I disliked most things about this book. The characters fell into one of three categories: either they were villainous to the extreme with no redeeming qualities and therefore fell flat for the lack of nuance, they were minor players that were part of the scenery and fell flat for lack of depth, or they were simpering and boring and fell flat for lack of making me as a reader care. There was nothing interesting about any of them. The story was also gruesome, which I detested. I was not expecting explicit details of sexual assault, eating disorder, abuse, etc. and I would have skipped it all together had I known beforehand. In addition to being gruesome, the story was also poorly paced and plotted. The big reveal was no big surprise, and while it might have had an impact had it occurred earlier in the story, as it is, it was yet another aspect that fell flat. To the author's credit, I was desperate to know how the story ended, and I did skim the last several chapters because I simply had to know how all of the pieces resolved. The writing seemed to fluctuate between an almost impressionistic style (In the House in the Dark of the Woods came to mind several times during my reading) and a more standard modern fantasy style. Both styles were good, but the fluctuation between the two gave me whiplash. All in all, this felt like the author's therapy, and while this may not bother some readers, and may even be helpful to others, as a therapist in my day to day life I want escapism in my books and this most certainly did not deliver. ( )

this was just too much for me, too sad, too dark, too descriptive, too stressful, etc. can see why somebody else might like it but not for me ( )

3/5

Now. I didn't hate this. But I didn't really love it, either.

The writing was beautiful. Reid's prose made this bleak world brim with atmosphere, and it was really gripping.

I also really liked when she would tell fairy tales and weave their themes into the story. That is always something I really like

But. You know me. I did have some qualms. Mostly, the plot and the ending fell flat. It left me really disappointed. I was given the promise of dark, gothic horror. The author did deliver in her lyrically morose writing, but I was left ultimately unsatisfied.

And I think it's really lame that Marlinchen got a happy ending. At least, if she had a happy ending, it should have been a girl boss moment where maybe she became her father. A little more insane, a little less happily ever after. More unhinged maniacal witch goes crazy after being stomped on and repressed. I never got the catharsis I was seeking there, I dunno.

To that point (the one of romance), I do like Sevas, but GOD does it feel like it's just sex. Oh and they're both lonely and don't want to be alone bcuz shared trauma. Lol. I did really like the scene where he looked at her in the mirror. And it makes enough sense that they like each other. Just not the direction I wanted the story to go in. She should have kiiiilllllled hiiiiiiim. or something

( )

Strong ending, but for a good deal of the book, our protagonist's main personality trait is meek, with which is difficult to identify. The protagonist makes it very clear she's not a teenager, but the character is a young adult, and for much of the book, the character acts like a child. Part of this characterization is relevant to the plot, but it's also difficult to relate to her childish behavior.

I loved the setting: fantasy Eastern Europe, on the verge of being overrun with Western ideas. There's early 20th-century sciences mixed with old world magic, and there's an opulent ballet theater next to the slums: the imagery is wonderful.

Overall, it's not a bad first novel, and I look forward to seeing stronger characterization in future novels.

4.5

this was deliciously dark.
Do check the trigger warnings.
I loved the characters - good and bad.
I loved the setting and the magic and the romance.
I was satisfied by the ending.
It wasn't what I was expecting but color me impressed. ( )