Reviews with content warning for Body horror - In an Absent Dream

Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

17 reviews

sabrinaleaf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad fast-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

3.75

3.75 ⭐️
Not my favourite one in the series, I think we glossed over Mockery as a character to quickly, and I dont think we spent enough time in Goblin’s market

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avacadosocks's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

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maeverose's review against another edition

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3.0

I’m starting to think this series isn’t for me. I love the concept, but I’m always disappointed by the execution. This is definitely a case of the book not being for me, but nothing being wrong with the book. I can absolutely see how people would love this.

I loved the the first third of this one. Weirdly, I preferred most of the parts that took place in the real world. The parts in the Goblin Market felt like they were spent almost entirely on explanation for the structure of the world, which I found to be somewhat interesting but mostly repetitive and boring. I would’ve preferred if we got more focus on Lundy’s adventures with Moon to take down the Wasp Queen and their encounter with the Bone Wraiths. Some explanation of the world would of course be necessary and interesting, but I wanted to see them actually explore the world as well. I felt this way with the second book too. This series seems to be more about the characters and the ideas of these worlds and how they differ from our own, which is absolutely fine, but I guess I want a little more adventure in my portal fantasy. I understand that would likely mean these books would need to be novels instead of novellas in order to fit the appropriate amount of world building, plot and character development. But I’d still prefer that, I think.

Most of the writing in this book I absolutely love, especially in the first third, but every now and then there was a sentence that didn’t look right to me, and I can’t tell if it’s an actual typo or an intentional choice that just didn’t click in my brain. I don’t remember this being an issue with the first three books in the series but it’s been a while since I read them.

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schnaucl's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I really liked it. There was some of that omniscient narrator that McGuire does so well.

The goblin market was fascinating, especially since there was a much more positive community aspect to it than I've seen in other goblin market stories. Fair bargain can mean a fair bargain for the community, not just the individuals. But I liked that the Market and individuals within it were more lenient with children, as it should be. It makes me wonder if an older child could even get to the market for a first time visit since they would have less time to learn the rules and make an informed decision.

The idea of a family being called to the same portal world was also really interesting.

I felt for Lundy being torn between two words and the obligation she has to both.

I kept waiting for the school to be a part of the story and I was surprised it was at the very end since I think in the prior books the protagonist has managed to go back to the portal world they were missing. It's been long enough since I read the last one that I can't remember where (or if) Katherine fit into the structure of the school.

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