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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
Good, pitch black little book. May need a palette cleanser after this one.
I prefered Waif to this novel. True Crime is well written and Kolesnik knows how to tell a story with robust characters. But the characters are so awful. Real bottom of the barrel, scum of the earth types that it became tiresome after a while.
There's a lot of child abuse, especially at the beginning, and it's brought up throughout the story as the main character reminisces.
CWs: multiple, detailed sexual assaults, animal death and cruelty
There's a lot of child abuse, especially at the beginning, and it's brought up throughout the story as the main character reminisces.
CWs: multiple, detailed sexual assaults, animal death and cruelty
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i actually just hate extreme horror
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is dark and nauseating. I’m holding back on a star rating, because I’m at a loss as to what to give it. It’s written well and evokes strong emotion in the reader, but it’s also sickening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Bleak, fast-paced read.
Suzy, along with her brother, Lim, flee their hometown and embark on a murder spree, beginning with their abusive mother.
From start to finish, this is a very grim read, few hopeful moments to contrast the abuse, violence and murder that occurs throughout the story. The opening is striking, creates a foreboding atmosphere, and paints our path with Suzy and Lim well. Writing is wonderful, rich without being too overbearing for the content. Sparks a lot of questions.
Whilst I appreciated the craft and greatly enjoyed the opening, I grew a wee bit tepid towards the plot. It meandered whilst also having a lot happen in a short space of time, with little to no respite. Without that opposition, even mundane little slithers of hope or happiness, it's hard to see the point in trudging on. I was looking for a solid foundation that crumbled, a possible arc - but from a few pages in its clear nothing was every really that great for Suzy or Lim, nothing will get better, and there will be no spots of light on the character's journey. For some, this might be up your alley, but it just fell a bit flat for me. I was itching for some depth.
Overall, however, this was an interesting, quick read, with wonderful writing and an interesting, if not incredibly dark, concept behind it. And even despite my gripes with the execution of the plot, it is attention grabbing all the same, and I finished it in two sittings. Loved the cover of this book, too.
Suzy, along with her brother, Lim, flee their hometown and embark on a murder spree, beginning with their abusive mother.
From start to finish, this is a very grim read, few hopeful moments to contrast the abuse, violence and murder that occurs throughout the story. The opening is striking, creates a foreboding atmosphere, and paints our path with Suzy and Lim well. Writing is wonderful, rich without being too overbearing for the content. Sparks a lot of questions.
Whilst I appreciated the craft and greatly enjoyed the opening, I grew a wee bit tepid towards the plot. It meandered whilst also having a lot happen in a short space of time, with little to no respite. Without that opposition, even mundane little slithers of hope or happiness, it's hard to see the point in trudging on. I was looking for a solid foundation that crumbled, a possible arc - but from a few pages in its clear nothing was every really that great for Suzy or Lim, nothing will get better, and there will be no spots of light on the character's journey. For some, this might be up your alley, but it just fell a bit flat for me. I was itching for some depth.
Overall, however, this was an interesting, quick read, with wonderful writing and an interesting, if not incredibly dark, concept behind it. And even despite my gripes with the execution of the plot, it is attention grabbing all the same, and I finished it in two sittings. Loved the cover of this book, too.
Welp, this one is intense.
I do not recommend anyone actually read this book without knowing that this story contains nearly every possible type of triggering content.
That said... This is beautifully written. Kolesnik's prose is truly something to admire. The plot is so gruesome and tragic and awful all at the same time, but it is ultimately what Kolesnik does with those words that is so admirable.
If you're okay with a book full triggering content and absolute despair, you might enjoy this.
I do not recommend anyone actually read this book without knowing that this story contains nearly every possible type of triggering content.
That said... This is beautifully written. Kolesnik's prose is truly something to admire. The plot is so gruesome and tragic and awful all at the same time, but it is ultimately what Kolesnik does with those words that is so admirable.
If you're okay with a book full triggering content and absolute despair, you might enjoy this.
2.5 but rounded up for good writing. The good writing was honestly the only thing that kept me going because the other aspects of the book only existed to upset me. There were plenty of one liners or quotes in this book that I wanted to highlight and remember but as for this book as a whole, I would like to forget.
When my friend asked me how this book was, I replied with “bleak as fuck” and I stand by that. This novella started off with unspeakable, graphic, disgusting acts and never really slowed down. Thankfully it was short. There was no redemption, no relief, no light at the end of the tunnel… just abuse, violence, gross behavior, animal deaths, etc. and to what end?
I felt the same way after finishing this book as I did the first and only time I watched Requiem for a Dream… empty, upset and again bleak.
When my friend asked me how this book was, I replied with “bleak as fuck” and I stand by that. This novella started off with unspeakable, graphic, disgusting acts and never really slowed down. Thankfully it was short. There was no redemption, no relief, no light at the end of the tunnel… just abuse, violence, gross behavior, animal deaths, etc. and to what end?
I felt the same way after finishing this book as I did the first and only time I watched Requiem for a Dream… empty, upset and again bleak.
Trigger warnings: child abuse, sexual abuse, assault, physical violence
This book was not good. There, I said it. I did not connect to the characters in any way, nor did I see any kind of motive or understanding for why they went on a killing spree. This book is supposed to be a horror, but I found that it was not scary or fun to read. The descriptions of abuse were disturbing and hard to read, but it felt like pulling teeth to try and spook the reader. I don't know, I just didn't connect with this book like I feel others did, as I only saw good things about this book before reading.
This book was not good. There, I said it. I did not connect to the characters in any way, nor did I see any kind of motive or understanding for why they went on a killing spree. This book is supposed to be a horror, but I found that it was not scary or fun to read. The descriptions of abuse were disturbing and hard to read, but it felt like pulling teeth to try and spook the reader. I don't know, I just didn't connect with this book like I feel others did, as I only saw good things about this book before reading.