purplepenning's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Undeniably beautiful writing in a turn of the century fairytale that is groundedly gritty and soaringly ethereal. I don't care for circuses, but it was the exact right venue for this story. This one didn't knock me off my feet quite as much as The Starless Sea, which I read first and with no expectations. Partly, I think, because I wasn't as enamored with Marco as I maybe was supposed to be and I wasn't as satisfied with the ending here, but mostly because:
"The finest of pleasure are always the unexpected ones."
Definitely recommend for fans of The Starless Sea and Alix Harrow's Ten Thousand Doors of January.
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Grief, Body horror, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Violence, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Alcohol and Abandonment
Abuse of magic/violation of personal agency: stealing memories, advancing by magically enhanced charm and looksSpoiler
maeverose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
This review is for my first re read of this book, which I originally gave 4 or 5 stars (can’t remember)
!!!This will have spoilers so skip if you haven’t read the book!!!
The things I loved:
The things I didn’t like:
Marco’s relationship with Isobel. He was kinda terrible to her. He fell for Celia the moment he saw her, but didn’t break up with Isobel until 15 years later… like yes Isobel could’ve taken the hint that he didn’t like her anymore but it was really sh*tty of him to not just tell her that it was over. He knew Isobel still loved him, or he wouldn’t have broken up with her at all. He just let that go on for 15 years…… another thing about their relationship that bothered me, is if you pay attention, towards the end Isobel says she was younger than Bailey when she met Marco. Bailey was 15 when Isobel met him, Marco was 19 when he met Isobel. So Isobel had to have been 14 at the oldest…. That makes me uncomfortable.
The competition. I liked that it wasn’t action heavy, but I felt like there was so little focus on the competition that it just felt a bit low stakes. Not even just that but it hardly felt like there was a competition at all.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Animal death, Child abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Murder, and Self harm
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Confinement, Ableism, Cursing, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
A sort of magical equivalent of terminal illness, stabbing, depression, an unhealthy romantic relationship (side romance), pedophilic relationship (14 & 19 when they get together, side romance)zoeelora's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, Infertility, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Murder, Violence, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Self harm
Minor: Sexism, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
alexisgarcia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Death, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
pennedpaper's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty
spookily's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Murder, and Torture
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, and Sexual content
starlit_pathways's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcohol and Animal cruelty
bencaroline's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Murder, Infidelity, Child abuse, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Trafficking
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, and Animal cruelty
eve_reads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
⁕ This is the most atmospheric book I have ever read! The world of the circus is rich and alive on every page.
⁕ Because the structure of the book is nonlinear and covers multiple characters, the plot was hard to keep track of at times.
⁕ The characters’ development could be A LOT stronger. I was surprised by some of their actions and also the evolution of the main relationship.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide