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esterbolmenas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I coveted this to be a lot more in style like Conenience Store Woman, and had I read the tags before I might not have bought it on my book ban đ but still
Somehow I couldnât put it down?
Plottwists - reinvented. I was so shocked, especially after the last chapter, but also by the progression of the book itself. Absolutely heartbreaking, but cannot for the life of me understand Why one of the cover review says âhilariousâ???
It is so interesting when thinking back on âHow far would you go to be yourselfâ, and where everything âwent wrongâ. Brings me back to Wicked âare people bron wicked, or do they have wickedness turist upon themâ.
I also quite enjoyed rethinking âEarthling ideasâ, the way they do in the last chapter. Like what does it actually mean to live in human structures and ideas about sleep, awakeness; what do we do simply because someone told us versus perhaps ânatural instinctsâ.
Gonna need to think a bit about this oneâŚ
Somehow I couldnât put it down?
Plottwists - reinvented. I was so shocked, especially after the last chapter, but also by the progression of the book itself. Absolutely heartbreaking, but cannot for the life of me understand Why one of the cover review says âhilariousâ???
It is so interesting when thinking back on âHow far would you go to be yourselfâ, and where everything âwent wrongâ. Brings me back to Wicked âare people bron wicked, or do they have wickedness turist upon themâ.
I also quite enjoyed rethinking âEarthling ideasâ, the way they do in the last chapter. Like what does it actually mean to live in human structures and ideas about sleep, awakeness; what do we do simply because someone told us versus perhaps ânatural instinctsâ.
Gonna need to think a bit about this oneâŚ
masteryoda542's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Weird.
chuckstafer's review against another edition
4.0
Wow wow wow. This novel got unhinged in such an unexpected way in the final chapter and it really turned the book around!
There were parts of this novel that were very cringy, but it was also full of heart and understanding at the same time. I think this was a hard tale for me to read due to the evident abuse that the main character (and some of the supporting characters) endured by their parents and the rest of their community that really broke them. Some of the things other characters (especially Natsuki's mother) said to her were horrible and I had a hard time reading how she was being treated at some points. To me, this was a very difficult story to read due to how horrible people can be to each other, especially to those who are clearly reaching out for help.
But all that aside, this was a good novel overall that I think suffered from an issue with some extra fluff that could have been cut out, but nothing that severely hindered the story or anything like that.
There were parts of this novel that were very cringy, but it was also full of heart and understanding at the same time. I think this was a hard tale for me to read due to the evident abuse that the main character (and some of the supporting characters) endured by their parents and the rest of their community that really broke them. Some of the things other characters (especially Natsuki's mother) said to her were horrible and I had a hard time reading how she was being treated at some points. To me, this was a very difficult story to read due to how horrible people can be to each other, especially to those who are clearly reaching out for help.
But all that aside, this was a good novel overall that I think suffered from an issue with some extra fluff that could have been cut out, but nothing that severely hindered the story or anything like that.
bunny18's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.25
This was one of the strangest, most sickening books Iâve ever read.
It takes skill to write stories like this!
It takes skill to write stories like this!
shirumoon's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
In the first one or two chapters, I was so enthralled with what I'm reading, both stylistically and the setup of the story but unfortunately it didn't unfold in a way that I would have wanted to. Some things that I disliked:
The main character is kind of running in circles, no matter how much time passes. Sure, might have been a deliberate choice and trauma does stifle your development but the main character's struggling just felt redundant at some point. Also what I generally fail to relate to is that endless enduring offamily absue and coercion but I guess that's an integral part to the book's social commentary on Asian culture and family dynamics. It was frustrating to read though and made it predictable that at some point... they would lose it. And then the gore increased to unneccessary levels.
To be honest, I'm not quite sure whether I struggled more with the idea of the book itself or with the execution? It just didn't feel new and revelatory to me, just not really a deeper message there beneath that one layer of critizising society. Nicely written nevertheless and it had good pacing.
The main character is kind of running in circles, no matter how much time passes. Sure, might have been a deliberate choice and trauma does stifle your development but the main character's struggling just felt redundant at some point. Also what I generally fail to relate to is that endless enduring of
To be honest, I'm not quite sure whether I struggled more with the idea of the book itself or with the execution? It just didn't feel new and revelatory to me, just not really a deeper message there beneath that one layer of critizising society. Nicely written nevertheless and it had good pacing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Murder, Body horror, Cannibalism, Incest, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Mental illness, Blood, Physical abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Alcohol, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Infertility
whyhihi's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
willow1113's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Blood, Sexual content, Bullying, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault