conspystery's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Spoiler
I adored how this book ended. I loved how the realm of the figurative and literal blended along Lucy’s rational understanding of her emotions and detachment from reality until they were indistinguishable. Lucy’s transformation defines this novel, in the best possible way. Her character arc was at first a fall-- a situation out of her control, trying to avoid her intense feelings in favor of the expectations she’s absorbed into her life-- and then an active leap, pushing herself forward to take autonomy even in darkness. The narrative thread about her fixation on the harpy as a creature of myth stitched itself into her character as the book ended. Inseparability was a theme throughout this book, or I thought so: marriages that wouldn’t split, society’s perceptions of motherhood and womanhood and wifehood that Lucy struggled so valiantly to shake, Lucy and the harpy in the end. It was exceptional, and the writing itself was just as artfully intense and powerful as the story needed to deliver its final blows.Overall, I loved this story and Lucy’s telling of it, loved her character and the spiral of her actions, loved the writing and the mythology and everything else happening here. I sat in stunned silence for a while after finishing this book; it leaves that kind of an impact. Rich and dark and eerily satisfying, The Harpy is definitely a story that’ll stick with its audience. I loved it.
Graphic: Blood, Injury/injury detail, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual harassment
whatdanireads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Injury/injury detail
Minor: Rape
rebeccajost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, and Medical content
savvylit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
How would I summarize this book? Beautifully written but ultimately a lackluster portrait of a sad woman in a sad marriage.
Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Suicide and Sexual assault
paperbackinmybackpack's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
benjiaprout's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Gore, Injury/injury detail, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment
humblej's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Rape