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rwoodrum29'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism
2treads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Collins really put in the work to research and present a story that explored more than just plantation life and what it meant for slaves. That Frannie was chosen as a test subject by two white planters to see how far they could stretch and assess her intelligence. Using her as their instrument of torture against her own in a macabre dance of discovery to prove unfounded and incorrect perceptions about Black bodies.
We move from the plantation in Jamaica where Frannie is nothing more than a way for both Langton and his wife to exercise their spite and hateful beliefs to the manor of Benham and his madame where she is yet again positioned as a piece for either to use. Here, Frannie falls for the beautiful mistress of the house, ignoring all the signs that here lies her destruction and end.
These phases of her life are told to the reader by Frannie as she awaits trial for murder. Slowly, we uncover just what took place in the coachouse and how Frannie felt as she committed these unspeakable acts to how she maneuvered between a spoilt and depressed white woman and the man who wants to control both their lives.
A really well-written debut.
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Vomit and Abortion
library_kb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Drug use, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
poisoned_icecream's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny and Racism
Moderate: Vomit
msradiosilence'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
5.0
By all accounts, Frances’ story is a tragedy, and not necessarily of her own making. She’s a strong woman prone to making choices everyone warns her against, but their her choices to make. She did the best she could in her situations, even if the best was something truly horrific.
There can be some interesting speculation on whether Frances is a reliable narrator or not, considering the story is from her point of view, but I think a woman
Anyway, as much as it hurt me, I did really enjoy the book. One of the only 5 star reads from 2021.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
bodiesinbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder