cheye13's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
This is written beautifully. The harpy metaphor is visceral and very relatable. I personally just feel like something's missing, something didn't push far enough.
Stories about "monstrous" women always leave me with this same feeling; "but he cheated on her." And what's worse, the men usually never truly understand the impact of what they've done. Yes, women in revenge narratives often go too far or truly become violent or cruel, but that's what I'm looking for in my revenge fiction – the satisfaction that real life lacks.
I did not expect this to focus so much on their children and in turn on the larger concept of the women's roles in society and in turn again on the concept of self. I expected a deeper interrogation of a single relationship, and perhaps that's where my own expectations let me down.
Stories about "monstrous" women always leave me with this same feeling; "but he cheated on her." And what's worse, the men usually never truly understand the impact of what they've done. Yes, women in revenge narratives often go too far or truly become violent or cruel, but that's what I'm looking for in my revenge fiction – the satisfaction that real life lacks.
I did not expect this to focus so much on their children and in turn on the larger concept of the women's roles in society and in turn again on the concept of self. I expected a deeper interrogation of a single relationship, and perhaps that's where my own expectations let me down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexism
Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Excrement, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide
A lot of focus on (lack of) bodily autonomy, the mechanics of gestation and childbirth, and the relation between the two.becandbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book has a lot of things that I love in a story. An overarching dark, consuming atmosphere. Morally grey characters. References to mythology and magical realism components. But despite all this, it just didn't really hit the mark for me personally.
The pacing of the story felt odd and inconsistent. For such a small story, this book definitely felt dragged out in places.
It did something, that I typically love in weird, dark books - focuses in on small mundane moments and makes them into something engaging and tangible. And yet, this style of writing mixed with a more domestic plot-line was just not something for me. Instead of getting wrapped into these moments, I simply did not care.
I also struggled with understanding the intent of the story. Our main character is grappling with marriage issues and motherhood. And yet the sadistic nature of the character's actions just left me feeling confused.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the audiobook. This does not impact my opinions, whatsoever
The pacing of the story felt odd and inconsistent. For such a small story, this book definitely felt dragged out in places.
It did something, that I typically love in weird, dark books - focuses in on small mundane moments and makes them into something engaging and tangible. And yet, this style of writing mixed with a more domestic plot-line was just not something for me. Instead of getting wrapped into these moments, I simply did not care.
I also struggled with understanding the intent of the story. Our main character is grappling with marriage issues and motherhood. And yet the sadistic nature of the character's actions just left me feeling confused.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the audiobook. This does not impact my opinions, whatsoever
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Torture, and Vomit
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, and Rape
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