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katieroper23'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: Miscarriage, Rape, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Abortion
lyndsayscan'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
2.5
Moderate: Body horror and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Dementia
chrisscorkscrew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
cosypuck's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Car accident, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
camelia_martin'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
4.0
Those little revelations really kept the intrigue, and the way the seemingly unlinked characters and their lives became interlinked was incredible.
I had a gut feeling about how Mabel was pregnant and despite turning out to be correct I was still shocked by the way it was revealed.
I feel like Wulfie’s storyline was a bit rushed at the end - I really wanted to feel more for his character. The hints
I will say I didn’t find it scary, though I don’t find horror/thriller or gothic horror books to be scary anyway, but I did find myself reading faster and faster as I hit the last 100 pages.
Mrs W’s situation was predictable
Overall though an enjoyable book that kept me wanting more!
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
dungareece'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? It's complicated
5.0
It is deliciously gothic and eerie with the suitably damp, dark and mushroom infested setting of a secluded Scottish mansion, Lichen Hall. Lichen Hall doubles as a mother and baby home for unwed mothers. The history of which I was only vaguely aware of prior to reading this book.
I adore a book with multiple narrators, and CJ Cooke is so wonderful at braiding seemingly unrelated narratives together in the most intricate ways. This book is the perfect love letter to women and being othered from society. Beautifully sad stories of motherhood and queerness are intertwined with a wonderful sprinkling of magic. A full on rollercoaster of emotions, I had moments of being in tears followed by moments of kicking my feet in joy.
Ps I have never cried at an authors note before so that was new
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Dementia, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal death and Vomit
Minor: Homophobia
louisegraveyard'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
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
dogearedbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Dementia, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body horror and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying and Car accident
brittsuek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The truth is, I want to believe that I dreamed it all, I really do. It would be a hundred times easier than the alternative...A ghost, and unlike any ghost I've ever seen depicted in a film, or read of in a book.
Something unspeakably evil is stalkjng the grounds of Lichen Hall."
This historical and gothic thriller is set in two time-frames (1959 and 1965) in fictional Lichen Hall, in the Scottish borders. Protagonists Mabel and Pearl are pregnant and unmarried and have come to stay to give birth and have their babies adopted. There's an ancient woodland with spooky folkore, ever-encroaching fungus and creepy Mrs Whitlock to contend with, as the women's stays become a nightmare. Tackling themes of motherhood, patriarchy and slavery, it's beautifully written, making the characters feel real. I found it atmospheric and ominous, recommended in particular to fans of Laura Purcell and Stacey Halls.
Graphic: Slavery and Pregnancy
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, and Abortion