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corruptednatz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Torture, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Infidelity, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Suicide
aceofknaves88's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"The Shards" follows seventeen-year-old Bret, a senior at a prestigious prep school in Los Angeles during the 1980's. When a new boy, Robert Mallory joins Bret's friend group, it feels like everyone but Bret is in love with Mallory, but Bret is convinced Mallory is hiding something. After a series of murders, Bret begins to suspect that Mallory is the serial killer targeting teenagers throughout Los Angeles. Can Bret uncover who is behind these brutal murders, or will he end up the next victim?
This mystery is very dense and takes awhile to get into. I also often felt disconnected from the characters. The story felt like something that I was watching from a distance, not something that I was pulled into, and that factor is something I look for in mystery novels. I want to feel like I am right there with the characters and uncovering clues with them.
Bret was a fun character to read from. Bret is struggling with his own identity and trying to figure out who he is, who he wants to be, and who he wants to surround himself with. He is also incredibly smart and quick-witted. He is definitely flawed and makes poor decisions, but that is why he is so relatable. I also really appreciated that although he is seventeen, his voice does not read like a seventeen-year-old, but he remains believable as a teenager.
This story is very well-written, and clearly, Bret Easton Ellis is an exceptional wordsmith and very talented with his craft. I would be curious to pick up more from him in the future, but for right now I want something a little more fast-paced.
Graphic: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Homophobia, Bullying, Stalking, Torture, Alcohol, Murder, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Dysphoria, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Confinement, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Gore, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Animal death, Blood, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
emouemi's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Biphobia, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Rape, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Kidnapping, Gore, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Mental illness, Homophobia, Death, Classism, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Violence, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Infidelity
booklinensinker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, Death, Violence, Toxic friendship, Murder, Sexism, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Medical trauma, Torture, Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Drug use, Homophobia, Classism, and Misogyny
valeriekate'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
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Gaslighting, Murder, Outing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Violence, Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicide, Infidelity, Rape, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Death of parent, Hate crime, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Addiction, Car accident, Classism, Cursing, Death, Dysphoria, Grief, and Homophobia