iane_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Suicide, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Gore and Physical abuse
katvou'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
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Blood, Mental illness, Child death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Medical content
l_e_lavalle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Suicide, Self harm, and Violence
jpxsoleil's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Gore, Child death, Bullying, and Blood
acogna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
And it would have been perfect if not for the grating writing style. This book tries too hard to be poetic and purple-prosey and it does not work to its advantage. The repetitions attempt to make the language seem floral and vivid, but it just makes me cringe and skip through it. Seriously, the text doesn't even let the reader come to their own conclusions, sometimes. And an otherwise excellent book suffers from the pitfalls of Schwab's writing.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Gore and Child death
alibrarymouse'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
It’s modern gothic, catharsis in its own way, but—at the same time—fantasy offers a twist I think would have made for a better ending. Schwab has realism going for her at least.
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Murder, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
japanasi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
still this was a good read and if the ending hadn’t been as abrupt, I’d have given it an even better rating.
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, and Suicide
saurahsaurus'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Gore, and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, and Medical content
kate_arts's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Gore and Suicidal thoughts
koistyfishy's review
- 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
4.5
This was the first time I’ve ever picked up a VES book and wasn’t sure what to expect based on aspects I have read and watched in reviews of her books.
The story is simple but even in the simplicity it’s mysterious charm kept me entertained even though reading the additional genres (horror, paranormal, mystery) are not something I typically read.
This is the perfect book for spooky season and is just a lovely Victorian Vibe with a mystery I wanted to solve…
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Ableism, and Death
Moderate: Gore and Bullying