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le_lobey's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
2.5
This was ok. Written fairly well, but I really didn't care for the pig latin variant the twins used to talk to one another -- or that Kahler felt the need to translate it each time, even though we'd long learned to read it.
A lot of the action in the first half wasn't particularly gripping for me, and I think in many cases was only inserted to pay off later revelations. I guess it felt like it was written back to front. She goes to back room poker games because that's how they used evangelize for the Plan . How'd she end up at the game though? Well I guess we'll give her a love interest that will enable her sister's later betrayal . At Violet's behest I guess? Because so much of the first act came off as inconsequential I really struggled to get into the book. It was a lot more interesting once the cult stuff entered the picture.
A lot of the action in the first half wasn't particularly gripping for me, and I think in many cases was only inserted to pay off later revelations. I guess it felt like it was written back to front. She goes to back room poker games because
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Car accident, and Violence
spenceee_14's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book is very well-written and mysterious. It took until about halfway through the book before I found myself really connected with the characters and interested in their story, but it was an enjoyable read overall. I like the format of flicking back and forth from the present to the past and slowly learning about Kat and Jude's childhood throughout the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
cameragirl2003's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Netgalley ARC
The first part of this book caught my interest and I quite enjoyed the relationship between Sab and Kat. However the plot as well as the rest of the book felt very predictable and flat for me. I didn’t warm to the main characters even though the things they went through were horrific.
Don’t know that I would read more from this author. The best thing for me was the cover! I love rabbits!
QUOTE: “the pain of her own presence hits her acutely.”
The first part of this book caught my interest and I quite enjoyed the relationship between Sab and Kat. However the plot as well as the rest of the book felt very predictable and flat for me. I didn’t warm to the main characters even though the things they went through were horrific.
Don’t know that I would read more from this author. The best thing for me was the cover! I love rabbits!
QUOTE: “the pain of her own presence hits her acutely.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse
thrillyourdarlings's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
eachz's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
UPDATE
I feel the need to knock this down a point after realizing the full extent of the author's using a real story for the plot. I did know upfront that she was inspired by a true story of twins where one had an accident that left him with almost total amnesia other than remembering his twin's face and name. But then I learned thatthe real life twins were in fact both victims of sexual abuse as children which the remembering twin tried to protect his brother from. Knowing this made the authors treatment feel cheap and kinda gross.
Original review below.
Positives
I really tore through the first half of this book; it's really gripping in its mystery. The back and forth timeline is employed well, and Kat's journey of self (re)discovery is interesting to follow along with.
Negatives
I found the end less than satisfying -- a lot of the reveals/resolutions frankly didn't make sense.
For example:
Violet's blackmail was a primary impetus of the conflict. But supposedly the twins ran away around the same time as Jude's betrayal/Violet getting sent to the big house. But the twins get rescued by Violet's mother only days after they run away. Why wouldn't she retrieve her daughter as soon as she found out what was going on??
That was my biggest plot confusion but there were lots of little things too. And aside from Kat, I found most of the characters pretty flat.
I feel the need to knock this down a point after realizing the full extent of the author's using a real story for the plot. I did know upfront that she was inspired by a true story of twins where one had an accident that left him with almost total amnesia other than remembering his twin's face and name. But then I learned that
Original review below.
Positives
I really tore through the first half of this book; it's really gripping in its mystery. The back and forth timeline is employed well, and Kat's journey of self (re)discovery is interesting to follow along with.
Negatives
I found the end less than satisfying -- a lot of the reveals/resolutions frankly didn't make sense.
For example:
That was my biggest plot confusion but there were lots of little things too. And aside from Kat, I found most of the characters pretty flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Trafficking, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Animal death, Gun violence, and Car accident
melvisjean's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Child death, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Gun violence
lildawnprince's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Excrement, Trafficking, Death, Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, and Suicide
Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, and Child abuse
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Drug use, and Drug abuse
luverbyrd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Pedophilia, Car accident, Sexual content, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Gaslighting
cheriepie's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Slow to start and build, and I nearly put it down in several places but kept going just to see where it would go. It's fine, but didn’t really wow me. Which is a shame because I loved all the elements of this! The execution was just poor. Loved Sab though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
A new-age cult is the cornerstone of this book.andiethegreat's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was incredible. I'm going to keep this review spoiler free but I was so pleased that it was not predictable as some thrillers are.
There are themes explored in this book that I was not expecting, but they were approached tastefully and were obviously well researched. Read this book.
There are themes explored in this book that I was not expecting, but they were approached tastefully and were obviously well researched. Read this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Car accident, Child abuse, and Gun violence