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petrolfox's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Excrement, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, and Confinement
Moderate: Confinement, Bullying, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, and Homophobia
rachaelallyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Confinement
rebecca_bed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
the_escapist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved the underlying tension throughout that builds and builds, loved how the author set up the story so you're not sure whether it's supposed to be an actual demonic possession, mental illness, or whether the sister is faking it. I think it was actually a very wise decision because, in a lot of ways, having a definite supernatural element made explicit from the start takes a lot of the scare factor out of the story because it stops feeling real and grounded (for me, anyway).
I've never really read/watched a possession story that felt so tense and messed up but believably so – that's what makes this work so well. Nothing feels too ridiculous. The characters feel like real people, the setting feels like a real setting, even the TV crew feels like a real crew. The POV was also really fun – it's written in the first person and during the flashbacks to her childhood, the author has a way of writing through the main character's eyes to really make her feel like a real child – all her wants and (mis)understandings and the things that she picks upon.
If it wasn't for the unique concept, I wouldn't have picked this up. I wouldn't have given it a go if it was just a straightforward possession story. But I really liked the idea of the uncertainty of it all and thought it was executed brilliantly. It's the first horror book I've read in ages. Ever since I finished it, every now and then I find my thoughts drifting back to it. Especially the ending. I really enjoyed how it ended.
Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Excrement
Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Drug use