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cecilie26's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Okay, this is the first time that I have tried to read something in this kind of genre. I have read murder mysteries but this is a whole other genre than that in my opinion.
It was nice to try something new, but this book was really not something for me.
I’m gonna make some pros and cons, because that the only way that I can make this kind of shot and not write something that doesn’t make sense.
Let’s start with the pros:
- liked the generational women rage and what it represents
- did like the girl kinda fight club vibe.
The cons:
- the animal cruelty(could not for the life of me see the reason for that even thoughthe cat lived.
I know the authors perspective was to show how far she would go, but that could have been done another way. I just really don’t like animals being hurt to further the stories cruelness.
- the romance was a bit weird. It didn’t feel like it came naturally.
It was nice to try something new, but this book was really not something for me.
I’m gonna make some pros and cons, because that the only way that I can make this kind of shot and not write something that doesn’t make sense.
Let’s start with the pros:
- liked the generational women rage and what it represents
- did like the girl kinda fight club vibe.
The cons:
- the animal cruelty(could not for the life of me see the reason for that even though
I know the authors perspective was to show how far she would go, but that could have been done another way. I just really don’t like animals being hurt to further the stories cruelness.
- the romance was a bit weird. It didn’t feel like it came naturally.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, and Medical content
Minor: Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexual harassment
emmataylor173's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Sexual harassment
sinnybuns's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An incredible depiction of female rage and how easy it is to fall into the trap of believing that in order to be accepted by society, you need to be “nice” and “sweet”. I love that Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was incorporated into the story. I also particularly loved that being in love with someone of the same sex was completely normalised. No huge coming out moments or internalised homophobia like you so often find in sapphic romance, especially YA sapphic romances.
This book is a slow burn in terms of romance but the plot itself moves quickly. If you’re looking to read this for the romance only, don’t. You will be disappointed. The love story shared between the two main characters is a sub-plot and not a main focus in this book.
This book is a slow burn in terms of romance but the plot itself moves quickly. If you’re looking to read this for the romance only, don’t. You will be disappointed. The love story shared between the two main characters is a sub-plot and not a main focus in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Sexual harassment
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
The Details:
Narrated by Farrah Cave and Beth Easdown
Unabridged
Absolutely adored Every Exquisite Thing, so was excited to see that Steven's debut was available through my library app.
This is a sapphic, modern gothic retelling of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
I'm not sure if it wad the share name of Lottie combined with the sapphic grumpy x sunshine, but it at first had a wholesome likness to The Rosewood Chronicles. It also reminded me of Claire and Elise from The Coldest Touch.
This was such a good story!
I definitely see improvements in storytelling and writing style in the delivery of the modern gothic/dark academia genre, going back to this after reading Every Exquisite Thing, but it wasn't off putting.
The conversations did feel a little more juvenile than I'd expected but it was easily overlooked once I connected to the characters and got really invested in the story.
This inspiration of the classic has made me appreciate the themes of mental health that the original introduces.
I hope there are more in to come from these retellings, as I see these as becoming very beloved.
Narrated by Farrah Cave and Beth Easdown
Unabridged
Absolutely adored Every Exquisite Thing, so was excited to see that Steven's debut was available through my library app.
This is a sapphic, modern gothic retelling of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
I'm not sure if it wad the share name of Lottie combined with the sapphic grumpy x sunshine, but it at first had a wholesome likness to The Rosewood Chronicles. It also reminded me of Claire and Elise from The Coldest Touch.
This was such a good story!
I definitely see improvements in storytelling and writing style in the delivery of the modern gothic/dark academia genre, going back to this after reading Every Exquisite Thing, but it wasn't off putting.
The conversations did feel a little more juvenile than I'd expected but it was easily overlooked once I connected to the characters and got really invested in the story.
This inspiration of the classic has made me appreciate the themes of mental health that the original introduces.
I hope there are more in to come from these retellings, as I see these as becoming very beloved.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Lottie and Alice start at the newly reopened Carvell College of Arts. But history starts to repeat itself as a new series of killings start, eerily similar to the ones from ten years ago that caused it to close its doors.
This book is reported to be dark and "funny". Dark yes, funny much less so. The animal murder is resolved in a way that makes it less traumatic to the reader, but at the time it happens it's very dark and disturbing. As an animal lover, I had to stop reading the book for the day after that scene.
I get where the author was coming from with the message about female anger and how it needs to be accepted and we need to change the sexism in the world. I really wish the author had stayed away from harming animals. I'm a person who prefers human death to animal death in fiction.
The book was decent. I liked the premise but the execution wasn't as good as possible.
Extra ratings: Fluff - 0/5 Heartfelt- 4/5 Helpful-NA Horror- 3/5 Inspiration- NA Love aka Romance-2/5 Mystery-3/5 Predictability- 3/5 Spice- 0/5 Suspense- 2/5 Tear 3.5/5 Thrill- 3.5/5 Humor-1/5
This book is reported to be dark and "funny". Dark yes, funny much less so. The animal murder is resolved in a way that makes it less traumatic to the reader, but at the time it happens it's very dark and disturbing. As an animal lover, I had to stop reading the book for the day after that scene.
I get where the author was coming from with the message about female anger and how it needs to be accepted and we need to change the sexism in the world. I really wish the author had stayed away from harming animals. I'm a person who prefers human death to animal death in fiction.
The book was decent. I liked the premise but the execution wasn't as good as possible.
Extra ratings: Fluff - 0/5 Heartfelt- 4/5 Helpful-NA Horror- 3/5 Inspiration- NA Love aka Romance-2/5 Mystery-3/5 Predictability- 3/5 Spice- 0/5 Suspense- 2/5 Tear 3.5/5 Thrill- 3.5/5 Humor-1/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Chronic illness, Dementia, and Sexual harassment
sovner736's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism and Blood
Minor: Vomit and Sexual harassment
styxx's review against another edition
dark
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Self harm, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
Premise (from the author’s own description!!!):
🥀 f/f enemies to lovers
🌲 Northumberland in the 90s
🔮 sinister rituals
🖤 slow burn romance
🩸 all-girl fight club
🌞 grump/sunshine
🛏 there’s only one bed
🔪 hurt/comfort
Thoughts:
Hmmmm, what to say, what to say…. I love a sapphic reimagining with ace representation of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde but I especially support young angry femmes.
It was giving Wednesday x Enid & I didn’t hate that!
Premise (from the author’s own description!!!):
🥀 f/f enemies to lovers
🌲 Northumberland in the 90s
🔮 sinister rituals
🖤 slow burn romance
🩸 all-girl fight club
🌞 grump/sunshine
🛏 there’s only one bed
🔪 hurt/comfort
Thoughts:
Hmmmm, what to say, what to say…. I love a sapphic reimagining with ace representation of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde but I especially support young angry femmes.
It was giving Wednesday x Enid & I didn’t hate that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
thecourtofreading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
this left me with a lot of unsolved questions that i feel like could've been patched up at the end, although in general this book was actually alright. speaking of the ending, it did feel a little rushed, but this story was captivating enough that i wanted to keep reading, and i am somewhat satisfied with the ending we got.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment
_p0ssum_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment