC only care about her male love interest for half of the book. Aaaaaaaaaaaaah.
The book also has very white feminism vibes. Can't quite put my finger on what exactly rubs me the wrong way, but to begin with, the book has 0 characters of colour
Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Murder, Death, Animal death, Blood, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Medical content
Moderate: Vomit and Lesbophobia
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, and Infertility
grace_lynn08's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Torture, Misogyny, Suicide, Cannibalism, Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Incest, Violence, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gore, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Death
angelino's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Body horror, and Gore
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pedophilia
ann_the_imp's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Vomit, Blood, Bullying, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Confinement, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Grief, Hate crime, Infertility, Sexual content, Excrement, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Pregnancy, Sexism, Addiction, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
elysianbud's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Quick read, finished it in one day.
I do like that at the end of the book the main character hasn't magically fixed everything in society through the power of gutsy honesty, and that it takes a more realistic approach of showing small steps towards change instead.
Graphic: Misogyny, Vomit, Confinement, Gore, Body horror, Death, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Stalking, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Suicide attempt, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Suicide
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Lesbophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, and Homophobia
logsbooklog's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Homophobia, Excrement, and Vomit
tays_books'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Violence, Sexism, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Excrement, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Stalking, Pedophilia, Animal death, Cannibalism, Animal cruelty, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Vomit
Minor: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, and Infertility
alidathealien's review
- 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? Yes
3.75
Firstly, there's a semi love triangle, because of course there is. But having the love interest be someone who's literal job is to torture and kill these girls???? Jfc.
Secondly, it doesn't make sense to me that Tierney would be so against the customs of the county when that's all she's known her whole life. The whole time reading it I was thinking "but what if Tierney was a stout believer in the magic and everything? What if it's not until her grace year when she can't find her magic that she begins to realize something's off?" And tbh I think that would be a much more interesting story than a girl who already thinks it's all bullshit from before the book even starts.
Anyways, shout out to the scene where Ryker is telling Tierney about his family while staring wistfully at his figurines and Tierney thinks to herself "I thought the figurines represented girls he's killed, but I'm starting to think they're actually his family" YEAH NO SHIT. you're just STARTING to think that????
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicide, Bullying, Gore, Sexism, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Misogyny
mozimmerm'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? Yes
4.25
Wow, I’m still reeling from the ending. That was unlike anything I’ve ever read, and it was very interesting. I never knew where the story was going to go. It always surprised me. I definitely said “oh wow” multiple times while reading this 😅
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
Moderate: Animal death, Cannibalism, Death, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
winnie_is_swag's review
- 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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Misogyny, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Animal death, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Excrement, Gore, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Bullying
Moderate: Pregnancy, Medical content, Vomit, Sexual content, and Infertility
Minor: Sexual content, Rape, Classism, Abandonment, Homophobia, Cursing, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol