Reviews with content warning for Self harm - The Christmas Murder Game

(Note: take a shot every time I used the word 'sometimes' lmao.)

Overall, this book was so freaking good! I loved the premise, the characters, the execution... but there was one thing that didn't make this a 5-star read which is pretty petty of me, to be honest, but I think it's still valid lmao.

There were some really stunning sentences, metaphors, and similes throughout this entire book. Absolutely beautiful. I did sometimes feel like there were too many in a small space, though. Some of them felt a bit forced and included to try and be beautiful and thought-provoking, but sometimes simplicity is more telling. For example, on one page there were three similes/metaphors all of birds. They were each individually pretty, but there were so many in such a condensed space that it sometimes felt unneeded, unnecessary, etc. Some of the sentences didn't even need a linguistic technique and would have been just as good without them. A specific example being: the sentence "[a]n image of her mum making pastry for mince pies smacks into Lily's head like a robin into a plate glass". In my opinion, you don't need the simile; the word 'smack' is evocative and symbolic enough to insinuate painful or unwanted memories. Also, all of the metaphors and similes were Christmas or winter themed. Kudos to the dedication, but sometimes they didn't make as much sense as they could have if they weren't constrained to a theme.

Regarding characters, I loved Ronnie! He was the cause for a lot of the humour within the novel, which I think was a good choice to offset the darkness of the murder and death lol. I also loved Mrs Castle for her biting nature because she just did not give a shit, which also made for some funny lines.

The author is so good, based on this book, and I will probably read more of their stuff.

(POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD)

When it came to the plot twist (which in a sucker for), the hints were perfectly placed. I started to get suspicious of Tom because he was very attached physically to Lily while also constantly verbalising how emotionally attached to her he was. It happened so much that it started to feel like a diversion, but he was also the first who was attacked and did not succumb to his injuries, which was interesting. The other plot twist, about Sara and Tom made me a bit uncomfortable though, but it is DEFINITELY shocking and a twist, so I guess it works lol.

Content Warnings

lydias1's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I don’t like present tense writing :(

I couldn’t place the tone. It was an odd combination of intelligent and precise metaphors (albeit they were excessively used), and rather obvious and unclever ways of revealing plot information (“remember when you found your dead mum in the centre of the maze?”).

The characters were rather flat.

The pace was odd, because it was so drawn out over 12 days. 12 clues, except they were all the same - fancy sonnets that the reader had no chance of solving so it was pointless to try.

I predicted Tom was the killer, but I didn’t predict the incest (WHAT?). I get the motives for the murders, but I’m still left wondering why Lilliana decided to make the whole thing a game, while simultaneously tipping the odds in Lily’s favour.

Overall, the plot is just bizarre and I finished the book out of spite. Wouldn’t recommened. A bonus star given because it had good bisexual representation which was nice.

Content Warnings

markedwithanm's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

More...