The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
kiwialexa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Colonisation, Death of parent, Violence, Murder, Sexual assault, War, Child abuse, Gun violence, Grief, and Death
lynnenad's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was and continues to be very disturbing for me. Some of the scenes of violence will stay with me for a long time and I became angry with the author for the degree of horror introduced. On the other hand, the semi-spiritual mysticism and the whole-hearted embrace of the amazing landscapes of Australia were heartwarming. The plot was simple and so was the theme. Girl looks for sorcerer to remove a curse. On the way she becomes self-enlightened and demonstrates enormous resilience and learns to love again.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
carlytenille's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Rape, Violence, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and War
kaitoro_walker13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was fun. It had a very fun "treasure hunting adventure" feel to it, but with undertones of found family and love. The flaws I have with this book is that it takes WAY too long to get started, and that near the end, parts of the story start feeling random, like the author is just writing them to make the book longer. But overall, this book was still a lovely, if average read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Death
Moderate: Rape and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt and Murder
davidup_15's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
As usual Trent Dalton's writing is absolutely gorgeous, and his characters are electric. Molly is basically just a female version of Eli from Boy Swallows Universe, but Eli is such a fantastic, loveable character (and so is Molly, of course) that it's okay. The Northern Territory setting is palpable on every page, and I love how seamlessly, carefully, delicately Dalton (especially as a white male writer) has been able to integrate Indigenous perceptions of setting. The character development of Molly is subtle, but quite effective, and the ending is heatrbreaking and heartwarming.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
ashmash's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was very bored reading this book. The whimsical language was really overbearing and the plot seemed to take a back seat to all the unnecessary fanciful vocabulary. I’m fine with novels using this sort of language, but it felt like Trent Dalton was forcing a lot of it in just for the sake of it when it just halted the story. The book begins to pick up when Yukio joins Molly and Greta, however that’s the final third of the book. I’m the type of person who has to complete a book even if I’m not enjoying it. If it wasn’t for this, I wouldn’t have even reached the part where the plot begins to become interesting.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War, and Death
Minor: Rape and Suicide
isabelv928's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
This book was super weird, but I ended up really liking the weird. It definitely hits on a lot of very serious issues, but it also highlights some really beautiful topics. I loved the incorporation of Indigenous Australian culture, as well as depictions of Darwin/surrounds. The gravedigger girl really captured my heart by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Gun violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
This entire book contains fairly intense content of different types and I would definitely recommend considering the content warnings before going into it.littlewishling's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
It took a little while for this book to really grab me but once it did I was in for a wonderful ride. Beautiful written and full of hope and love.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Death and Sexual assault
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
The writing couldn’t capture my attention and felt disjointed. Very dark beginning and from other reviews it doesn’t seem like something I’ll end up enjoying if I stick it out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
salbathtub's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence