jhbandcats'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
By the end we’re following at least three storylines, all about a great evil that’s going to release the dead into our world and the forces of good that are fighting to keep that from happening. The children are unusual - one has a separate flesh giant that smells of rotting meat but the rest are more appealing - and the monsters are indeed monstrous.
I’m delighted to report that there’s a hero cat. I’d have given this five stars even if there weren’t a hero cat, but the hero cat puts this firmly in the ten-star category.
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Gun violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Gore, and Death
clarabooksit'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? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Sexism, Self harm, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Violence, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, and Racism
Moderate: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Death of parent, Colonisation, Ableism, and Abandonment
ktame001'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
Graphic: Child death, Body horror, and Child abuse
pickupthebook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Child death
librarianlayla'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? It's complicated
4.5
The only reason this doesn't get the full 5 stars is because there was very little ebb and flow of emotions. It is mostly fraught, with very few light moments to break up the harshness. But I did enjoy it greatly, and am looking forward to the sequel!
For fans of Miss Peregrine's, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and The Nevers.
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Toxic relationship, Death, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Hate crime, Racism, Addiction, Racial slurs, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Child death, Gaslighting, Torture, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Self harm
katieo156'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
3.5
Spoiler
everyone's instant intense love for Marlowe was part of his powers because it was mentioned so frequently and so soon after anyone met him- guess not.Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Excrement, Gore, and Violence
saville08'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
Extremely long story. Would recommend the Audiobook and do it at 1.85 speed - 2.0 as the narrator takes long breaks, and draws out the words.
Overall was almost a 5-star read, had great characters, an atmosphere, and a great plot. Miro did an excellent job of creating the atmosphere and the setting for this story. He is able to capture the reader and draw them in if you are looking for a cozy long read in a dark setting. The fight scenes are descriptive along with the monsters in this story. The plot kept you motivated and the characters were thought out perfectly.
I am not going to lie the bad guy Jacob was my favorite character as you get to see his development and his power in this novel, along with Alice who finds both of the main characters.
I would give this a shot if you are interested in long drawn-out stories that build a great dark atmosphere setting and characters that are easy to fall in love with.
Trigger Warnings include:
Death, child abuse
Graphic: Stalking, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
maregred'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Child death
Minor: Cursing, Grief, Rape, Sexism, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, and Stalking
unboxedjack'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
4.25
Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Racism, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Blood, Grief, Body horror, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Gaslighting
krysley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is how I've been describing this book to people: it's a mashup of Harry Potter and X-Men with an historical fiction setting. Honestly, I think that's pretty accurate.
J.M. Miro creates some incredibly likeable and interesting characters, from Charlie to Alice to, yes, even Jacob Marber, as well as great atmosphere. However, the story gets bogged done with a back-and-forth timeline and an excessively long story. As an audiobook, I was just waiting for it to be over because it didn't seem to be moving along.
The narrator, Ben Onwukwe, has an absolutely beautiful baritone that fits perfectly in the time period. The issue is that he has atrocious voices for women and children, which often sound like gravely southern American accents for some reason. I got used to the weird voices, but it didn't exactly add to my enjoyment of the listening experience.
Moderate: Abandonment, Racism, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence