mar_gier's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.75
I liked this book, but it was... weird. Like, really weird. A good-weird, but also a weird-weird. Like, Unraveller this book should really be considered a horror book as well as a fantasy book. (Also this book should definitely be classified in the dark fantasy subgenre of fantasy.) Deeplight was honestly even more dark and unsettling to read than Unraveller.
But yeah, I don't know, I guess it's cuz I found creepy Lovecraftian sea monster-gods and evil magical purple-black not-actually-seawater more disturbing than a dark fantasy about a dark magic forest with a mind of its own. I guess the latter just felt less unnatural to me for whatever reason. (Plus, the deep ocean is super freaky.)
Even though I did enjoy it, it also kind of disturbed me the same way that Subnautica does, so I couldn't quite give it four stars. But if you like Frances Hardinge's other books, and weird, unsettling fantasy is your thing, you'll probably like this book.
But yeah, I don't know, I guess it's cuz I found creepy Lovecraftian sea monster-gods and evil magical purple-black not-actually-seawater more disturbing than a dark fantasy about a dark magic forest with a mind of its own. I guess the latter just felt less unnatural to me for whatever reason. (Plus, the deep ocean is super freaky.)
Even though I did enjoy it, it also kind of disturbed me the same way that Subnautica does, so I couldn't quite give it four stars. But if you like Frances Hardinge's other books, and weird, unsettling fantasy is your thing, you'll probably like this book.
Moderate: Murder, Body horror, Death, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
akira516's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Very Slow and boring. It tries to over explain what's happening which makes it even more confusing. The ending was weird and didn't wrap it up at all. There was only one likeable character who The villain is annoying and the plot line is obvious. The main characters relationship is terrible.
Spoiler
dies at the endGraphic: Body horror, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Murder and Death
adequateanja's review against another edition
If I want to hear about a narcissist gaslighting and manipulating a 14-year old I‘m just gonna think about my dad or my extremely toxic high school best friend. No thank you very much, it made my skin crawl.
But cool mythology and I really liked the MC, would‘ve loved to learn more about the world and Hark.
But cool mythology and I really liked the MC, would‘ve loved to learn more about the world and Hark.
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Gaslighting
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