kaylad31's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
kayleajayne's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think Walker is lovely at writing and telling a story, though I’m not exactly a fan of a sexually explicit parts. It wasn’t enough to make it smutty, but there were some part in there, if that does bother you as a person. The book is good at being mysterious despite pretty much giving away its end at the very beginning. The how and why questions will push you through every chapter. It was a very interesting book, and the feminism of it resonates for any woman who has been told what she knows or has experienced is wrong. For that, I do identify with the character, and found the story interesting enough to read very quickly, though it is not a favorite of mine.
apriljbeckler's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
deborahjillz's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
laurenjosephs's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved it. Addicting, spent multiple weekend nights just reading this. The narrative and emotions around the bond between women and sisters but also the sinister aspect rung so true in a way that made it very touching to read. I’ll bug my friends to read this.
g_for_gem_and_the_colour_green's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.5
Guys I fucking loved this book omd it’s so fun I loved the description holy fuck and little iris and experiencing this through her. Loved the use if haunting ness throughout. Honestly main point for me was the beautiful rich well developed my favourite part of this I LOVED it. The ending was the worst part. Justice for Iris like the ending was just flat and honestly kinda dulled the spirit of the book. Could read the first three quarters over and over though.
cathrynveronica's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ktrain3900's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
One part The Virgin Suicides, another part We Have Always Lived in the Castle, with dashes of Sarah Winchester and Georgia O'Keeffe, yet a wholly original, meandering, quasi-gothic tale. Spooky-fun in places, cringe-tastic in others, always enough intrigue to keep me turning pages. Despite the often otherworldly atmosphere, the familial relationships feel largely genuine. Not sure I entirely "got it" or that there was an "it" to get (there seems to be a few ways to read the book) and not entirely won over by the ending, but overall I liked this very much.
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide