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amariela02's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Rape, and Xenophobia
scribblinginthemargins's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- 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
Absolutely nothing happens from start to finish. No tension or development and the writing is overly contrived and just... Boring.
Not to mention the awful amount of visceral descriptions of animal abuse which added nothing to the plot and we're just super upsetting. Do not read.
Interesting concept, terribly executed. Speculative fiction should also be more sympathetic and self aware considering she is writing about a real life unsolved case, this felt trite, potentially scandalous and harmful to the memory of the real life Bertha.
Not to mention the awful amount of visceral descriptions of animal abuse which added nothing to the plot and we're just super upsetting. Do not read.
Interesting concept, terribly executed. Speculative fiction should also be more sympathetic and self aware considering she is writing about a real life unsolved case, this felt trite, potentially scandalous and harmful to the memory of the real life Bertha.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Abortion
Moderate: Incest and Rape
korikam's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Incest, Blood, Grief, Abortion, and Pregnancy
jrosebartoli415's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Suicide
emilyisliterate's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
i'm not a historical fiction girlie by nature, so this was an interesting one. katharine beutner threads the needle with KILLINGLY by extrapolating on the disappearance of a girl long dead, who the public continues to have little knowledge of outside sparing news clips.
i am conflicted by this book. on one hand, taking liberties with real people is tricky and it makes me uncomfortable when true crime writers assign people personalities out of thin air. yet on the other hand, i felt like there was more this story could've provided. i.e., more overt queerness, better characterization. however, i also didn't WANT those things because again, these were real people. enjoyable writing, though. (yes, the cat scenes were very hard to stomach, but i respect the creative liberty i guess lma
i am conflicted by this book. on one hand, taking liberties with real people is tricky and it makes me uncomfortable when true crime writers assign people personalities out of thin air. yet on the other hand, i felt like there was more this story could've provided. i.e., more overt queerness, better characterization. however, i also didn't WANT those things because again, these were real people. enjoyable writing, though. (yes, the cat scenes were very hard to stomach, but i respect the creative liberty i guess lma
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death