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mcrespo's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
i thought this novella was a really fun, quick read. gran incorporated some of my favorite demon possession horror tropes in this novella, and in doing so, she also probes the topic of love and how far one woman can derail her life in the pursuit of a never-leaving love. i loved the way gran toyed with formatting in this novella, and i thought it was brilliant to have centered this story around an "are you possessed by a demon?" quiz. it was such a strong story with only very minor setbacks, which is that amanda, the main character, uses homophobic language, and has this very weird sexual tension with a german shepherd. the dog storyline in the novella was perhaps the hardest to follow and deduce any meaning from. i found it ill-fitting, underdeveloped, and overall just super weird. the most redeeming aspects of this novella, that make it still a high star book for me, are the poignant final sentences from amanda and the postscript note from the editors. confusing relationship with a dog aside, this book is fantastic for a rainy day where you want to spend 2-3 hours reading a bite sized, captivating horror story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual content
takecoverbooksptbo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Come Closer is a deeply unsettling book that not only convincingly captures the horror of demonic possession but also provides an alarming analysis of how quickly intimate relationships can fall apart as we become more alienated and more fragmented in our thought processes. Despite the potent metaphor at the core of the book, it’s also a damn good horror story that will leave you unsettled and more than a little unsure of your own sanity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Blood
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Child death, Child abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny, Homophobia, and Rape
rosesofthespring's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Alcohol, Confinement, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Murder, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Classism, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Child death, Death of parent, and Excrement
It's a book about demonic possession, so there are are a lot of psychosis-esque symptoms, although the main character is not actually psychotic/schizophrenic. This book may be triggering to readers with psychosis, especially those with religious delusions.
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