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whatsbridiereading's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Both the plot and the horror aspect of this book kept me hooked from the start. This is one of my favourite ‘female rage’ books- the kind where the MC has a reason for her rage, and where even when she’s doing despicable things you feel for her. I can’t wait to see what Monika Kim does next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Body horror, Xenophobia, Blood, and Gore
alexandrakucera's review
3.0
The publisher should really reconsider what blurbs they put on the book, because the one about her being a serial killer completely ruined the story for me as it is a huge spoiler.
ash_arnett's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
As someone that reads a lot from the horror/thriller genre, I found the synopsis of this book so intriguing. It’s not often that I see a book written from the view of a female serial killer who solely likes killing.
While this book has great commentary, I found that the beginning of this book was quite slow. It does set the stage for why things happen later on, however it wasn’t until about 60% into the book that we finally saw Jin-won’s mental spiraling turn to horror. The book is just under 300 pages but I think it could have easily been a great novella. I also found the ending to be lack luster. For as much detail as Monika Kim put into the first half of the book, I wish the ending wasn’t so rushed. For those reasons I’ve rated this book 3 stars.
While this book has great commentary, I found that the beginning of this book was quite slow. It does set the stage for why things happen later on, however it wasn’t until about 60% into the book that we finally saw Jin-won’s mental spiraling turn to horror. The book is just under 300 pages but I think it could have easily been a great novella. I also found the ending to be lack luster. For as much detail as Monika Kim put into the first half of the book, I wish the ending wasn’t so rushed. For those reasons I’ve rated this book 3 stars.
I kindly received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
mateyy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.75
kristin_boren's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
This is a weird book for weird girls for sure. This touches on life as a child of immigrant parents, the struggles as a woman in society that is prone to being fetishized by men, and the pressure to reach parental expectations when their hopes rest on you just to name a few things. This is super dark, very gory, and honestly a gripping read. I devoured this one within a few hours. Lots of trigger warnings on this read but really good if you're not too squeamish and love a feminine rage story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
mcgbreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
ARC review; thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Erewhon Books for the access to this ebook.
We follow Ji-won at a very difficult time in her life. Her father left her, her sister, and her mom, and her mom quickly fell prey to an opportunistic, lying, manipulative, gross white man. She has no friends, her grades are falling, and she starts having weird dreams, slowly becoming obsessed with the idea of consuming eyeballs.
This was gross, enraging, unhinged, quick to read, and full of great commentary about racism, racial fetishization, abandonment, and generational trauma. I feel like the ending was maybe a tad bit convenient, but overall, it's an unsettling read that makes you think.
We follow Ji-won at a very difficult time in her life. Her father left her, her sister, and her mom, and her mom quickly fell prey to an opportunistic, lying, manipulative, gross white man. She has no friends, her grades are falling, and she starts having weird dreams, slowly becoming obsessed with the idea of consuming eyeballs.
This was gross, enraging, unhinged, quick to read, and full of great commentary about racism, racial fetishization, abandonment, and generational trauma. I feel like the ending was maybe a tad bit convenient, but overall, it's an unsettling read that makes you think.
mintykleenex's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
mariyavd's review
5.0
That was a one day read! You completely immerse yourself in the life of Ji-won and the changes happening in her life, mind and body in a way as well. And the end! Oh my, plot twist after plot twist. Also really enjoyed learning some more about Korean culture, in which I am interested lately. I do recommend with both hands. Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me this copy!
fe_lea's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
After Ji-won’s father left them, her life fell apart. Her mother was a mess, and got herself a boyfriend - a racist white boyfriend who fetishizes Asian women. Ji-won herself, after tasting a tasty fish eye, started to have a thing with eyes. She kept having dreams of juicy blue eyes until she began craving for more.
“It’s an eye. A human eye. Clean and white and beautiful without blemishes, a ring of black around the iris. The blue is so familiar; I can’t stop staring. It might be the most mesmerizing thing I’ve ever seen.”
The eyes are the best part is a debut novel by Monika Kim about a serial killer in the making. The author also said that this is a novel about Asian fetishization and racism. And these two themes are very obvious in the book, maybe a bit too on the nose for my taste. The writing itself is very unsubtle, which really annoyed me until I got halfway through and the eye obsession began. The writing style worked well for this that I got disgusted because I could imagine the taste, the texture, and the smell.
"I flush, pushing down on the handle, and watch my sins disappear. They swirl down, down, until there's nothing left."
"I flush, pushing down on the handle, and watch my sins disappear. They swirl down, down, until there's nothing left."
Ji-won is an interesting character. I liked the way her daddy issues and relationships with her family and her mother’s new boyfriend were depicted. As a character, she’s manipulative, and as a narrator is unreliable. Again, Ji-won’s eye obsession was fascinating (and disgusting) to read and what compelled me to finish the book despite the unsubtle writing. I love characters becoming more and more unhinged as the story progresses, and Kim did not disappoint in that area. However, I would have liked to have delved deeper into Ji-won’s mind. The necessary parts of her personality are there but I feel like they needed to be threaded better. I also still couldn’t fully understand the origins of her cravings, I just went along with it.
"I want the crunch of cartilage in my mouth. I want the saltiness of blood on my tongue."
"I want the crunch of cartilage in my mouth. I want the saltiness of blood on my tongue."
The concept reminded me of Han Kang’s The Vegetarian and the writing reminded me a little bit of Sayaka Murata’s Earthlings. The way the themes were written also reminded me of Rebecca Kuang’s Yellowface. So if you liked any of these, then there’s a chance you might like this too.
The eyes are the best part is a promising debut. While it fell short in some aspects for me, the story itself was compelling enough for me to be interested in Kim’s future works. She has the good ideas, I just need better execution.
I received the arc from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.