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toadfairy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racism, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
charleshasalibrary's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Self harm, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Grief
plasticpansy's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Colonisation
valent1ne's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Gaslighting
shaunashares's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Racism, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Car accident
awebofstories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Cultural appropriation
pagesofkenzie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
kristenbynoe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Drug use, Genocide, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Colonisation
sortabadass's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Addiction
_inge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book had me hooked from the start. Alice felt incredibly real, and I had no issue envisioning her life from the first pages. I love especially how her husband is seen to try his hardest but doesn’t quite get ‘it’, which made their communication issues understandable - even though this is usually something that can really put me off in a novel. The way Alice’s mental health develops felt very real too, I’m not surprised the author consulted women with similar experiences on this as it did come across as natural. Initially she’s quite funny and seems a bit conflicted, but gradually she spirals further and further. Some segments reminded me of Mona Awad’s writing. I love magical realism, horror, and unreliable narrators, so this was perfect for me.
The only downside to me is that the last quarter didn’t feel very necessary. The story seems to wrap up at one point, and I didn’t really need more of the plot to feel satisfied with the ending. I wouldn’t have minded an ambiguous ending, given the story as a whole could be interpreted in different ways as well. It would’ve been clear enough to feel like a fitting end. Instead, the last quarter increases the magical elements and wants to highlight generational trauma more. I actually felt less satisfied with this additional context than I would’ve felt if the book ended about 50 pages earlier.
If you’re into some of the topics I’ve mentioned here, you’re surely going to enjoy reading this book. I’d like to read more from Native authors after reading this as well.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, and Self harm