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bookph1le's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this. The underlying message was interesting, but this just felt so wordy to me. I kept wanting it to get to the point.
laineyb's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
misswinchester84's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jessdone's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a wonderful experience. The prose were beautiful. The story and characters spoke to me in a way nothing else in this series has so far. I related better to this protagonist and story than I had almost anything else this year. Very delightful and a phenomenal take on an unreliable narrator.
blackcatkai's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
CW: blood, gore, death (child & adult), animal death (off-page, found after the fact), sexual harassment/assault of a minor, murder, bullying
puberty sucks, this one focusing on the too often true afab peoples experience with it. some of the real dangers that can come with that from the perspective of Mia & how she attempts to cope with & overcome it. I really liked this one.
puberty sucks, this one focusing on the too often true afab peoples experience with it. some of the real dangers that can come with that from the perspective of Mia & how she attempts to cope with & overcome it. I really liked this one.
debsfielding583's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hectaizani's review against another edition
3.0
One of a series of seven horror(ish) stories that are being offered to Amazon Prime members in the Dark Corners collection.
This story started off really slowly. It moved along about the speed of a glacier. Which for a short story/novella is not great pacing. Protagonist Mia is being harassed at school so she takes refuge in a vacant lot populated by feral cats. She becomes obsessed with said cats to the point that she practically wants to live amongst them. So she's a little weird, and well on her way to crazy cat lady status at thirteen but that's not horrific just a little sad.
The story picks up when her mother starts dating again after the divorce. Mia's mom remarries and that's when the horror element comes into play. Mia's new stepdad starts to show Mia a little too much attention in all the wrong ways. In the end, he gets what he deserves.
The cat, Miao Dao, is far and away the best character in the entire story and the reader can never be sure if she's a normal cat or has some element of the supernatural. All in all, not terrible but not great.
This story started off really slowly. It moved along about the speed of a glacier. Which for a short story/novella is not great pacing. Protagonist Mia is being harassed at school so she takes refuge in a vacant lot populated by feral cats. She becomes obsessed with said cats to the point that she practically wants to live amongst them. So she's a little weird, and well on her way to crazy cat lady status at thirteen but that's not horrific just a little sad.
The story picks up when her mother starts dating again after the divorce. Mia's mom remarries and that's when the horror element comes into play. Mia's new stepdad starts to show Mia a little too much attention in all the wrong ways. In the end, he gets what he deserves.
The cat, Miao Dao, is far and away the best character in the entire story and the reader can never be sure if she's a normal cat or has some element of the supernatural. All in all, not terrible but not great.
thatweirdbookgirlie's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Despite a somewhat predictable ending, I really enjoyed this short story. A girl becoming a woman, dealing with teasing at school as well as a new menacing stepfather. The writing is absolutely superb, as can be expected from Oates.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual harassment