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unboxedjack's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The premise of criminals, hardened and violent, being offered a chance at a second life compliments of some miraculous memory erasing technology was an interesting conceit at best. This book did raise some interesting questions about what makes someone "worthy" of redemption, how trauma impacts and perhaps connects us, and the nature of evil. All the same, Sternbergh seemed to rush through elements of the plot too quickly (hello there cobbled together explanation of deliberate memory loss) and his characterizations often felt maudlin, exaggerated, and/or stereotypical. Perhaps that's simply the nature of the sort of western thriller genre, which is not my usual cup of tea, but it grated at times. All the same, an enjoyable, escapist read worthy of 3 stars.
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, and Medical trauma
Minor: Torture, Suicide, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Sexism
mdinkle1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Cursing, and Animal death
fujo_cat's review
I tried multiple times before I ended up dropping it, but this became such a disappointment :(( I was expecting something witty and mysterious, but I'm just uninterested... Maybe I don't like Westerns, but every character felt empty and unlikeable and the plot itself didn't grab my interest at all.
Graphic: Murder and Confinement
Moderate: Blood
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