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antarcticsloth's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The characters were lovable and the humor was well-timed! Lots of interesting concepts and a great look into grief and PTSD with a side of the supernatural.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Death
The book deals a great deal with the characters PTSD so definitely be aware of that and proceed as is comfortable for you.poppymopey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
4.25
I loved the premise of the book. I thought it was unique how PTSD and it's affects on you are explored.
The execution disappointed a bit. It's not a badly written book by any stretch. In fact, I found the prose beautiful, the characters compelling, and the magical realism great. The plot is interesting too. I love the allegory of the flood.
The problem was that it was confusing. So much information is withheld until the end that it kind of feels like pulling teeth getting the narrative to tell you what the **** is happening. I think that also affected the pace of the book, slowed it down too much. Or at least it created that illusion as no matter through how many major events we went through, there was still too much mystery to uncover. Disclaimer: I will say that I have ADHD so my attention span is short, and i get impatient easily. I did try my best to give the story time, to really take it in, but at times it got incredibly frustrating.
That is my only dislike though. Everything else was really well-done!
The execution disappointed a bit. It's not a badly written book by any stretch. In fact, I found the prose beautiful, the characters compelling, and the magical realism great. The plot is interesting too. I love the allegory of the flood.
The problem was that it was confusing. So much information is withheld until the end that it kind of feels like pulling teeth getting the narrative to tell you what the **** is happening. I think that also affected the pace of the book, slowed it down too much. Or at least it created that illusion as no matter through how many major events we went through, there was still too much mystery to uncover. Disclaimer: I will say that I have ADHD so my attention span is short, and i get impatient easily. I did try my best to give the story time, to really take it in, but at times it got incredibly frustrating.
That is my only dislike though. Everything else was really well-done!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Car accident and Gaslighting
joulesmargot's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Death
mossthatcanread's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
this book is brilliant and helped me process some things I had gone/ am going through. I loved every page and every character. every character was well rounded and believable as People
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Grief, Death, and Car accident
thisblondeisbooked's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mental illness, and Death
uncommonloon's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Really conflicted on how to feel about this one. It was really hard for me to get invested in the beginning because we are kind of dropped into Rose's life and this weird town without anything being really explained. I was pretty confused for about the first third of the book and found it hard to follow the emotional throughline. There is a lot of characters implying things that other characters immediately understand, but that I didn't (could be a me thing, honestly ...) However in about the last third or so I understood a bit more and was more invested in the characters. Overall, this was a pretty sweet, sensitive, and heartfelt story about moving on from trauma. Because it took so long to get into, though, I can't fully say that I recommend it, and I probably won't be rereading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Mental illness
spinesinaline's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
I really liked this one. I'll have to get a finished copy cuz I'd love to read the acknowledgments, I think they'd be really meaningful. Thanks to the publisher for an e-ARC!
This was such a creative approach to visualizing PTSD, and I can’t speak from an own voices perspective but I really loved the representation Mahoney has offered teens in her book.
It’s noted as fantasy but there’s a little bit of mystery and some horror mixed in. Nothing too scary but the author has noted her inspiration from the horror genre and some of the mystery build-up is definitely reminiscent of this. I do love that it’s young adult so that teens can see these characters with mental illnesses and histories of trauma and feel less alone or at least recognize friends and family and perhaps gain a better understanding of what they’re going through.
We find out right away about Gaby’s death (off-page) but not what happened or why Rose is so terrified and seems to have run away. This mystery builds throughout and as we get the story from Rose’s perspective, it creates an especially tense mood as we’re experiencing her PTSD through her and waiting at every moment for something bad to happen. I was so on edge for much of the book and it was such a visceral way to understand how PTSD can affect someone.
It wasn’t a totally perfect read for me as I felt one reveal near the end very obvious, and I didn’t fully understand the main climax of the conflict. I would’ve preferred if this was more explicitly described after so much build-up rather than the subtle understanding that passes between characters and felt difficult to grasp.
I don’t know the Odyssey well enough to pick up on tie-ins and was completely surprised when I saw the author mention it was a loose retelling, but I’d love to reread it with a better understanding of the epic and spot the connections.
This was such a creative approach to visualizing PTSD, and I can’t speak from an own voices perspective but I really loved the representation Mahoney has offered teens in her book.
It’s noted as fantasy but there’s a little bit of mystery and some horror mixed in. Nothing too scary but the author has noted her inspiration from the horror genre and some of the mystery build-up is definitely reminiscent of this. I do love that it’s young adult so that teens can see these characters with mental illnesses and histories of trauma and feel less alone or at least recognize friends and family and perhaps gain a better understanding of what they’re going through.
We find out right away about Gaby’s death (off-page) but not what happened or why Rose is so terrified and seems to have run away. This mystery builds throughout and as we get the story from Rose’s perspective, it creates an especially tense mood as we’re experiencing her PTSD through her and waiting at every moment for something bad to happen. I was so on edge for much of the book and it was such a visceral way to understand how PTSD can affect someone.
It wasn’t a totally perfect read for me as I felt one reveal near the end very obvious, and I didn’t fully understand the main climax of the conflict. I would’ve preferred if this was more explicitly described after so much build-up rather than the subtle understanding that passes between characters and felt difficult to grasp.
I don’t know the Odyssey well enough to pick up on tie-ins and was completely surprised when I saw the author mention it was a loose retelling, but I’d love to reread it with a better understanding of the epic and spot the connections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Medical content
Minor: Blood
agradstudentreadsforfun's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Death
Minor: Child death and Violence
cravebooks's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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