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kolakubez07's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Firstly we have two sisters, Iris and Rose, Iris always dreamt of becoming a famous artist and Rose the owner of a doll shop. Then we have Silas who owns a rather odd emporium and makes art out of dead animals and things and is infatuated by Iris. Lastly we have Louis who is a painter!
The scene is set in 1853 and Iris meets Louis who helps teach her to draw and paint in return for modelling for one of his paintings.
It’s a story of love, jealousy and loss from what I’ve gathered and even now I’m still not 100% sure I’ve followed the ending right.
I can’t say I’ve enjoyed it but then I can’t say I didn’t but I did finish it even if it has left me confused!
Graphic: Animal cruelty
dorien_s's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Drug use, Sexism, Excrement, Medical content, and Classism
kathymn's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Sexual content
hocuscrocus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The thing I appreciated the most is how so delightfully balanced the author is with her details. She doesn't shy away from how gross Victorian London was, but she doesn't use it for shock value, either. She is clearly well-researched in the history and language of the time, but she doesn't spoon feed the reader with it.
It was truly a delight to read.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
hollyberry_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Cursing and Vomit
rhiancmoore's review against another edition
The start of the story was amazing and then it was like all those strands were dropped. It was if there were multiple versions of the story written (one a romance, one a gothic, another a thriller) and then merged together. As such it felt a little disjointed and I could not settle into the read at all.
The characters could not save it for me and in fact at least one of the POVs could have been cut and we would not have noticed. Iris had so much promise.
Graphic: Animal cruelty
pattyblom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Murder
linguaphile412's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Child death and Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
pages_with_a_preoccupied_prin'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
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
pollydye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Sexual content, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness