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jazdono's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The story seemed to have promise—an overbearing government driven by an obsession of controlling the country’s “culture” and education could have led to some amazing societal commentary—and the whole time, I was excited to see what exact commentary was being made. Instead, it felt like the author was afraid to commit to a “moral of the story”, and at the end, this book was just a love story with vague world building and a clumsy attempt at discussing sexism, homophobia, and classism. At one point, I even had to pause to look up whether this was a Christian/ religious book (ie, propaganda) that I had accidentally selected, but then later in the book, it felt distinctly anti-religion.
The other subplots, especially “The Rat”, were painfully boring and underdeveloped, and the ending was especially disappointing, leaving everything feeling unresolved. It feels like the author had no idea where any of the plot was going aside from the love story, and this book wasn’t even a romance.
Graphic: Sexism and Suicide
Moderate: Death of parent and Classism
Minor: Homophobia
risaleel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Suicide, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Mental illness, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
danicakvcs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, and Death of parent
lateromantic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
added a trigger warning for antisemitism because the persecution ofmilly33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I only gave 4 stars not 5 because characters and the plot did become very confusing and difficult to differentiate, and there seemed to be quite an irrelevant storyline of The Rat which became boring.
I also wish the Grand Jeu was explained properly because I spent so much of the book trying to understand what it was and just ended up more confused.
But I did love the portrayal and development of Carfax and Leo’s relationship.
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Sexism
rowanrelph's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism
angry_tortoise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
merenguita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Also, I don't mind that the author doesn't really explain what the grand jeu is but I do mind that she didn't explain what it's place in this society is (very light spoiler)
Also, this book could've been absolutley queer and the fact that it isn't annoys me
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexism, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault and Slavery
lindseyant's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I have a lot of thoughts about this book and not many of them are positive!! Sorry!
updating my rating months later after I spoke to someone about this book. I really didn't like it! It still leaves a bad taste months later and it irks me. Something is cursed about this book.
Moderate: Death, Sexism, and Suicide