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hauntthetale's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Body horror
Moderate: Murder and Violence
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
words_and_dreams's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This was meh.
Concept sounded great, a guy whose grandmother wrote a series of childrens books about a magical world finds out the world is real but messed up. Somehow the author made this concept dull.
The world is basically Narnia and If I could have a pound for everytime Narnia is referenced I could buy a more enjoyable book. The begining was slow, the ending rushed. I looked forward to a deliciously dark world with magic and threat. The author however literally took all of the magic and turned it into vague science.
It was meta, overly cynical and not as clever or as amusing as it thought it was.
Concept sounded great, a guy whose grandmother wrote a series of childrens books about a magical world finds out the world is real but messed up. Somehow the author made this concept dull.
The world is basically Narnia and If I could have a pound for everytime Narnia is referenced I could buy a more enjoyable book. The begining was slow, the ending rushed. I looked forward to a deliciously dark world with magic and threat. The author however literally took all of the magic and turned it into vague science.
It was meta, overly cynical and not as clever or as amusing as it thought it was.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Body horror, and Murder
gilnean's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Mental illness
Moderate: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Ableism, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Rape, Alcohol, Death, Cursing, Blood, Murder, Violence, and Gore
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