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cnannery19's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
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
cryptofauna'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? It's complicated
4.0
super interesting and had me hooked from the very beginning. it got me to read during the summer which is a huge accomplishment.
v. e. schwab as usually knocks it out of the park with the characterization, writing and world building.
having a non-speaking protagonist i think was done perfectly in this book, it was just frustrating enough to absolutely relate to olivia’s frustration at being ignored and misunderstood but not so much that it felt like a random thing just added to complicate the plot (especially when she isn’t really coded as autistic). it felt like an actual part of the character rather than a flaw or a complication, and i loved that she didn’t get “fixed” at the end.
read all in one day (a double win for the summer reading slump)
also reminded me a lot of the spirit bares its teeth especially at the beginning
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Pregnancy
stormeno'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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
saurahsaurus'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Medical content, and Alcohol
quirkyaquarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
jesselopod'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Content warning: sleep/nightmare/insomnia related themeselsea_readingelsea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
laguerrelewis'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
anntharai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I fell that this is another one from V. E. S. that I will be thinking about for a while.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Animal death