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alisbleu'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gun violence, and Suicide attempt
gudrqa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I might've enjoyed it more if I didn't pick up an audiobook version. I didn't like the voices the lector was making.
I couldn't really care for the characters except one
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Excrement, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death
solarel's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.0
I’m conflicted a bit. While I enjoyed the main two characters, Abitha and Samson, I found the plot as a whole to be very… typical?
Samson’s story was by far the most interesting plot line. I enjoyed watching him struggle to find who he really is. Is he the monster or the savior? Abitha however, her story felt not just predictable but inevitable. The last third of the book is pure torture porn, and she did not grow as a character. She is merely an instrument of a vengeance arc.
I saw a lot of reviewers say this story was very white. And I think I see what they mean. I don’t know what the author’s religious background is, but this read as a very Christian framed story. People said this was a horror novel. I didn’t find it scary, only sad. People were the villain. Puritan culture was the villain. And yet it still felt like it was still validating their beliefs in the end with what was supposed to be the “horror”.
I don’t know if that makes sense, but “pagan” aspects were not rooted in lore beyond that of Christianity. I guess that’s what made it feel like more of a fantasy masquerade of a pagan story of blurred good and evil.
Stars for ambiance and entertainment only.
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Torture, Xenophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Body horror, Colonisation, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Violence, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
rachelblair'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Torture, Colonisation, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Animal cruelty, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Animal death
alreads97's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Body horror, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Misogyny, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
sha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Blood, Animal death, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence
hasinashah'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Xenophobia, Violence, Gore, Sexism, War, and Body horror
liebstebunni's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Minor: Cursing and Emotional abuse
dominika_lorazo'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
4.5
Characters are good. Main characters are lovable. Even Forest who is a small antagonist is well written (good motivation even if his actions are questionable sometimes). Some of the villains can seem cliche but their actions seem appropriate for their time period (And some people are just assholes). This point was more than redeemed by the antagonists (the wildfolk). The shaman was probably my least favourite.
The story has a medium-pace. Some say it’s slow-paced in the middle and it’s true but it’s still entertaining (might be hard if you have a short attention span though). The beginning and ending have more of a dark fairy tale, horror genre. The middle of the story is more whimsical. The ending is very “happily ever after” and I never minded those.
Things I liked:
- the historical - witchy feel.
- dark but magical like a fairy tale
- Forest annoyed me sometimes but his motives were so good I ended up feeling bad for him and liking his character
-the overall addition of folklore and native folklore
Things I disliked
-Abitha died at the end but came back to life. It cheapened her death and the effect it had on Samson. But except for that, the rest of the happily ever after was exactly how I hoped it would go.
-The world building could have been better. I wish there was more emphasis on the folklore (the Wildfolk and spirits). It was more of a backstory in the book, the main focus was on Abitha and her female empowerment/ girl boss story which is not necessarily bad. However, I wish we had more of that folklore/ fairy tale magic
TW:
racism and colonialism- It is appropriate for the time period. The racist characters were the villains. I would say the main characters were more respectful.
Blood, gore and violence- it was graphic but not extremely terrible (I’ve definitely seen worse)
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Murder, and Misogyny
Moderate: Classism and Colonisation
Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism
TW: racism and colonialism- It is appropriate for the time period. The racist characters were the mostly the villains. I would say the main characters were more respectful. Blood, gore and violence- it was graphic but not extremely terrible (I’ve definitely seen worse)nchipp'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Grief, Racism, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Colonisation, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, and Rape