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amesgeliebter'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
leannanecdote's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Antisemitism
katrinky's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
jenhfultz'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
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
cozy_tea_reader'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Self harm, Blood, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Gore, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
luunacy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Abandonment
abicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
shlymiller'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Gun violence
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Murder
aksmith92'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? No
4.5
The setup: The novel follows two sisters, Esther and Joanna, born and raised in a magical family - those who can read magic from books and cast certain spells. While Joanna can produce this magic when reading it, Ester seems untouched by the magic. When she reads the books, nothing happens. More perplexing, magic seems to have no impact on her. Esther and Joanna's family is complicated, and we are met with many fascinating tales about mothers, fathers, stepmothers, and overall familial ties.
In addition, we also travel alongside the tale of someone named Nicholas and his bodyguard, Collins. We know little about Nicholas and his ties to Esther and Joanna's story, but he lives in The Library, a heavily guarded magical library in London. Nicholas is a Scribe, meaning that he writes magical books.
Throughout the novel, we learn of the characters, the magic, and their connection through many ups and downs.
What I liked: I found this novel quite innovative and original. The theme of magical books has no doubt been done before, particularly in witchy settings, but I just thought this one was unique. Additionally, the writing style and prose were just lovely. I found it atmospheric but still grounded in modern times, which was an interesting touch. To me, this seemed to sway to the side of magical realism versus fantasy, but it is about magical books and spells, so I can see why it wouldn't necessarily be too close to real life. Either way, I just thought it worked so well. There were also a couple of twists and turns throughout this novel that I didn't see coming, which I always LOVE!
What didn't hit the mark: The beginning was slow, and while I loved the character development, once the connection was there between plots, I felt some things were a little rushed. That said, I gave this 4.5 stars, so it didn't impact my overall reading experience and love for the book.
I recommend this as a nice in between of magical realism, contemporary literature, and fantasy. It was super readable, yet poetic at times, and I loved the plot. I look forward to checking out this author's other works in the future!
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Alcohol