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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
4.5 stars, K.M. Szpara is DEF a fav author of mine, now that I’ve read a second book by him.
dark
tense
I’m being pretty generous with this rating given how this book felt like a flimsy cardboard cutout that inexplicably got published. Like, I read it all the way to the end I GUESS, but what even happened!!!!!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment
Contains two explicit on page rape scenes and two explicit on page flagellation scenes.
I’m not entirely with the last few chapters, but I very much enjoyed what was going on here.
I’m not entirely with the last few chapters, but I very much enjoyed what was going on here.
This was not for me, though I did DNF it. There are way too many triggers to say that I enjoyed it, rape, right by those in authority, self-inflicted pain, pain inflicted by others. I can't say that I enjoyed any of that. There were parts that I actually had to skim through. What I did enjoy is the story of people overcoming trauma, beginning to heal from it, because that's there too. And I really enjoyed the diverse cast of characters. Due to all the triggers mentioned above , I don't think it's one I will recommend to anyone anytime soon.
This book is all about survivors and warped mindsets and the legacy of abuse and unreliable narrators. At the start of the story, Lark's partner Kane goes out into the outside world on his 'quest' to kill monsters, but then Kane and the FBI show up on Lark's doorstep and he and his whole family are arrested and the attempts at deprogramming them from an abusive cult begin.
Oh boy. Where to start? I think this book is going to be hugely important to me. First, if you're thinking of reading it, please take note of the content warnings and read safely. Nothing much is off the table here, and while not all of it is graphic, it does take place on-page and the themes run through the whole story, you don't really get a break from it. But I think that's what's important. Because Lark and Kane don't get a break either, they don't get to step away from how they were raised.
So, I liked the moments of silliness in this book. Lark wearing a Pikachu cosplay outfit, Calvin passing him off as Legolas at the convention to hide him from the police. I was concerned that Calvin really does enable Lark, when it's clear how damaged and in need of help he is. Part of me thinks, perhaps that's good, because Lark needed to work things out for himself. Part of me isn't sure I'm comfortable with that for a 'healthy' romantic partner. I do feel like some of the elements of this story are sensationalised and in some of the abusive SM scenes they really skirt the line of being made out to be gratifying for the reader, and I found that quite uncomfortable to read. Equally, I think this book is told from the perspectives of deeply damaged and traumatised individuals, who have endured lifetimes of abuse and brainwashing, so I'm not sure if it's fair to expect anything else.
I do wish there had been some broader closure with Nova. The 'binding ceremony' the characters take part in was very moving, but considering the story opens with the start of an attempt to bring her to justice through legal means, I wish it had ended with more of a sense of Lark and Kane giving their testimony or seeing her brought to justice. Same as the other Elders in the cult. This is one of the examples where the story seemed to focus on lighter issues than were set up to be thematically resonant. I can't really explain properly, but it was missing a little something for me as a reader. I would highly recommend it, with caution. (Also, I found it odd/jarring that a book like this, published so recently, was littered with references to HP.)
Oh boy. Where to start? I think this book is going to be hugely important to me. First, if you're thinking of reading it, please take note of the content warnings and read safely. Nothing much is off the table here, and while not all of it is graphic, it does take place on-page and the themes run through the whole story, you don't really get a break from it. But I think that's what's important. Because Lark and Kane don't get a break either, they don't get to step away from how they were raised.
So, I liked the moments of silliness in this book. Lark wearing a Pikachu cosplay outfit, Calvin passing him off as Legolas at the convention to hide him from the police. I was concerned that Calvin really does enable Lark, when it's clear how damaged and in need of help he is. Part of me thinks, perhaps that's good, because Lark needed to work things out for himself. Part of me isn't sure I'm comfortable with that for a 'healthy' romantic partner. I do feel like some of the elements of this story are sensationalised and in some of the abusive SM scenes they really skirt the line of being made out to be gratifying for the reader, and I found that quite uncomfortable to read. Equally, I think this book is told from the perspectives of deeply damaged and traumatised individuals, who have endured lifetimes of abuse and brainwashing, so I'm not sure if it's fair to expect anything else.
I do wish there had been some broader closure with Nova. The 'binding ceremony' the characters take part in was very moving, but considering the story opens with the start of an attempt to bring her to justice through legal means, I wish it had ended with more of a sense of Lark and Kane giving their testimony or seeing her brought to justice. Same as the other Elders in the cult. This is one of the examples where the story seemed to focus on lighter issues than were set up to be thematically resonant. I can't really explain properly, but it was missing a little something for me as a reader. I would highly recommend it, with caution. (Also, I found it odd/jarring that a book like this, published so recently, was littered with references to HP.)
4.75/5stars
Well I can certainly say I think Szpara is going to be a new favorite author.
I see a lot of people talking about how bad this book is in a similar way that I saw people talking about "docile." This books is DARK - ANY book about children growing up in a cult is going to be dark - and Szpara doesn't shy away from the gritty, truly fucked up shit that exists in these worlds. This isn't a bad book - it's dark, it's heavy, it's going to make you uncomfortable, and THATS THE POINT.
I thought the set up was fascinating, the cult stuff was well done, all of the explorations of abuse were well done and made the reader properly uncomfortable and made you think. I loved the characters, the representation is awesome (nb characters, queer men, a gay asian man which wow we never see that, polygamous relationships, etc.)
I also just enjoyed the magical realism, social commentary and metaphors of this book. I thought it was all very well done.
This book is not for everyone and definitely heed the trigger warning at the beginning of the book and also any lists you can find here on GR.
Well I can certainly say I think Szpara is going to be a new favorite author.
I see a lot of people talking about how bad this book is in a similar way that I saw people talking about "docile." This books is DARK - ANY book about children growing up in a cult is going to be dark - and Szpara doesn't shy away from the gritty, truly fucked up shit that exists in these worlds. This isn't a bad book - it's dark, it's heavy, it's going to make you uncomfortable, and THATS THE POINT.
I thought the set up was fascinating, the cult stuff was well done, all of the explorations of abuse were well done and made the reader properly uncomfortable and made you think. I loved the characters, the representation is awesome (nb characters, queer men, a gay asian man which wow we never see that, polygamous relationships, etc.)
I also just enjoyed the magical realism, social commentary and metaphors of this book. I thought it was all very well done.
This book is not for everyone and definitely heed the trigger warning at the beginning of the book and also any lists you can find here on GR.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No