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nrogers_1030's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Classism, Violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Stalking, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Cursing
elysianbud's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Plot was decently engaging and spooky, but the ending a little flat. I expected a twist, hoping that maybe the obvious villain wasn't the villain after all, or at least not so cartoonishly evil. The ending went a little quick, I got to the last few pages and thought "really, we're resolving everything in so few pages?"
There are some preachy moments where the book seems to turn to the reader and is like "don't you agree this is a terrible thing?" This contributes to some stiff dialogue that doesn't sound like people talk.
I liked Gabe but he was a wildly unrealistic teenager, far too good. I was a good child, but this lad was a saint who knew therapy speak.
There was also the fact that they kept saying this horror director had a film win multiple Oscars. I kept dragging me out of the book. I suppose this was the writer trying to saying "that's just how much of a genius director he is, even the academy takes him seriously," but it more came across that it was just the fanciest film accolade they knew. Horror films are traditionally ignored at the Oscars, and they definitely don't win multiple for one film. If anything it would have made more sense if the author had pointed out that he'd never won an Oscar despite being brilliant because it would fit far better into the sprinkling of "horror films are the underdog" moments throughout the book, like when she talks about movie budgets. It would also be something for Javier to be bitter about, seeing as he's so convinced of his own genius. A tiny detail, but one that irritated me like a stone in my shoe.
There are some preachy moments where the book seems to turn to the reader and is like "don't you agree this is a terrible thing?" This contributes to some stiff dialogue that doesn't sound like people talk.
I liked Gabe but he was a wildly unrealistic teenager, far too good. I was a good child, but this lad was a saint who knew therapy speak.
There was also the fact that they kept saying this horror director had a film win multiple Oscars. I kept dragging me out of the book. I suppose this was the writer trying to saying "that's just how much of a genius director he is, even the academy takes him seriously," but it more came across that it was just the fanciest film accolade they knew. Horror films are traditionally ignored at the Oscars, and they definitely don't win multiple for one film. If anything it would have made more sense if the author had pointed out that he'd never won an Oscar despite being brilliant because it would fit far better into the sprinkling of "horror films are the underdog" moments throughout the book, like when she talks about movie budgets. It would also be something for Javier to be bitter about, seeing as he's so convinced of his own genius. A tiny detail, but one that irritated me like a stone in my shoe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, Violence, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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