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aarnireads's review against another edition
dnf at around halfway point. While I like the writing style and I feel for Grace, I just found myself getting bored. The plot, if there is was, didn't feel like it was really going anywhere.
ollieoxnfree's review against another edition
5.0
This. Damn. Book.
The sorrow, the anger, the rebellion. If you’re a woman (and some men/trans/NB, let’s be honest), you’ve probably gone to these dark places. You’ll never tell someone, but you have. This was such a good read. A fan for life.
The sorrow, the anger, the rebellion. If you’re a woman (and some men/trans/NB, let’s be honest), you’ve probably gone to these dark places. You’ll never tell someone, but you have. This was such a good read. A fan for life.
beeriley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Rape, Incest, Miscarriage, and Child abuse
bookkeeperdragon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mentalvoid's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
faeriesparks's review
4.0
4.5 stars
So many amazing female characters! I loved it!
This was such an enjoyable book. The story was really interesting and the characters were fantastic. I especially enjoyed the friendship/bond (?) between Grace and Thornhollow. They worked so well together - and it was purely platonic! Praise bless!
There were a lot of different themes (insanity/mental health, rape, feminism, etc.) worked into the story and it was done so well in my opinion.
I really wouldn't mind a sequel to this...
So many amazing female characters! I loved it!
This was such an enjoyable book. The story was really interesting and the characters were fantastic. I especially enjoyed the friendship/bond (?) between Grace and Thornhollow. They worked so well together - and it was purely platonic! Praise bless!
There were a lot of different themes (insanity/mental health, rape, feminism, etc.) worked into the story and it was done so well in my opinion.
I really wouldn't mind a sequel to this...
ingo_lembcke's review
4.0
As it was set in the late 19th century, not really my kind of book, but the idea and setting was great.
Took me a while to read, though, not much suspense.
Very well described and developed main character (heroine).
So, 4stars it is. If you like Asylum-Settings and mad people, I recommend giving this a try.
Took me a while to read, though, not much suspense.
Very well described and developed main character (heroine).
So, 4stars it is. If you like Asylum-Settings and mad people, I recommend giving this a try.
hjalte's review against another edition
DNF 2017 - I absolutely love Mindy so I just might try again.
fantasynovel's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
I've read one other book of Mindy's (The Female of the Species), and I LOVED it. Loved it with a capital L. I was a little wary going into this book because I was afraid it would fall into the old tropes of "people with mental illnesses are gross and scary". But, luckily, while the book scathingly indicts the practices of certain 19th century insane asylums, it also depicts people with mental illnesses as complex, full people. It also gives an example of a good mental health institution, which I think is important as there's so much unnecessary stigma associated with psychiatric hospitals--they weren't (slash aren't) all terrible, and their inhabitants have never been the monsters pop culture makes them out to be.
I've read one other book of Mindy's (The Female of the Species), and I LOVED it. Loved it with a capital L. I was a little wary going into this book because I was afraid it would fall into the old tropes of "people with mental illnesses are gross and scary". But, luckily, while the book scathingly indicts the practices of certain 19th century insane asylums, it also depicts people with mental illnesses as complex, full people. It also gives an example of a good mental health institution, which I think is important as there's so much unnecessary stigma associated with psychiatric hospitals--they weren't (slash aren't) all terrible, and their inhabitants have never been the monsters pop culture makes them out to be.