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turrean's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Dark and clever, with Kingfisher’s signature twist of the details of a traditional story. The end was rushed. And what, in the name of the Lady of the Stones, was the sleight of hand with Sylvie? Oh no, we left her behind! A chapter later, oh, I guess we didn’t leave her behind after all! Phew!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
coffeeandcomedy's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I rated this as a YA book for a YA audience, because that’s what it is. It’s a lovely dark fairytale reminiscent of Bluebeard that is well-suited for a Middle Grade audience. My one issue is that the end felt rather rushed and anticlimactic, almost like there was little payoff for reading it (which I don’t think an MG reader would appreciate).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Classism
a_ab's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
2.5
This book was OK. It had some of Kingfisher's usual charm, but not enough to counteract all of the depressing dreariness of the situation. And since we have to suffer through this situation along with the heroine for about 95% of the book, I almost ended up DNFing the whole thing, even after going into it fully aware of the heavy topics this book would explore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Torture
pocketspoon's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, and Torture
larayn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Kidnapping
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