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raesreadingcorner's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Death, Gore, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
kajoreads'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
3.75
There was lots of interesting lore involved. Unfortunately it got kinda incoherent at times, or maybe it just didn’t click for me. I was trying to figure out rules for the supernatural elements. Definitely not the right approach.
I really enjoyed Temple and her dad’s relationship. It was a twisted, abusive one, but it felt real. The flashbacks were well implemented imo.
Overall, it’s a strong debut. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for this author.
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Child death, and Gun violence
Minor: Drug use, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, Police brutality, and Ableism
thegoddessamongyou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Gore
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
At first, I honestly didn’t know if I was going to enjoy this book, because I was constantly getting go distracted while listening like it wasn’t capturing my attention enough. But wow! I was so surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this story. It definitely reminded me of You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron, which I also enjoyed.
It was so wild, and I love when a book has me anticipating what comes next. Temple’s family??? WILD. I was not expecting any of that! And I love how she is able to find a found family/real friendships in the midst of all the insanity that happens at the queer, girls camp. It’s a great YA horror novel, and I am looking forward to more from Sami Ellis!
Graphic: Death of parent, Cursing, Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
courtneys_shelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Gore, Blood, Violence, Death of parent, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Physical abuse, Stalking, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Body horror, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Homophobia
This book is incredibly intense, as it covers topics of abuse and family curses. However, for this who can read it, it Carrie’s an ultimately hopeful message, and watching a hopeless character grow to realize that she does indeed have hope and support and is ultimately good is worth the read.bookishmillennial's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Woweeeeeee! Whatever I thought this book was… well, that doesn’t matter. I was *wrong* !!! I find horror so delightful because I have no idea what to expect. Is this going to be a serial killer? Slasher? Paranormal horror? How much disbelief must I suspend to accept the story? It is always such an entertaining ride and I am so grateful to this genre for just letting me have fun!
Temple goes back to North Point Park, which has been turned into a queer horror-loving camp/retreat, which was awarded to about ten young women. Temple applies as a counselor, hiding her identity (her dad was the North Point Killer and this property was his home!) because she is desperate to find out what happened to her mom five years ago. She is 16 now, and her mom went missing five years ago. However, people begin to get murdered and Temple has to act quickly to figure out how to stop the killings and to get out alive!
Temple was funny, fierce, and a young woman on a mission! I appreciated her backstory of she knew some of the other girls, and how fearful she is of becoming like her murderous father. Some of the scenes towards the latter half of the book were so hard to read, specifically because I feel queasy whenever I read about deliberate child abuse😔
Anyway, I thought the reveals and the explanation for what was happening at this camp were incredibly wild! It felt like an ode to classic summer camp slasher films, but also stood strong enough on its own! There are interview transcripts of Temple’s father Thomas from his time in prison, as well as excerpts from this book that mirrored the reality of the NPK murders, which I felt worked really well & gave me a bit of context surrounding the social climate!
I will totally read more from Sami Ellis in the future, even if 3rd person, present-tense is not my fave !
Graphic: Violence, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Blood, Torture, Murder, Child death, Body horror, Death of parent, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Physical abuse
storiesatstarfall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Blood, Death, Gore, and Body horror
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Bullying, and Death of parent
Minor: Stalking
jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Unique, nothing I have read compares to this insane writing and plot line. I am so glad I accessed this as an arc as not only was it unique it then had the added paranormal presence??? Wow.
I loved how unlike many crime books it took well written diverse queer and black characters and didn’t criminalise them unlike how many popular crime novels do.
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Death of parent, Child death, Murder, and Death