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princessgonchar's review
- 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
2.5
I'm frustrated by this book because there were so many ways that this book could have gone, and this was the least exciting version of the book. Some examples:
- The story told entirely from Bea's perspective/someone else from within the cult
- Lo trusting the cult at least a little in the beginning
- Lo never trusting the cult at all
- Some of Lo's "enemies"
Etc. etc. I just feel like the story was very bland,
It's not terrible; I'm just disappointed.
Graphic: Body horror, Car accident, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent, Miscarriage, Murder, Kidnapping, Stalking, Torture, and Violence
brendal'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
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Death, and Death of parent
gabrielareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
vlntnmz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
magsapt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Summers' wonderful words still seduced me and kept me gripped to the story. Her prose is simple, yet she manages to involve you in her narrative. Her books are very plot-driven, and she only writes descriptively when necessary which makes her books fast to read, even though the usual themes are dark and heavy. I think that's Courtney Summers' true power: her ability to write about tough subjects without making the book too dense. She writes what she must - there are no unnecessary scenes or long detailed pointless moments. Summers' gives you enough freedom to imagine things on your own, leaving you clues to solve the mystery, every gap intentional.
However, on this particular occasion, she made the plot too predictable. Nothing was surprising or unexpected. In the beginning, I saw the whole story unfold and unfortunately, all my hunches came true. Adding this to the fact that there was barely any character development equals a two star read for me.
Lou started as this fierce character who was willing to do everything to find her sister and then becomes her sister. One might've thought that one woman's actions were another's lesson, but I was wrong. I kept being naive and thinking Lou has something up her sleeve, but it turns out she was just an ignorant brat who always makes the worst decisions available. Her lack of progress and improvement baffled me, and the only two things that kept me going were: a) Courtney Summer's marvellous writing; and b) my hope that the author would redeem herself. Thing b) didn't happen, so here I am, hea
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Murder and Infidelity
Psychological abuse; cultlivmm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Car accident
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Suicide, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Confinement
mdemanatee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Violence
librarianmichelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Torture, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Infidelity, and Child abuse
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual content, and Violence
caidyn's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow, Courtney Summers does it again. When I knew that this book involved a cult and the bond between sisters (as well as this generally being by Summers), I knew I had to check it out. It took a bit for me to sink into the story. I was really invested in it by the second part. I loved how the story jumped back and forth throughout time, going from Lo's perspective of the modern time and her search for answers, then to Bea's time and giving us background leading up to the present day. Just a glorious story that was so dynamic and complex. I wasn't sure how the story would tie up, but I'm very pleased with it. It's not a happy story, but it had a satisfying ending.
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence