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augie_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and Murder
booksillremember's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Older women MCs are outrageously hard to find, so I was happy to get a glimpse into Duszejko's mind. I enjoyed how her way of making sense of the world was so out there and yet so relatable at the same time. The 'found family' added some sweetness to the story, even though most of the characters weren't really fleshed out.
This is very much character and theme driven, so if you are a plot lover, this isn't for you. Nothing much happens for the most part. The pacing is poor, the story is repetitive and then gets wrapped up quickly and too neatly. At times it was a struggle to get through, but I still very much enjoyed it for the unique experience it offers.
It's a dense exploration of existential questions and I'm sure a lot of it went over my head because I haven't read William Blake who is referenced a lot. I'm also really not into astrology, but I can appreciate that Duszejko is a pattern seeker extraordinaire.
As a side note, I didn't appreciate the snide remark about 'testosterone autism' that was just there to stereotype an 'antisocial' character. I understand that the author's and the character's beliefs aren't necessarily synonymous, and Duszejko has lots of outlandish ideas about the world, but I wouldn't perpetuate a stereotype about a marginalised group if it's still considered true by most people. Especially since the MC is very heavily Autistic-coded herself - it's a missed opportunity to point out common, yet lesser known Autistic traits like an extreme sense of justice or empathy for animals.
This is very much character and theme driven, so if you are a plot lover, this isn't for you. Nothing much happens for the most part. The pacing is poor, the story is repetitive and then gets wrapped up quickly and too neatly. At times it was a struggle to get through, but I still very much enjoyed it for the unique experience it offers.
It's a dense exploration of existential questions and I'm sure a lot of it went over my head because I haven't read William Blake who is referenced a lot. I'm also really not into astrology, but I can appreciate that Duszejko is a pattern seeker extraordinaire.
As a side note, I didn't appreciate the snide remark about 'testosterone autism' that was just there to stereotype an 'antisocial' character. I understand that the author's and the character's beliefs aren't necessarily synonymous, and Duszejko has lots of outlandish ideas about the world, but I wouldn't perpetuate a stereotype about a marginalised group if it's still considered true by most people. Especially since the MC is very heavily Autistic-coded herself - it's a missed opportunity to point out common, yet lesser known Autistic traits like an extreme sense of justice or empathy for animals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Ableism
milk's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
agnela's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It started really strong, then it felt like it run out of steam, but the last 50 pages, omg, it went off the rails!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
hannahyorkey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I found it quite hard to get into this book. I think it just wasn’t for me. The protagonist had an almost apathetic and cold personality and way of communicating that I just didn’t vibe with. I did however enjoy the twist at the end, which I had started to suspect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, and Murder
not_another_ana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
We live in a stage of siege. If one takes a close look at each fragment of a moment, one might choke with terror.
One morning Janina, an unconventional woman more concerned with astrology and animals, is awakened by the untimely passing of her neighbor, a rude poacher she didn't much care for. While this event initially seems like a dumb accident, more and more people in town start dying in odd ways. There seems to be only one connection between them, it appears that wild animals have committed the murders. Or at least that's what Janina firmly believes even if no one else thinks the same. As the police keeps investigating Janina cannot help but be drawn to the gruesome crimes and to form her own opinions about the truth, the victims, life, and the world that surrounds her.
Pleasantly surprised by this. It's not really a crime novel or a thriller as it seems to be categorized, it's more of an exploration about different topics. It's dark but still funny and quirky at times. It deals with grief, it examines society and the corrupt systems that it's built on, it even tackles a bit of the hypocrisy of religion. There were tons of lines in this book that resonated with me and touched me deeply, I think Janina was such an interesting character with a rich and complex interior life. Her reflections on life keep this book from being too bleak or nonsensical.
I do think that it ran a bit too long, mostly because there isn't really a mystery. The crime aspect of it was the weakest part of the whole book, you could easily tell what was going on halfway through. I'm unfamiliar with William Blake's poetry and perhaps being familiar with his work would have made some of the references hit better. Still a good and different read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Murder
misakicherry's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I would have done the same
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
lzasne's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Albeit an atmospheric read, fares as shittily as a flockful of bird droppings as a crime novel, and unfortunately, that was the intended purpose of my reading. But even more problematic than that is the constantly antagonizing, preachy tone adopted throughout the narrative and the main character's blatantly deranged psyche left uncharted. All in all, its irredeemably dichotomic and superficial understanding of ethics combined with poor attempts at quirkiness made the book a slog to get through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexism
Minor: Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting
thursdd4y's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
crybabybea's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
What a delightfully weird book. One of the most unique narrators I've ever read.
This is technically a thriller I guess, since it includes a murder mystery, but I'm not sure if it would appeal to general thriller enjoyers as the pacing is actually quite slow and we spend a lot of time in our main character's head than actually in the action. I loved the unreliable narrator and the fact that she's a different type of main character for a thriller read. She's not a cop, or a PI, or even anyone that matters to the investigation. She's just a "normal" (she's actually incredibly odd) person who just finds herself in the middle of a string of murders in a small Polish town. I super enjoyed how she makes you question your own judgment. It felt a bit like a noir film with her unique perspective on the world and the way she constantly narrates the most mundane, seemingly irrelevant things.
For a while we spent so long in the main character's narration that I wondered what was going to happen and where the story was going. But the ending picks up quite a bit and I found it super satisfying and fun.
This is technically a thriller I guess, since it includes a murder mystery, but I'm not sure if it would appeal to general thriller enjoyers as the pacing is actually quite slow and we spend a lot of time in our main character's head than actually in the action. I loved the unreliable narrator and the fact that she's a different type of main character for a thriller read. She's not a cop, or a PI, or even anyone that matters to the investigation. She's just a "normal" (she's actually incredibly odd) person who just finds herself in the middle of a string of murders in a small Polish town. I super enjoyed how she makes you question your own judgment. It felt a bit like a noir film with her unique perspective on the world and the way she constantly narrates the most mundane, seemingly irrelevant things.
For a while we spent so long in the main character's narration that I wondered what was going to happen and where the story was going. But the ending picks up quite a bit and I found it super satisfying and fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail