M. > Recent Status Updates

This is my first review from NetGalley, so I really want to be able to say only positive things about this book. However, that would be an incomplete review.

I love the concept of Vasilisa and Old Rus. I have beautifully illustrated storybooks of Vasilisa the Beautiful and other Russian tales. The concept of overlapping the characters with World War I (or II? Unclear) is interesting. The world building is beautiful

As always I love a good fairytale/myth retelling. The links to Persephone’s travel into the underworld are clear but not overdone. A change in sky, forbidden fruit (blood I expect in this case, rather than a pomegranate). The spicy scenes are full on, definitely not a closed door, but they’re well written and thoughtful. Heroines with agency ftw.

I binged this far. As always VE Schwab delivers the layered, nuanced stories. I could say it’s super powereds x flatliners but that doesn’t even begin.

As someone who couldn’t get into Jonathan Strange, I am adoring this book and its mystery. I love unreliable narrators and parts even remind me of House of Leaves.

I’d give the first 75% a solid 4 stars. Not sure how I feel about the wrap up yet

I’m not sure I trust the narrator to understand the bigger picture and there are points that get mentioned that haven’t been followed up on and I’m not sure if it’s bad editing or purposeful obfuscation at this point…

Just swapped to the male narrator and may have to give up and get the physical book. Where do they find these people?

I’ve wanted to read this book for years but the audiobook narration was awful and I couldn’t get past the first chapter. Then I snagged a physical copy while traveling and I can’t recommend it enough. Less than halfway through and it is a masterpiece.

Loving it so far. The pronouns and slang are well handled. The characters and the plot so far very engaging.

Kind of getting annoyed at the antagonist here.
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Why is the assumption that women in power don’t understand science?! It would be much more compelling if, instead of a power hungry B, the president was a smart cookie and had an equally sound approach. Grrr

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Still want to hit all of them. Things I've learned: all women are obsessed with babies and domineering men; all men are controlling assholes; NYT bestseller status is not necessarily correlated with high quality. PLEASE let me not have figured it out within the first 10-20% of the book. Please.

Want to hit Rachel. If she's not the murderer I'm going to be pissed. Deserves whatever happens to her. Also, think the author listened to Serial?

Fascinating back story

Creepy. Loving it, but at one point realized it's best to keep the lights on. Listening to the audiobook

Creepy. Loving it, but at one point realized it's best to keep the lights on. Listening to the audiobook