This was an incredibly slow start, taking over half the book for events in the blurb to start happening and the main POVs didn't have anything to do wThis was an incredibly slow start, taking over half the book for events in the blurb to start happening and the main POVs didn't have anything to do with each other until nearly the end. The final quarter was really good though. There were sections from Anita's POV and her husband's, that while happening in the same time frame, were told out of order in a way that confused me. It didn't serve a narrative purpose, just seemed scattered. For instance, Anita would narrate day 3, and then Jack would narrate a party that happened on day 2, and next Anita was explaining days 1 and 2, which we already knew about. There was also no satisfaction regarding Jack's storyline.
What I LOVED most was the commentary on how, often, when white men are teaching the classes, women and BIPOC get left out of the story altogether....more
Better than the first book, but lacking literally all the depth, charm, and characterization of the Netflix series. That whole cast and crew make diamBetter than the first book, but lacking literally all the depth, charm, and characterization of the Netflix series. That whole cast and crew make diamonds out of dust ....more
I watched the show (and mostly loved it) before reading this and have to say I prefer the show. Somehow, the rape and ableism are worse, and Simon andI watched the show (and mostly loved it) before reading this and have to say I prefer the show. Somehow, the rape and ableism are worse, and Simon and Daphne are completely toxic in the book. To me at least. I had a hard time getting over their deceptions.
The book does allow for more development of Daphne and Simon's inner thoughts - but that wasn't always a good thing. There is very little happening outside of their relationship. Marina wasn't a character at all. We barely saw the Featheringtons. Eloise got a handful of mentions but was never present. The BridgerBros were mostly background props. Overall, I thought the show did a better job at bring the whole story to life. Revoke my book nerd card, because I'll be sticking with the show.
PS- if your copy has the bonus 2nd epilogue, it spoils the future books/seasons....more
Story: ★★★☆☆ Great atmosphere! Frequent long stretches of dialogue that sadly took me out of that atmosphere. The particular subject matter is somethinStory: ★★★☆☆ Great atmosphere! Frequent long stretches of dialogue that sadly took me out of that atmosphere. The particular subject matter is something that makes me queasy.
Audio: ★★★☆☆ A little flat, but far from bad....more
This was 90s nostalgia heaven and the main friendship was enjoyable enough that I never wanted to DNF. But I find McCafferty's particular brand of sluThis was 90s nostalgia heaven and the main friendship was enjoyable enough that I never wanted to DNF. But I find McCafferty's particular brand of slut shaming humor too cringeworthy. I picked this up because of the 90s setting and to see if the aforementioned humor has improved since the Jess Darling series, but sadly I don't think it's going anywhere, no matter what decade she writes about....more
I totally understand why people either love this or hate this. It felt like a fluff piece, was predictable, and the characters may strike you as annoyI totally understand why people either love this or hate this. It felt like a fluff piece, was predictable, and the characters may strike you as annoying, but nonetheless I found it fun and absorbing. It's got a big dose of Sherlock inspiration and I would highly recommend this to fans of The Madman's Daughter trilogy.
tw: large amounts of gore, including dissections in detail....more
I had such a frenetic reading experience with this book that I cannot gather my thoughts. So well written! An interesting format and so immersive thatI had such a frenetic reading experience with this book that I cannot gather my thoughts. So well written! An interesting format and so immersive that you'd swear this was a real biography.
Audiobook review: TJR wrote this story intending it to be told via audio and you cannot convince me otherwise. Amazing. I saw a review saying the oral history format of the book didn't allow room for character development, but that was not the case with the audio. Maybe it's the skill of the narrators, but I did not find it lacking at all. They really brought their characters to life.
tw: addiction (current and recovered), excessive drug and alcohol use on page, cheating, unplanned pregnancy, abortion, divorce, toxic marriage....more
The audiobook was a fantastic production. Multiple skilled narrators, music, sound effects. You can tell it was crafted with passion.
Unfortunately, IThe audiobook was a fantastic production. Multiple skilled narrators, music, sound effects. You can tell it was crafted with passion.
Unfortunately, I hated the actual story. Just like her first book, there are parts that didn't feel necessary to the story. Too many focus points meant too many open threads at the end. I didn't enjoy how the 4 timelines wove together, not enough payoff for me.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if it had focused on only 1 pov, as the isolation of And The Trees Crept In better showcased Kurtagich's writing in my opinion (my preference only, others may feel differently of course).
Additionally, there are some outdated terms regarding disability, which while possibly understandable in the 1800s time period, were also in the present time period. I also didn't like how disability was treated as a punishment in one case.
Overall the gross out horror and the satanic lore just aren't my thing. The evil\scary things were so blatant that it lost that creep factor I prefer.
CW: torture, drowning, being burned at the stake, human surgical experiments, all sorts of corpses, apparitions, stillbirth, the actual devil...more
This was just not for me. Ahdieh's writing is not for me. Too much wandering prose so each scene takes forever to get through. I was bored and felt liThis was just not for me. Ahdieh's writing is not for me. Too much wandering prose so each scene takes forever to get through. I was bored and felt like the vampires were severely underdeveloped (no backstory, no lore). It felt like a very long build up to only get small reveals in the last chapter.
For reference, I wasn't a fan of the writing in her previous series, so I think it's safe to say that if you love her style your opinion on this one will probably be much higher than mine....more
This was the best of the trilogy because it played with time travel the best. I read them all back to back and I'm not sure how the books would reallyThis was the best of the trilogy because it played with time travel the best. I read them all back to back and I'm not sure how the books would really stand up on their own because there was definitely only one arc that you had to wait until book 3 to see any twists or payoff. One twist was soooooo transparent though, and I felt like this just could have done more with the cool premise.
Caution - LOTS of fat shaming throughout. I remember chapter 9 being pretty full of it. Descriptions like "his 15 double chins were wobbling," being likened to large animals, and fat characters always being out of breath. It was extra infuriating because the main character is so demeaning to fat characters (who are good guys, who she likes!), but when her cousin calls her fat she recognizes it as hurtful and is offended....more
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