The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
sarah_nestler's review against another edition
3.5
The ending is definitely leading into the rest of the series, but Iām not planning on hunting down the next books. It was a good enough ending for me. :)
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Classism, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Death, Gore, Sexism, Murder, Mental illness, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Racial slurs
Racial slurs were minor and probably used to be āhistorically accurate.ā Not important to the storyline at all, but they were there. The terms used were ān*groā and āg*psy.ātokyosmokes's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
1.0
This is definitely the worst book I've read all year so far. I'm going to make a list of every flaw I remember:
- horrible mute representation, incredibly disrespectful
- the author's religious views were extremely obvious
- the author's internalized misogyny was also incredibly obvious one quote beingĀ "and a girl could only give herself in love. Mutual love. Otherwise she'dĀ RUIN HERSELF FOR NOTHING. A girls body was a prize. It had to be more than asked for. It had to be earned, worshipped, and avowed. Generally, rings and other oaths were a part of the bargain."Ā I have no words, wtf is this, and Natalie's experience with sex workers early in the book gives off 'love the sinner hate the sin' vibes, like Jesus christ its not their fault.Ā
- The sex workers that are murdered are used more as a plot point and a way to make Natalie look better for 'saving' them.Ā
- There was a scene where Natalie went through the painting dressed as a boy and they almost kiss giving us this weird ass line that really was not necessary lmao, "I think that if I hadn't been dressed as a boy, we might have kissed, then and there. I resolved to come back very soon. In a dress." Alright Kaitlin Bennet, we get it, no homo. this honestly just made me laugh.
- Literally the "romance" lasted three fucking weeks. Chemistry? who is she? watching them be romantically involved was like watching mold and old fruit; made for each other but makes me gag
- The pacing was just horrible, it was only the span of just over 2 weeks, but lasted 300 painful pages.Ā
- Mrs. Northe had no depth, she also sent 2 teenagers ALONE on a train without any parental supervision AND WITHOUT HER FATHERS PERMISSION LIKE THIS BITCH NEEDS RO GO TO JAIL
- The plot was fine, it was clever, but again the author's religious views were so obvious and involved in the plot I couldn't enjoy it. I have no prejudice against Christianity or Catholicism, Lutheranism,Ā or whatever, but just don't make it the plot unless it's actually labeled as Christian fiction or something.
- Natalie was a pick me. She has this whole section about how she disarmed a schoolboy which is where she got her knife, like bitch I get it you don't need to explain in detail for 3 fucking pages.
- Everyone just got worse and worse. I just hated this book at the end, I don't think I've hated a book more, I'm surprised I didn't stop reading.Ā
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Rape, Death of parent, Classism, Car accident, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual assault
the main character is mute but goes through a magic painting where she can speak, then practices speaking irl, then some psychic lady breaks the news that her mother pushed her out of the way of a moving car, passed down a curse ig (its not really explained) and the trauma at 4 years old caused her to stop speaking. the author is not mute and is extremely disrespectful and insensitive in this bookcheybrary's review
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
The ableism is directed towards MC Natalie, who is mute after suffering childhood trauma.
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