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catsandbookstacks's review against another edition
2.0
*Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat Books for the eARC.*
Phantom is a genre mashup sophomore novel from Helen Power. Selling a limb, which ends up being used by a serial killer. Drug trial and hallucinations. Conspiracy, mystery and romance.
While the concept was interesting, the plot felt too slow for me due to the focus on character while having all of these other genre threads. The plot didn't feel propelled in a natural way and character interactions came off as inconsistent.
I do enjoy a good unlikeable character, but Roz's alcoholism takes precedence over her other more interesting traits and interests. The loss of a hand and how Roz behaved made me feel a little icky - I can't tell if its ableism or if the character is just so unlikeable due to her attitude. The romance felt unnecessary and muddled the storyline. I didn't love the way substance abuse, and mental health was handled as well.
Ultimately, I found Phantom lacked the spark it needed to engage me. I loved Helen's debut novel, The Ghosts of Thorwald Place, so I will still give future books a try.
Phantom is a genre mashup sophomore novel from Helen Power. Selling a limb, which ends up being used by a serial killer. Drug trial and hallucinations. Conspiracy, mystery and romance.
While the concept was interesting, the plot felt too slow for me due to the focus on character while having all of these other genre threads. The plot didn't feel propelled in a natural way and character interactions came off as inconsistent.
I do enjoy a good unlikeable character, but Roz's alcoholism takes precedence over her other more interesting traits and interests. The loss of a hand and how Roz behaved made me feel a little icky - I can't tell if its ableism or if the character is just so unlikeable due to her attitude. The romance felt unnecessary and muddled the storyline. I didn't love the way substance abuse, and mental health was handled as well.
Ultimately, I found Phantom lacked the spark it needed to engage me. I loved Helen's debut novel, The Ghosts of Thorwald Place, so I will still give future books a try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Murder, and Gore
orizenda's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i’m kind of still trying to figure out how i feel about this one. i was rolling my eyes and barfing at every single “romantic” scene basically but that’s probably just me. I wish there had been more of an exploration of Roz’s experience as a woman with one hand in our society.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Stalking, and Murder
heather_harrison's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Regan is a starving artist with a lousy part time job, who’s about to miss her third month of rent. Just when you’re sure she’s already hit rock bottom, after a one night stand with a mysterious man, she snags $1200 from his wallet and ditched him.
When her mystery man returns, he makes her an offer for her hand. The literal body part, not her figurative hand.
Of course once things start going her way, she just starts throwing her very finite money away.
But worse she experiences strong horrific phantom pains.
Just when I thought I knew where this story was going, it turn yet another turn for the weirder.
Pacing was a bit slow in the middle but overall fun read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gore, and Body horror
Moderate: Trafficking
kvillanueva's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Gore
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