Scan barcode
valeadriana's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Maybe I'm a little biased because Anna-Marie McLemore is the author of a some of my favorite books, but this one, while being her debut, will be added to the list!
Magical Realism is the book's main theme and therefore it doesn't provide the reader with lore or explanations about the magical things in it (like one would expect in fantasy novels). I'm absolutely fine with not always having reasonable explanations behind events, but if that's not something you are, then maybe don't pick up this book.
If you think a modern retelling along the lines of Romeo and Juliet, featuring representation of minorities spiced up with some magic and plot twists, this is for you ✨
Magical Realism is the book's main theme and therefore it doesn't provide the reader with lore or explanations about the magical things in it (like one would expect in fantasy novels). I'm absolutely fine with not always having reasonable explanations behind events, but if that's not something you are, then maybe don't pick up this book.
If you think a modern retelling along the lines of Romeo and Juliet, featuring representation of minorities spiced up with some magic and plot twists, this is for you ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Medical content
fairymaiden20's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I previously read Wild Beauty and fell in love with Anna Marie McLemore's writing style and romances. BUT I think you can definitely tell this is their debut novel. I was really enjoying it until.... you find out the love interests who have been having this fairly passionate love affair are.... cousins. 😨❓❓ I was shocked and appalled. I felt tricked almost bc I was pretty invested in their romance and now I just feel icky for even having read and enjoyed the past chapters 😭😭. And the romance didn't stop after they found out, either. 😨 That's maybe the least romantic plot twist ever. And it made me feel like my trust was being betrayed 😪. I miss the person I was before the plot twist 💔 , but please don't let this discourage you from reading other books by Anna Marie McLemore, because they're truly super talented and they've come super far since this book was released.
The author's note was incredibly touching as well.
The author's note was incredibly touching as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, and Xenophobia
time_travel_tragedy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
2.0
This book about breaking generational trauma cycles and there are some really powerful moments that really hit home as someone with a difficult family that bears some similarity to some of the things the characters deal with. I feel like if you have a difficult family and hope to break generational cycles, this might be a good book for you BUT see below.
There is a prominent cousin relationship going on though. And they do use the G-slur as a slur. So that is a thing. I understand that it's "realistic" and she's basing it on her own homophobia before she was reformed. And yes, the fact that the main character was being racist was considered not okay by the one she called the slur, and it's definitely not encouraged in the book, but I still feel like she could have gotten her point across without it. The author also knew it was considered a slur. So you can't even say she didn't know.
If you want books about generational trauma and breaking the cycle, I think you can find better books that don't include racial slurs.
There is a prominent cousin relationship going on though. And they do use the G-slur as a slur. So that is a thing. I understand that it's "realistic" and she's basing it on her own homophobia before she was reformed. And yes, the fact that the main character was being racist was considered not okay by the one she called the slur, and it's definitely not encouraged in the book, but I still feel like she could have gotten her point across without it. The author also knew it was considered a slur. So you can't even say she didn't know.
If you want books about generational trauma and breaking the cycle, I think you can find better books that don't include racial slurs.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Racial slurs
raisinreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
as always beautiful storytelling: atmospheric metaphors and similes, well-done depictions of family dynamics and trauma, content warning for physical abuse and indications of PTSD
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Eating disorder
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Never met an Anna-Marie McLemore book I didn't love! A little sad there were no queer characters in this one, but lots of their more recent books have queer characters galore!
This is a Romeo and Juliet retelling so of course it has some tragedy in it. I really loved this and everything AM did with this story. I am VERY familiar with R&J because I've been teaching it for the last 5 years. I love the takes on it in this and the differences with how things were resolved. Also love love love the characters so much!
This is a Romeo and Juliet retelling so of course it has some tragedy in it. I really loved this and everything AM did with this story. I am VERY familiar with R&J because I've been teaching it for the last 5 years. I love the takes on it in this and the differences with how things were resolved. Also love love love the characters so much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Death, and Eating disorder
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
durrareadsstuff's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Stories—the ones we speak, the ones we read, the ones we write down-make us human to each other. Fiction, however made-up, makes us real to each other. Stories take us past slurs and stereotypes, and into the deep ocean of understanding that every person, real or imagined, cannot be reduced to a word or a few words.
I've been staring into the abyss for hours now. This was just so beautifully written and the story itself was so tragic. This book reminded my why I loved reading so much, of how much fiction can teach you and make you understand things.
I went into this thinking it's gonna be some retelling of romeo and juliet with a hint of magic in it, nothing too heavy. And it is, the love story of lace and cluck and their families do resemble the Shakespeare classic, but also it deals heavily with racism, family problems and prejudice and understanding. I'll be honest though, I took some time to wrap my head around the plot, I feel like the words twist you around and around but all that is somewhat necessary to achieve the depth of the actual story and the beauty of it. Granted, I am not much of a fan of books with romance as their main plotline, so maybe that's why I got lost a little bit.
Also another thing worth noting : the chapters are so short!! And the sayings in french and spanish at every chapter are so cool. I think this is a much needed fiction—to understand how racism came to be, how some people grew up with it and can't help but see others in a different light, how they were taught to see others to "protect themselves". And how by breaking that barrier between them, just by talking and listening to each other, Lace and Cluck escaped the cages their families made for them.
I went into this thinking it's gonna be some retelling of romeo and juliet with a hint of magic in it, nothing too heavy. And it is, the love story of lace and cluck and their families do resemble the Shakespeare classic, but also it deals heavily with racism, family problems and prejudice and understanding. I'll be honest though, I took some time to wrap my head around the plot, I feel like the words twist you around and around but all that is somewhat necessary to achieve the depth of the actual story and the beauty of it. Granted, I am not much of a fan of books with romance as their main plotline, so maybe that's why I got lost a little bit.
Also another thing worth noting : the chapters are so short!! And the sayings in french and spanish at every chapter are so cool. I think this is a much needed fiction—to understand how racism came to be, how some people grew up with it and can't help but see others in a different light, how they were taught to see others to "protect themselves". And how by breaking that barrier between them, just by talking and listening to each other, Lace and Cluck escaped the cages their families made for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Ableism, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Animal death and Sexual assault
More...