A review by peppermintz
The Gifts That Bind Us by Caroline O'Donoghue

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

Honestly a beautiful haunting book. Every new chapter you learn something and gradually, more and more things keep going wrong.

I genuinely don't get this series keeps improving. Maeve is so violently a teenager girl that I feel like I am back at school. And the metaphors! They are beautiful.

And the complexities of Fiona's identity. Not relegated to a best-friend archetype, but give the freedom within the narrative to explore and grow.

I also loved the graudla shift of Lily and Maeve's relationship. How forgiveness has to be earned and rituals can't fix years of neglect and mistreatment.
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