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haileymundell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide, Pedophilia, and Misogyny
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
I have really, really loved some of Hill's more modern work. The Locke & Key graphic novels are amazing, and NOS4A2 single-handidly made me give the Horror genre another try after several disappointments. So imagine my absolute dismay to find this book to be just so awful.
Let me start with a positive. This book is genuinely creepy and unsettling. I won't say scary, but it did make my skin crawl. But... that's it. That's the one good thing I found in this book.
This book sensationalizes depression and self harm. It leaned into stereotypes about minorites. The characters were unlikable - which I normally don't mind - but they were also shallowly written. I was rooting for the ghost. And the pace was so fast I just lost interest because who cares where it's going? It felt like it was already there and then chugging along for no reason.
Honestly, I would have given up like 20% earlier if I wasn't reading with a friend. We got to this point before realizing we'd both lost any interest and were just pushing through for the other.
Let me start with a positive. This book is genuinely creepy and unsettling. I won't say scary, but it did make my skin crawl. But... that's it. That's the one good thing I found in this book.
This book sensationalizes depression and self harm. It leaned into stereotypes about minorites. The characters were unlikable - which I normally don't mind - but they were also shallowly written. I was rooting for the ghost. And the pace was so fast I just lost interest because who cares where it's going? It felt like it was already there and then chugging along for no reason.
Honestly, I would have given up like 20% earlier if I wasn't reading with a friend. We got to this point before realizing we'd both lost any interest and were just pushing through for the other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
beetsnotbombs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Torture
Moderate: Animal death
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