cameronreads's reviews
498 reviews
4.0
Graphic: Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Xenophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Grief, and Antisemitism
Minor: Pedophilia
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Homophobia, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Antisemitism, Grief, and Suicide
Minor: Classism and Fire/Fire injury
4.5
Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Violence, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, and Child abuse
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Antisemitism, Death, Self harm, Gore, Grief, Child death, Genocide, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Suicide and War
3.0
Spoiler
I loved watching Courtney find out about her angelic past, for exampleGraphic: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Ableism, Dysphoria, Self harm, Grief, and Transphobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Deadnaming, and War
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Alcohol, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Colonisation, and Gore
Moderate: Gun violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, and Ableism
Minor: Death of parent, Racial slurs, and War
2.5
There was also something slightly off about the pacing right at the beginning of the book (although for the most part it was fine), with magical powers developing all of a sudden and characters just accepting it without a second thought and immediately moving on with their lives. I don’t necessarily have a problem with there being no explanation for the powers (although due to personal preference I would have rather had one) but it did just feel like a very quick onset and acceptance.
I liked what this book was saying about private schools and I think it was successful for the most part - it wasn’t the most nuanced view but it wasn’t really trying to be so that’s not necessarily a problem. I like that Alice found a way to help others in her situation at the end, which was a nice cumulation of her character growth.
I also thought it had interesting points about academics and self worth, in fact I wish it had delved into it a bit deeper. There’s a point where Alice realises that she actually does have potential to have deeper relationships with her classmates and she’s accidentally isolated herself, but she moves on quite quickly. She almost has a great conversation with Chanel about why they aren’t better friends and I thought they’d come back to it nearer the end but never do.
Essentially, I really liked the concept of this book, and if it had been delved into a bit deeper and the characters had been fleshed out a little more, I think I would have really enjoyed it.
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Blood and Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Alcohol, and Hate crime
4.0
I really liked Amina as a protagonist. It felt like such a rich perspective to follow a middle-aged mother who very much feels like her adventures are over into this magical adventure. However it was very clear that she was the centre of this book, and whilst I liked the moments of the other characters we get and the established found family they formed years ago, I wanted a bit more out of the side characters.
For some reason it took me a while to get into this book. I think it’s partially due to the first person perceptive - whilst the writing in this book is truly wonderful, I do tend not o struggle with first person regardless, especially when there’s only one POV. It makes the story feel very linear to me, which is fine but struggles to hold my personal short attention span. It also definitely picked up nearer the end - the beginning feels more historical, and it slowly morphs into a fantasy nearer the end, which I personally prefer more, so that might be another reason.
Still, I really enjoyed this book, and it will become a go-to recommendation for me.
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Body horror, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, and Alcoholism
Minor: Addiction, Deadnaming, Death of parent, and Rape
4.0
Reading June’s story was at the same time flabbergasting, because how can she really be thinking like this (‘I have been victim to people like Candide and Diana and Adele: people who think that, just because they’re “oppressed” and “marginalised”, they can do or say whatever they want. That the world should put them on a pedestal and shower them with opportunities. That reverse racism is okay. That they can bully, harass, and humiliate people like me, just because I’m white…’ like girl WHAT) and yet also so truthful of so many myths that white people truly believe - that POCs are really at an advantage because of companies looking for ‘diversity’ for example. It was almost agonising to read from June’s point of view, and know it is reflected in so many. I hope that those who do think this way read this book and realise how utterly ridiculous they sound.
The book also manages to be a really interesting critique of the publishing industry and the struggles of POC in this industry. There are so many struggles that side characters face that June practically sweeps under the rug but is so glaring clear to the reader - why is it so hard to insist white authors should have a sensitivity reader? Why do publishers feel like they can only have one author of each marginalised group at once? It’s a testament to Kuang’s talent that she can address these issues despite the fact that June is our main character.
The writing style in this is very different to Kuang’s other books, but I think her tone works well in it. It’s definitely not my favourite style (which is completely personal preference) but it works well for the book. I also think the pacing worked well, and I like how it started feeling almost supernatural as June started descending into paranoia. The ending worked well for the book too - it is at once unbelievable and believable that June can still believe she is in the right here, fitting for the tone of the rest of the book.
I think RF Kuang did a great job with this genre shift, and whilst I personally prefer her fantasy (fantasy being my preferred genre) I think anyone who enjoys this kind of contemporary thriller will love this one.
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
Minor: War
5.0
Graphic: Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Murder, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Dementia, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Animal death, Vomit, Addiction, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Torture