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jinmichae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Eating disorder, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
sparklefarm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Incest and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death, Death, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Suicide, Cannibalism, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
liesthemoontells's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overall I think this is an accomplished entry into the Gothic literary canon. It takes many of the tropes of the genre (e.g. young female protagonist who wonders if she's going mad, scary house, mean old lady who hates protagonist) and weaves them into a new story.
I was surprised at first at how much the setting is literally a transplanted English Gothic setting into the Mexican countryside, however as I kept reading I was very impressed at how this was used to explore themes of colonisation, misogyny, and the subjugation of poor and female bodies.
The atmosphere in the book begins with low level, constant dread which slowly ratchets up the tension into full panic, and the body horror is incredibly visceral and stomach-turning.
I did however find it dragged in some moments, and the plot became a bit convoluted towards the end. I felt like the book was trying to fence sit on whether or not the cause was supernatural, and having it end up being
I also found
Overall I think this is is a more polished book than Gods of Jade and Shadow, but I found that to be a more enjoyable and emotionally engaging read, hence it receiving a higher rating.
I also think this is a book that would benefit from a second reading once all of the plot twists are revealed.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
rsb12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
mdwsn27's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
peasandpancakes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
There are some events that might be triggering for some people!
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Infertility, and Fire/Fire injury
jascahue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
acorn192k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
andmingmingtoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit
tristinrose's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Incest, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Child death, Rape, and Cannibalism