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cjfreddy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
9brightshiners's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Confinement, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Deportation
There are frequent, very graphic descriptions of abusing, torturing, and murdering children throughout the book. There is violence, gore, and blood as well as graphic injuries both accidental and on purpose that are caused by supernatural entities and humans. State violence, kidnappings, and deportations are mentioned throughout the book. In one instance a mass grave is exhumed and studied by forensic archaeologists. There is prejudice, mistreatment, and violence against women, Africans, indigenous South Americans, and frequent use of the f-slur related to homosexuality as well as ableism and one use of the related r-slur. This book deals with period realistic violence but there is also a great deal of abuse, violence, torture, and gore associated with occult rituals specific to the fictional secret society. Also of note: the AIDS epidemic is depicted in this novel.camscampbell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read the English translation (by Megan McDowell) and thoroughly enjoyed it. The structure moves around, and I never found myself annoyed by the time shifts back and forth.
It has some troubling scenes of violence, particularly of child abuse.
If you enjoyed Stephen King's It, you'll probably enjoy this. The part set in Buenos Aires in 1985–1986, in particular, reminded me of the Losers Club from that novel. Fans of Clive Barker would probably enjoy it, too. I felt some vibes of The Great and Secret Show in this in how dark it was.
My YouTube review of this book is here: https://youtu.be/M2GgCPpWEpA
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism
arayo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Eating disorder, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Vomit, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Car accident, and Pregnancy
vbarsi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Suicide, and Pregnancy
Ending was not as satisfying as I imagined.danikajoan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Alllllll the trigger warnings for this one, very intense but not in a way that feels like it’s there just for shock value or is exploitative?bluebirdegf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Slavery, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Eating disorder, Medical content, Grief, and Gaslighting
mirissab's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
blacksphinx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Homophobia, Sexism, Blood, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Police brutality, and Mass/school shootings
CSA does not occur on page but happens to a side character. On top of at least one anti-indigenous slur, this book also contains ableist slurs and a LOT of homophobic slurs. Part of the book takes place during the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the book spends some time showing it.befnie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Car accident
Minor: Misogyny and Cannibalism