cedence's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
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
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Violence, War, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Kidnapping, Animal death, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Cannibalism
lizzie24601's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
If you likes The Bear and the Nightingale, you'll like this one - another great interpretation of Russian folklore. Also, interestingly, I would characterize this as a post-fairytale book, too - a story of what happens AFTER the special girl returns from her magical adventure.
Graphic: Death, War, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Animal death, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Cannibalism, and Murder
marbleheavy's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a genuinely amazing book. The writing is beautiful and the motifs of color and parallel language throughout it is exceptional. If you enjoy magical realism that is still incredibly creative and has a lot of world building, I would definitely recommend this. Although the characters in the book are absolutely not without faults (some more infuriating than others), they all earn such regard and care by the need of the novel. It is a little slow at times, but I never dreaded picking it back up or working through the denser sections because 1) they were always written beautifully and 2) it was always worth it when the next big thing happened. Although it was clear from the beginning how the story would end, the author tells you specifically that it always ends that way, I was still so invested in it and as much as I was desperate at times for it to end different, I felt satisfied at the end of it all. I would absolutely recommend this.
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Cannibalism
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