rowanvin's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
jaqofmosttrades's review against another edition
5.0
Um, there are no words for this. I’m so confused. Also I’m crying. This is beyond. WHAT JUST HAPPENED
cmgreen's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
allegedmusician's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
lightfoxing's review against another edition
3.0
This book was good. It was important. It just maybe wasn't for me. The story itself was at times engaging, at times not. I cared more for Cyrah's story than for Alok's, whom I didn't feel I really got a chance to know until maybe the very last chapter. The prose was at times excellent, at times a bit jarring and clunky. The mythology woven in was extremely interesting, but I sometimes would have liked more of it, and at other times liked less of it.
maryrobinette's review against another edition
3.0
This has a really lush sense of place through the use of evocative language. Coupled with an ambitious structure, I really wanted to love this novel.
I had difficulty with some of the thematic elements, particularly with the rape narrative. As much as the author portrays Cyrah as a strong woman, she still winds up being defined by this single incident. I could see the efforts the author made to undermine this trope, but it still troubled me.
That said, the language and sense of place are really compelling. I think the novel is at its best during the passages where we go deep into sensory details.
I had difficulty with some of the thematic elements, particularly with the rape narrative. As much as the author portrays Cyrah as a strong woman, she still winds up being defined by this single incident. I could see the efforts the author made to undermine this trope, but it still troubled me.
That said, the language and sense of place are really compelling. I think the novel is at its best during the passages where we go deep into sensory details.
beansterpie's review against another edition
5.0
This was a really interesting interpretation of werewolves, and the fact that it took place in India was different than a lot of typical werewolf stories you find in America.
At first, it was a little hard for me to get into the transcription part of the story, especially because I didn't realise how much of the story was taken up by the past. I started reading the transcription, thinking it would be a few pages at most, but really it's about half the book. Once I got past the first 'chapter', so to speak, I found myself utterly invested.
At first, it was a little hard for me to get into the transcription part of the story, especially because I didn't realise how much of the story was taken up by the past. I started reading the transcription, thinking it would be a few pages at most, but really it's about half the book. Once I got past the first 'chapter', so to speak, I found myself utterly invested.
mxcaswell's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
seahorsemojinow's review against another edition
5.0
There was like, a brief period of chapters early on where I was worried that this book was violently homophobic and misogynistic, but I think it isn't intrinsically so. It does depict homophobia and misogyny, and it's the internalized bits where it gets murky.
What this book does with prose is just stunning. I really loved the switching of narrative styles, and the attention paid to gender & trauma. That being said, there is a lot of trauma and violence depicted - gore, specifically - so that's a warning for you.
What this book does with prose is just stunning. I really loved the switching of narrative styles, and the attention paid to gender & trauma. That being said, there is a lot of trauma and violence depicted - gore, specifically - so that's a warning for you.
ketzie_diaz's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I loved this book, it was not at all what I expected. The writing was beautiful and carried throughout the entire book, through every story that was told. It was also a unique story line that I have not read before. Although I don't believe that this book is for everyone and some people might find it too graphic to read. This book is just further evidence as to why I love debut novels!