jackiepreston's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I want to like these books more than I do. The plot with the ghosts is always interesting, but Stroud writes Lucy with such vitriol towards any other girl that it's hard to read. From the first moment Holly is introduced, Lucy takes everything she does in the worst possible way. The fatphobia towards George from the previous two books is scaled back a lot, but it's just replaced with more of Lucy's "not like other girls" attitude.
Graphic: Misogyny, Blood, Body shaming, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
pietwombly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I continue to really enjoy the world building of this book. The problem, the ghosts, the conspiracy, etc, are all so fun to uncover throughout the story. What I did not like about this installment is how Lucy seems to be incredibly negative about every girl she meets. It one thing for her to dislike another character, but it's quite another to have read the same hyper critical complaints (that all seem to boil down to what the male author guesses is what girls get jealous about). If the book offered any context or reason for why Lucy is such a jealous and territorial person, it might be more palatable, but as it is she just seems like a mean girl who would rather have a crush on about than have literally ANY friends. And that isn't an enjoyable inner monologue, and doesn't seem like one of particularly want a tween or teen to read either tbh...
Minor: Misogyny
growintogardens's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
*sigh* Lucy's so judgemental of other people and it's really annoying and, in this case, ruined a lot of this book for me.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence, Misogyny, Murder, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Child death
Minor: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Bullying
danicampbell0506's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Misogyny and Body shaming
lyricallit's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Another fun installment with genuinely creepy encounters! Maybe a bit slower paced than 1 and 2.
I don't love the internalized misogyny that has Lucy guarded towards other females (Flo, Hollie). I appreciate that she had the same question I did regarding Hollie's previous employment, but it was clear from the body language and comments that it wasn't the only cause of distrust.
I don't love the internalized misogyny that has Lucy guarded towards other females (Flo, Hollie). I appreciate that she had the same question I did regarding Hollie's previous employment, but it was clear from the body language and comments that it wasn't the only cause of distrust.
Moderate: Misogyny and Body shaming
tiwllan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Misogyny and Death
Minor: Blood and Grief
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