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ana_rooth's reviews
171 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
- 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? Yes
3.75
I love a Faustian bargain story, and this is no exception. Our protagonist Addie Larue makes a deal with a god of darkness to live a life completely free in exchange for her soul. In true trickster fashion, there's a drawback: Addie has complete freedom from people's memories. No one who meets or sees her can ever remember her but after 200+ years, someone finally does.
The most interesting thing about Addie Larue is that she is a creature powered by spite seemingly. She's stubborn and refuses to give up just because she doesn't want to lose. This is amusing to both me and Luc, our villain and "Mephistopheles". It's hard to really describe Luc because he is, in the end, a personification of the concept of darkness. Then there's Henry, he's just...Henry.
The book is divided between the story told in the present interspersed with flashbacks, and I found myself much more interested in the flashbacks. The storyline told throughout the present was interesting for me while the mystery of Henry and who he was, was hanging over me. I wanted to know why he was the only person who remembered Addie, at one point I was convinced he was Luc who put himself in a human body like Doctor Who. But once that mystery was solved, I went back to not caring about that storyline (or Henry). I was a lot more interested in the dynamic between Luc and Addie.
After the reveal of Henry's character, it was hard for me to read those present sections of the book, I found myself almost skimming the pages so I could get to a flashback chapter. It seems like the real story Schwab wanted to tell was in the past, and she was just writing those present-time moments with Henry because she needed them to get to the novel's conclusion.
That being said, I was satisfied with the ending. It was written ambiguously but to me, I feel like I know what happened exactly afterward. I would recommend this novel, it's charming and the prose is clear but melodic.
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
There were moments I felt were a bit rushed or abrupt, especially when moving from exposition to action. Perhaps this was a literary device to show how suddenly violence can break out, but for me it was a little jarring. I also found myself frustrated with Nena at times, I was really ready to fist fight this girl in certain chapters.. There’s some inconsistency with Nena’s attitude. Sometimes she is opinionated and loud, sometimes she is meek and subservient, and always I questioned… “what are you doing girl?” But she does redeem herself in the end.
It’s not a terribly deep story, the author is pretty straightforward about what she’s trying to say. Still, this is an exciting fast paced adventure, and totally worth reading for a lot of fun!
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25