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gossamer_lens's Reviews (1.48k)
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Informative and leans into that with a bit more guesto then the first book did which I appreciate. It also goes into more history then the first did which I appreciated.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Solid and insightful. A bit young for my tastes and leaning into the informative a lot. But for what it is it is good and thoughtful.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very good. Love the alternative history/world aspect. Unlike some books that feel sorta odd "power fantasy" while feeling like they disparage the plight of people of the time... This book felt sci-fi and abstract enough to be a clear critic of a system and not the real impactes people of our world. The shortness of the work aids the message being given and I would highly recommend this book.
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this book. It was clearly well researched and I enjoyed the themes surrounding motherhood, sisterhood, being a daughter, etc. It was fascinating to learn about such an interesting culture and to learn more about the impact world wars have had on a place I'm not very familiar with.
dark
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was dark and slow and very literary. I enjoyed the technical writing of it a lot and found one of the characters quite endearing. It was dark in a sort of blurred and in the periphery way which I quite liked.
It was a pleasure to read this as a buddy read with my bestie so I could have a companion in exploring this book. I think it's a modern day classic for a reason. I've spent a few weeks now trying to pinpoint the things I loved and the things I hated... And I guess I just cannot express it better than this. In the end the things I liked won over the things that grated and I couldn't place. And I just keep thinking about it so here we are with a higher rating then I could have imagined giving it after initially finishing.
It was a pleasure to read this as a buddy read with my bestie so I could have a companion in exploring this book. I think it's a modern day classic for a reason. I've spent a few weeks now trying to pinpoint the things I loved and the things I hated... And I guess I just cannot express it better than this. In the end the things I liked won over the things that grated and I couldn't place. And I just keep thinking about it so here we are with a higher rating then I could have imagined giving it after initially finishing.
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Cannibalism, Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Child death
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Just charming. I loved the twist and felt very connected to the characters. The ending made me cry a little. It was a perfect ending for the story we were given. I only wish we had gotten a bit more of the main couple getting to interact in various scenes.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall a creepy and interesting short story collection. The below are my ratings for each short story. My rating for the book is the average of these:
3.75 - The Dirty Kid
4.25 - The Inn
2.75 - The Intoxicated Years
4.5 - Adela's Hours
5 - An Invocation of the Big-Eared Runt
3.5 - Spiderweb
4.75 - End of Term
4 - No Flesh Over Our Bones
4.25 - The Neighbot's Courtyard
3.5 - Under the Black Water
2.75 - Green Red Orange
4.75 - Things We Lost in the Fire
3.75 - The Dirty Kid
4.25 - The Inn
2.75 - The Intoxicated Years
4.5 - Adela's Hours
5 - An Invocation of the Big-Eared Runt
3.5 - Spiderweb
4.75 - End of Term
4 - No Flesh Over Our Bones
4.25 - The Neighbot's Courtyard
3.5 - Under the Black Water
2.75 - Green Red Orange
4.75 - Things We Lost in the Fire
Graphic: Death, Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol