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liesthemoontells'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Schwab's descriptions of place in the book are immediate and visceral. I particularly loved the use of colour, nature and decay to immediately situate you between Merilance, Gallant, and the not-Gallant. The slow reveal of Olivia's parents' story and the mystery behind the house at Gallant was well paced, with diary entries and images used to good effect (although I wonder if they would have had even more impact if I weren't using an e-reader).
I particularly loved the description of the ghouls; it was creepy and horrific to imagine a small child seeing flashes of of hovering body parts and half-people out of the corner of her eye. The use of the word ghouls instead of ghosts also differentiated them and their relationship to Olivia; it made them seem more real and tangible than if the word "ghost" was used.
I enjoyed Olivia as a character; she was relatable, resourceful, and charming without being cloying. Although I have no lived experience, I also thought the portrayal of disability and ableism was strong. Olivia is constantly underestimated by others due to her inability to speak, which has significant consequences on her happiness and wellbeing, but she is never treated with pity by the text; instead, the reader shares in her frustration with the limited thinking of the people around her.
I was expecting a happy ending at the end of the book from the way the story had framed Olivia as embarking on a hero's journey,
Overall there was nothing ground breaking about this book, but I found it entertaining, moving, and well-written.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
pluckedstrings's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Suicide
ms_smith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Blood, and Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death and Torture
bootrat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Ableism and Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
thesuperawesomesarah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse
lauramcc7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
readingwithkaitlyn'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Violence, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
sageandcitrus'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? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, and Self harm
justmys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautifully paced with intriguing characters and a bone chilling ghost story woven throughout. It's not a hopeful read, but it's a gift of a story.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
rinku's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment