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traa's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
saviinvhetin's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Things I liked:
- That bit at the end with Gromble (I’m only 70% sure this is his name but I already returned the ebook so I can’t check)
- The hopeful ending
- The concept of
a wayward home for displaced children’s novel creatures because that just sounds super fun and actually I wish there had been more of it instead of it just ending with them talking about setting it up - The folklore
Things I did not like:
- Most of the first half to two thirds of the book - the pacing was weird and stressful tbh, I think it was supposed to build suspense and anticipation but mostly I was bored or annoyed or stressed - and i almost stopped reading but then it got a bit interesting
- Parts of the grimdark deconstruction of portal fantasy stuff - I know that’s the bit most people are praising and I think the comparisons to the magicians and wayward children are apt, it’s very along the same lines and maybe even creepier, I’m just not sure the topic is something I like anymore
- Gromble the entire rest of the time
I doubt I’ll ever reread this but if I’m still interested in horror and they do a movie I might watch it. This would make a cool movie if it had a good props and special effects budget. The visual descriptions are very detailed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Mental illness, Murder, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Confinement
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