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ncoletti's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
librarianryan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Traveling down a dark road one night, Ivy and her boyfriend are confronted by a naked woman, standing where she should not. Avoiding the woman meant hitting the tree and getting a bit bruised and battered. It also starts a mystery that has been playing out longer than Ivy knows.
Ivy and her mom are not the closest. Ivy often fells like a third wheel between her mom and her mom’s best friend, and this recent accident and other things just expands that gap more. However, this is a dual story, told in the now time from Ivy’s perspective in suburban America. The other side of the story is from mom’s perspective at the same age as her daughter in 1990’s Chicago.
This story is a thrilling mystery with a magical streak. Magic dark and light are the thread that sews together this story of family connections, family togetherness and family safety. If one is a fan of Practical Magic or other Alice Hoffman magic books, they are sure to enjoy this tale. It is dark, atmospheric, and completely engrossing. Once started this book will be hard to put down as the reader not only needs to know what happens next but also have their “who done it” theories slashed into pieces.
While not a tale of horror, this book is a witchy treasure perfect for long cozy nights. It has intrigue, it has heart, it has small bouts of scariness. So beware, dead animals are present, and so is underage drinking and crashes associated with that action.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
daretocarebear's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Violence
imstephtacular's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Gore, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
sinkitten's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
karapillar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
hollyk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! The alternating timelines was done in a fairly engaging way (as in, I was not so desperate to go back to the opposite timeline) and I found the shift in POVs seamless. The ending was simultaneously satisfying and not?? I still have questions.
The story was compelling, and both main characters had a solid amount of development; although, I think Dana could have had more/could have ended on a solid trajectory towards change.
TW:animal cruelty</spoiler warning>
The story was compelling, and both main characters had a solid amount of development; although, I think Dana could have had more/could have ended on a solid trajectory towards change.
TW:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Stalking and Car accident
campisforever's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
korpney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Alcoholism
kavasprout's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I’d say this is about 3.5ish stars
I think the storyline was unique and I did enjoy the eerie vibes! The only reason I can’t bring myself to rate higher is because I just didn’t mesh with the writing style well at all. It was A LOT of similes …. SO many similes. They weren’t all bad but it was genuinely so many that I was rolling my eyes after the third in a row lol.
Also, I didn’t really care much for any of the characters? The storyline was good but I didn’t really connect with anyone tbh. So yeah, I enjoyed the story line (minus the constant rabbit deaths ugh) and just didn’t connect with the characters and writing style, personally.
To add on: I did not care for the mention of Kaz, it made me cringe lol. Also the constant name dropping of places like 7/11, Jimmy Johns, etc, just killed the ambiance
I think the storyline was unique and I did enjoy the eerie vibes! The only reason I can’t bring myself to rate higher is because I just didn’t mesh with the writing style well at all. It was A LOT of similes …. SO many similes. They weren’t all bad but it was genuinely so many that I was rolling my eyes after the third in a row lol.
Also, I didn’t really care much for any of the characters? The storyline was good but I didn’t really connect with anyone tbh. So yeah, I enjoyed the story line (minus the constant rabbit deaths ugh) and just didn’t connect with the characters and writing style, personally.
To add on: I did not care for the mention of Kaz, it made me cringe lol. Also the constant name dropping of places like 7/11, Jimmy Johns, etc, just killed the ambiance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood