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livlaughlit's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I thought the writing style was somewhat unsophisticated and repetitive, with Hannah often implying something and then immediately clarifying what she meant, just in case we hadn’t picked up on the nuance. Regardless, the pervasive anachronisms were the real bug-bear for me. On every other page, there was an error that made me roll my eyes (oral antibiotics? A Flemish farmer smoking like a true Frenchman? The flippant mention of concentration camps on official warnings?). This read as Historical Fanfiction, rather than a well-researched piece of Historical Fiction. It was also extremely forgiving of Vichy France’s passing antisemitic legislation independently of Nazi requirements.
Too often, the characters were reduced to flat stereotypes, and the development of the romantic plots were poorly paced (especially between Isabelle and Gaetan). I was also unconvinced by Isabelle and Vianne’s relationship, which seemed not to develop much at all.
Graphic: Antisemitism, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, War, Xenophobia, Child death, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Torture, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, and Sexual violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Miscarriage
ldod's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Terminal illness, Torture, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Cancer, Rape, War, Misogyny, Infertility, Murder, Grief, Genocide, Death of parent, and Child death
xandrav's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcohol, Rape, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Genocide, Death, Miscarriage, War, Sexual assault, Violence, Alcoholism, and Excrement
kyrstin_p1989'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Cancer, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Confinement, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Bullying, Kidnapping, Medical content, Torture, Blood, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, War, and Pregnancy
kaylokay_'s review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, War, Death of parent, Genocide, Gun violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Ableism, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Grief, Rape, Antisemitism, Biphobia, Child death, Confinement, Death, Deportation, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Cancer
sierrabowers's review against another edition
- 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? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Vomit, Violence, War, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Genocide, Grief, Sexual assault, Blood, Cursing, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Torture, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Cancer, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual violence
cadybooks's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Deportation, Grief, Misogyny, Violence, War, Alcohol, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Blood, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Child death, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual content
emmabunny's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Torture, Child death, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, War, Grief, Genocide, and Death
bxnny'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Slavery, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Vomit, Xenophobia, Murder, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Blood, Deportation, Hate crime, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Violence, Child death, Death, Genocide, and War
Moderate: Police brutality, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Excrement, Homophobia, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Sexism
redefiningrachel'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
5.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Murder, Torture, Child death, Grief, Genocide, Confinement, War, Violence, Misogyny, Death, Death of parent, Deportation, Antisemitism, and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Gore, Medical content, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Blood, and Cancer
Minor: Cursing