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gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
The Details:
Narrated by Rebecca Soler
Unabridged
I really enjoyed the dark fairytale atmosphere this went with. I think the story was compelling and entertaining.
I love stories within stories and this book handled (what can sometimes be a confusing structure) really well.
There are some threads of relationships I would have preferred more closure on, but overall this was a solid read. I think I'd be interested in picking up the other books set in this world.
Narrated by Rebecca Soler
Unabridged
I really enjoyed the dark fairytale atmosphere this went with. I think the story was compelling and entertaining.
I love stories within stories and this book handled (what can sometimes be a confusing structure) really well.
There are some threads of relationships I would have preferred more closure on, but overall this was a solid read. I think I'd be interested in picking up the other books set in this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Kidnapping
Moderate: Self harm and Violence
elliejhnsn's review against another edition
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Good not great. Not enough action for the first 200 pages & unnecessary TW. Did love how dark the fairy tales were though! And the ending was fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
zimmerlemon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
The writing style of this was really great early on, it really hooked me! Things unfolded in a really interesting way. My one qualm is that I’m a little bit of a romance nut and I was bummed about Finch kind of going away on his own journey, but it makes enough sense for his character that I’m not tooooo mad about it. Just would’ve been really cute for them to have more afterwards bc of how loyal he was while she was in her story. But this sets other things up better so I’ll get over it lol
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From the middle onwards might lose you unless you're ready to just vibe.
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From the middle onwards might lose you unless you're ready to just vibe.
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Death, Blood, and Abandonment
paperquilt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Stalking
saskiajva's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
2.25
The author has created an incredibly intriguing world full of mysteries and surprises. It starts pretty slow in my opinion but really ramps up by the last 100 pages! I will say, the treatment of the one BIPOC character felt gratuitously racist and disturbing at points. particularly, at one point the main character does some things that put the side character in danger particularly due to his race, and when he calls her out on it she becomes so angry she literally attempts to crash her car with him in it in an attempt to threaten and intimidate him. Less than a chapter later the BIPOC character is murdered in a very senseless manner, and although he comes back to life later, the author never addresses her abuse and racism beyond “her magical curse makes her mean”.
Outside of that, I was surprised that the characters spent the majority of the book in New York trying to prove this world even existed. I almost stopped reading around page 200 when they hadn’t gotten to the actual fairy tale world yet, but around page 220 or so the book kicked into high gear and didn’t stop until the very end. I would’ve loved to have gotten to spend more time inside the magical Hinterland as it’s truly the intriguing writing. The set up did pay off in many ways, and maybe if I reread it I’d find more interest, but I just don’t think this book is for me.
Outside of that, I was surprised that the characters spent the majority of the book in New York trying to prove this world even existed. I almost stopped reading around page 200 when they hadn’t gotten to the actual fairy tale world yet, but around page 220 or so the book kicked into high gear and didn’t stop until the very end. I would’ve loved to have gotten to spend more time inside the magical Hinterland as it’s truly the intriguing writing. The set up did pay off in many ways, and maybe if I reread it I’d find more interest, but I just don’t think this book is for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racism, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence and Suicide
Minor: Alcohol
jowashere's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Racism and Stalking
theastronautmp3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Racism and Police brutality
clarabooksit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Racism
mky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
I do love the dark fairytale and the mystery of this book. I also enjoyed the fairytales that were interspersed throughout the book and how they tied into the story. This book is a great and fast paced young adult read. However, I felt the book was a little predictable and tended to be written for a young adult audience. Overall, I rated it a 3 because the story concept was fascinating and interesting, but I was clearly not the target audience for this writing style.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
maregred's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Suicide