saltysapphic's review
5.0
Seeing a fat main character is everything to me! The story ended up being much darker than I thought, but I loved it!
silveraura's review
5.0
Loved it! Great worldbuilding, amazing internal dialog, and the pacing grabs you and does not let you go until you finish the book. I also really love how this is a bit darker than some other ya I've read, it actually doesn't make the main characters perfect, or hides their imperfections and darkness under the good things they do.
Also, the explicit representation was heartwarming; ASL use, queer characters, fatness and different skin colours.
Also, the explicit representation was heartwarming; ASL use, queer characters, fatness and different skin colours.
poetryandsolitude's review
4.0
A really captivating witch-y book, blood-spattered and perfect for October with Halloween being almost here.
An enchanting story about the importance of family and magic. Derry lives with her eight sisters in a secluded lake house, next to a forest — things are seemingly okay till her sisters start disappearing while she develops a new kinship for the forest and discovers a new part of herself in the process of protecting her loved ones.
I enjoyed reading this quite a lot, it got me really invested and the plot is quite unique. I loved the forest, the tension and the build-up for many parts. Honestly, i loved Derry’s character development, it’s not ideal but it’s just so fitting with the whole vibe of the book and such a nice touch. The diversity is a really nice addition, too. My only concerns were that the other sisters didn’t really grow on me, only a few did just a bit, and i think there was a lot of wasted potential in that aspect, and that the ending seemed a bit rushed, while the rest of the book had a steady flow.
But I would generally recommend this ! It’s a really pleasurable read.
( thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book, in exchange of an honest opinion )
An enchanting story about the importance of family and magic. Derry lives with her eight sisters in a secluded lake house, next to a forest — things are seemingly okay till her sisters start disappearing while she develops a new kinship for the forest and discovers a new part of herself in the process of protecting her loved ones.
I enjoyed reading this quite a lot, it got me really invested and the plot is quite unique. I loved the forest, the tension and the build-up for many parts. Honestly, i loved Derry’s character development, it’s not ideal but it’s just so fitting with the whole vibe of the book and such a nice touch. The diversity is a really nice addition, too. My only concerns were that the other sisters didn’t really grow on me, only a few did just a bit, and i think there was a lot of wasted potential in that aspect, and that the ending seemed a bit rushed, while the rest of the book had a steady flow.
But I would generally recommend this ! It’s a really pleasurable read.
( thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book, in exchange of an honest opinion )
aimee_shmee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
rivalreads's review
really interesting read! i would describe this as the umbrella academy meets 12 dancing princesses (not sure why- it makes sense to my brain)
I love books about sibling relationships, and this one gets bonus points for being about adoptive siblings that truly consider each other family and have rich dynamics with each other. I also love that the author took advantage of so many little moments of characterization.
I love books about sibling relationships, and this one gets bonus points for being about adoptive siblings that truly consider each other family and have rich dynamics with each other. I also love that the author took advantage of so many little moments of characterization.
m_lee's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
janinereader's review
4.0
A solid witchy book that encapsulates very well what I think of when the word "urban fantasy" comes to mind. Holowell writes a very diverse cast of characters, all of whom you really enjoy following and like and feel well developed. This is a perfect read for October. I did think there were some less than polished sections where things felt repeated, but seeing as though this is a debut novel, that's highly, highly common (at least something I've noticed in debut novels and non-debut alike, but they mostly happen in the former). I'm excited to follow this author and see how she grows with her writing, as this debut novel was already very up there and quite a fun read with great representation and variety of characters.
baxstarjonmarie's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
I think this is my new favorite book. It is gloriously fat, absolutely terrifying, wildly enchanting, and viscerally uncomfortable through the main character's first-person experiences of violence, loss, grief, and freedom.
The author does an especially excellent job bringing in new perspectives on body horror and general spookiness intertwined with the main character's fatness that do not denigrate or monsterize her size, but rather see her fully embody herself and her power.
I was riveted by the story, I loved how much Derry (the main) and her siblings love language and play with it. And sometimes it was so scary that I was peeking between my fingers like at the movies. Just a perfect debut novel, I cannot wait to preorder the author's next book!
The author does an especially excellent job bringing in new perspectives on body horror and general spookiness intertwined with the main character's fatness that do not denigrate or monsterize her size, but rather see her fully embody herself and her power.
I was riveted by the story, I loved how much Derry (the main) and her siblings love language and play with it. And sometimes it was so scary that I was peeking between my fingers like at the movies. Just a perfect debut novel, I cannot wait to preorder the author's next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Child death, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Blood, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gore, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Torture and Car accident
Minor: Cursing