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abookwormspov'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Alcohol, Self harm, War, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Slavery, Toxic friendship, and Violence
carbs666's review
- 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
I liked how conversationally the book is written, how wacky the characters are (real people are wacky so this made them really whole to me), and how even when the narrative is taken over by one character's POV it maintains a good omniscient remove. I also liked how intricate the book was and how the author released just enough information about the central mystery to keep you paying attention. There are no throw-away scenes in this book; absolutely everything matters.
The core thing I didn't like about the book is that I thought the final act was a bit drawn out, and while I did think Carolyn experienced some growth of character I felt the implication that things work out for her was somewhat.....unearned? Absolute power corrupts absolutely and all that.
Anyways, if you like weird-ass books and aren't troubled by some of the most horrifying, traumatic shit that can happen to a person, you're gonna love this book!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Torture, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Violence, War, Addiction, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicide
chefboyavi's review
- 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? Yes
3.0
However, I can’t rate it higher than middling because I was too irked by the authors own biases throughout the text, particularly the undercurrents of racism and homophobia. I was also disappointed by his use of fantasy language. I read an interview where he said he was making words up based on whether he liked how they sounded and the laziness of that comes through in the text. Comparing this to other fantasy novels where the author created languages with a basis in linguistics shows a real failing in the “made up” approach.
Ultimately, this was fine but I don’t think I’d read anything else by this author.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Murder, and Gore
apairofducks's review
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Rape, and Animal cruelty
mgwarnstedt's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Sexual violence, Blood, Rape, and Murder
random19379's review
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Child death, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Gore, Torture, Violence, Abandonment, Grief, Murder, Body horror, Medical content, Suicide, and War
Moderate: Rape and Incest
cassie7e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Murder, Torture, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Gore, Rape, and Gun violence
Minor: Car accident, Homophobia, and Death of parent
sersi'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Suicide, Murder, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Rape
jodar'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? It's complicated
3.75
I found the characters were well portrayed, the MC relatable (despite getting pretty extreme psychologically), the dialogue flowed naturally and the plot moved along at a moderate pace without bogging down. There’s even some nicely pitched humour, particularly aimed against the foibles and excesses of Americans. The story is well-grounded, too, even though at various times the reader is confronted by a wide-sweeping, multiple-time-and-space viewpoint. I kept wanting to pick up the book again each time, which is a good sign.
Themes that for me lifted this novel above a simple “fun read”: the dark side of power, especially power over others’ welfare and lives; friendship and authentic love; true versus apparent strength; the search for meaning; the ultimate mystery of existence.
An impressive first novel by the author. I’d be keen to read any sequel, as the ending hinted there may be.
Graphic: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Physical abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Suicide, Cursing, and Sexual assault
Minor: Car accident and Vomit
epruta'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
4.75
Graphic: Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Animal death, Physical abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Torture, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry