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sirensaria's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, and War
luca97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, and Violence
zoeelora'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? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
booksthatburn'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? Yes
4.0
The narration focuses on Joan's reactions to various events, often returning to pieces of already-known information as her feelings change in light of new circumstances. It has the cumulative effect that very few things actually happen during the story, and long stretches of time are about processing those events and deciding how to proceed. Aaron's initial disdain transforming into patient support is one of my favorite parts of the book (and is why the ending particularly devastates me). I also like how Tom is a more complicated character than he first appears to be.
This dwells in long stretches of worldbuilding, specifically on snapshots of monster society within human society. Joan marvels at their various waystations, safe places they control for long stretches of time and can get food or supplies for the time where they've arrived. I enjoyed the descriptions as they didn't get bogged down in picky details, but included Joan's thoughts about what she was witnessing. The way the monster powers work is pretty cool, and I enjoyed the various facets of that world. One of my favorite simple details is that they call themselves monsters and that's the end of it. There's no complicated other label for themselves, as they're unashamed of how they live their lives. It's a detail that makes them truly feel like a group whose lives don't revolve around what humans think of them (since humans are little more than fuel to monsters).
I have very mixed feelings about the ending. It uses a trope I've loved at the conclusion of long series, but it leaves me unsure of the direction for the next book. It generates a feeling of immense work that's extremely important but completely invisible to everyone around Joan by the end. The most important thing at the end of the book is how the experience changed Joan, and the specific goal she was able to achieve. The relationships that are built up the most (between Joan and her fellow monsters) are not the ones with the weight of destiny behind them, and I'm nervous for what a sequel could bring.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
bookwormbullet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Racism
nicamooch's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent
tigerlilliereads's review against another edition
- 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
I’m still trying to recover from this book to be honest but will do my best to give it a review.
This book focuses on the main character of Joan, half of her family are monsters and half human. However, in fairy tales the mo stars are always defeated by the hero… monsters are seen as all bad and heroes all good… that is until you read this book. A magnificent time travelling, tense and mysterious adventure that has wonderful work building and flash backs to the 90s … but also explores the idea of morality, the grey areas that are between the black and white fairy tale caricatures we are taught as a child. It explores the idea of sacrifice, but also what it means to really be a monster or a hero.
The book feature really dark themes and leaves you constantly on the edge of your seat wanting to read more. The ending… devastating and shocking! But I don’t think I wanted this to end, an amazing book and can’t wait to read more from this author!
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail