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dev921'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Murder, Alcoholism, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Grief
throwback682's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As someone said on Reddit, “I think that it’s an entertaining ghost story that is better as a deconstruction of abusive relationships.” and I couldn’t put it better myself. If you’re not reading this book as allegory then you’re fucking up. Part of me thinks the comparisons were laid on a bit thick, but given the amount of people who didn’t seem to read it this way, maybe not. I also thought it was very funny, especially the early chapters, but again many folks don’t seem to see the humor.
Yes I guessed a twist way ahead of time but it was also sort of not the point - a slight red herring for a bigger twist.
In short: it was a funny, spooky book, that dealt with very heavy and potentially triggering subject matter in a novel way.
I think everything people complained about in other reviews (the annoying, infuriating daughter; the repetitiveness) all served a purpose. I think it worked really well.
I just wish it hadn’t relied on ableist stereotypes/stigmas against mentally ill folks, is truly my only real complaint.
Read with caution if you’ve been a victim of intimate partner violence.
Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Ableism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcoholism
Moderate: Child abuse and Confinement
Minor: Forced institutionalization
Tons of body horror and blood throughout, including involving children. The entire book is an allegory for an abusive relationship involving alcoholism. Mentally ill people are stigmatized as violent.kjnavillus's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Gore, Domestic abuse, Death, Child death, and Alcoholism
tew_11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Body horror, Vomit, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Blood, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, and Violence
randeerebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and Abandonment
anissawren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Suicide, Murder, and Police brutality
Minor: Dementia, Self harm, Cannibalism, and Forced institutionalization
karalynaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Child abuse, Alcohol, Violence, Self harm, Mental illness, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Gore, Emotional abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, and Dementia
archaicrobin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Filled with real and supernatural terrors, this book was addictive and hard to out down. Highly recommend especially if you love haunted house horror.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Animal death, Child abuse, Gore, Murder, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Child death, Blood, Dementia, Torture, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
shantuck13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Body horror, Alcoholism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Dementia, Confinement, Suicide, and Gaslighting
hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Violence, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Domestic abuse