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bohowitch'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
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. It obviously held my interest, but it's rare to not positively engage with any character.
Catalina and Ruth get a pass, but the rest of the characters were either sick, twisted, and thoroughly evil, shallow, self-centered, and pompous, or just woefully pathetic.
Noemi, the FMC/protagonist, is nothing more than a wilful, spoiled, rich girl with delusions of grandeur. She's flaky as hell, uppity, shallow, manipulative, and pig-headed. Not to mention her naivety. She's quite obnoxious and annoying.
I honestly didn't care if any of them made it out alive, but the writing held my interest until the very end. I needed to see how this all resolved; good, bad, or ugly.
Now that's not to say I didn't enjoy the book, it just wasn't quite what I expected. The world building, lore, and horror was top-notch. The characters were well fleshed out and felt quite real; they were all just awful people.
If you're a sensitive reader I implore you to mind your squicks. There's a lot of abuse, gaslighting, and body horror within this book.
I enjoyed it, but YMMV of course.
Graphic: Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Body horror, Classism, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Incest, and Mental illness
prosenheim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Death, Incest, Confinement, and Body horror
Moderate: Misogyny, Cannibalism, Suicide, Child death, Colonisation, Racism, Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
kiwi_00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Incest, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual violence
kengiedamali'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: Racism, Death, and Incest
Minor: Rape
merrynthomas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Cannibalism, Gore, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Confinement, Death, and Physical abuse
emciver's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, Emotional abuse, Body horror, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Infertility, Colonisation, Child death, and Incest
sauriaiel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Suicide, Xenophobia, Racism, Confinement, Sexual violence, Colonisation, and Violence
Minor: Cannibalism, Vomit, Incest, and Slavery
zoe_archambault's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Murder, Confinement, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Infertility, Gun violence, Death, Classism, Sexism, Rape, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Incest
Moderate: Cannibalism, Racism, Mass/school shootings, Gore, and Grief
emthewitch333'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
5.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Body horror, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Incest
ahmay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It’s just the way it is.
Boring. At times, awkward. It feels like the narrator is trying to be deeper than they actually are.
The book is set in the 50s, but the dialogue isn’t very characteristic of this time period, ruining the immersion for me.
Also lots of grossness, very much horror ! But as I said, the over-explaining annoys me to no end.
I don’t get how Great Uncle Howard had so much influence on everyone else? I suppose they were deeply infected by the spores and whatnot, but the portrayal of him as a godly figure is lacking. To me, he’s just some creepy old guy. And I get that I’m an “outsider,” so I can’t completely understand. But I’m sure there was a much better way of showing his power and control.
I’m sure I have more to say (and a better way of wording my review) because I cannot shut up for the life of me, but that’s all for now. :)
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, and Incest
Moderate: Cannibalism, Xenophobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape, Gun violence, Classism, Child abuse, and Colonisation