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wholesome_chaotic's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Sexual violence
saldre's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Rape, Sexual content, Incest, Violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, and Sexual violence
lordkronk's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Gross book, made me feel slimey, loved it though
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Incest
Moderate: Eating disorder
sydsmith23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Sexual assault, Violence, Racism, Rape, and Murder
gssll_lpz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Death, Dysphoria, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicide, Eating disorder, and Murder
kurdt's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Violence
jant8's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Sexual content, and Incest
zea_d_writing's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.0
I cannot recommend this book to anyone. Check trigger warnings and definitely do your research before deciding whether or not to read this book.
I went into this knowing it was an extreme horror novel: which means I knew that its sole purpose was to be horrific, vile, disgusting, sick, revolting, shocking purely to be shocking, and potentially even offensive. I knew it would likely delve into taboo topics, as these kinds of books often do.
And I wasn’t wrong.
This book wasn’t actually as graphic as I expected. Don’t get me wrong…there are absolutely very graphic, very disturbing, sickening scenes and themes depicted in this book. It just wasn’t as over the top as I expected given what I had heard about this book.
And I actually found the lore of this book really interesting and thought the storytelling itself was very effective.
But this book is absolutely disgusting, sick, and offensive.
I hated Lori, the main character. She’s vile in every way conceivable. Which is exactly how you’re supposed to feel about her - especially by the end.
This book features pretty severe racism and the fetishization of Asian women. It uses slurs (g slur) and describes very graphic violence and SA towards these groups. There is also severe blatant ableism (both in how the disabled character is depicted and how the other characters treat, talk to, and talk about the disabled character. The r slur is used more than once…as well as other derogatory terms.
The book features graphic incest and SA, murder, torture, dismemberment, violence and abuse, eating disorders, and a whole host of other triggers warnings.
Its dark. Its graphic. Its offensive. Its sick. I found the story itself weirdly interesting despite how twisted it was and the lore and worldbuilding were actually very intriguing.
I’m giving this three stars because it did what it intended to do and at no point was anything written within treated like it was supposed to be anywhere near normal or moral or okay. Its an extreme horror novel and everything and everyone within was entirely fucked up.
I went into this knowing it was an extreme horror novel: which means I knew that its sole purpose was to be horrific, vile, disgusting, sick, revolting, shocking purely to be shocking, and potentially even offensive. I knew it would likely delve into taboo topics, as these kinds of books often do.
And I wasn’t wrong.
This book wasn’t actually as graphic as I expected. Don’t get me wrong…there are absolutely very graphic, very disturbing, sickening scenes and themes depicted in this book. It just wasn’t as over the top as I expected given what I had heard about this book.
And I actually found the lore of this book really interesting and thought the storytelling itself was very effective.
But this book is absolutely disgusting, sick, and offensive.
I hated Lori, the main character. She’s vile in every way conceivable. Which is exactly how you’re supposed to feel about her - especially by the end.
This book features pretty severe racism and the fetishization of Asian women. It uses slurs (g slur) and describes very graphic violence and SA towards these groups. There is also severe blatant ableism (both in how the disabled character is depicted and how the other characters treat, talk to, and talk about the disabled character. The r slur is used more than once…as well as other derogatory terms.
The book features graphic incest and SA, murder, torture, dismemberment, violence and abuse, eating disorders, and a whole host of other triggers warnings.
Its dark. Its graphic. Its offensive. Its sick. I found the story itself weirdly interesting despite how twisted it was and the lore and worldbuilding were actually very intriguing.
I’m giving this three stars because it did what it intended to do and at no point was anything written within treated like it was supposed to be anywhere near normal or moral or okay. Its an extreme horror novel and everything and everyone within was entirely fucked up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Eating disorder, Incest, Racism, Violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Body horror, Chronic illness, Gore, Grief, Racial slurs, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Blood, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Torture
waverlyloyd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
this book was so insane and brutal and dark and disturbing that it feels wrong to give it any kind of rating. so I won’t. If you are easily disturbed, scared, or grossed out, do NOT read this book. It was gruesome and graphic and sick. Seriously the most disturbing book I have ever read. I found it fascinating and thrilling, and it’s pretty hard to shock me, but this book did just that. i’m thankful it was only 165 pages. im going to go and watch a disney movie now … :-)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Gore, Incest, Blood, Body horror, Death, Child death, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Torture, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Violence, and Toxic relationship
gelly's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was recommended on a "read if you don't want to sleep" tiktok. I probably would have been more freaked out had I read it at night but I can see why it was on the list, the imagery and subject matter are disturbing. I thought it was going to be about a serial killer so the paranormal aspect took me by surprise.
I think the horror genre might be the only one where you can get away with making a character so unlikable like Lori your protagonist. By the end, I hated her guts but due to the way, this is written that doesn't work against the book, and actually having her be so unlikeable, in my opinion, works in its favor. Because she's not unlikeable from the beginning she becomes unlikeable as the book progresses and she gets closer to the River Man and we discover what a horrible person she is and see more of her ego and victim complex.
I won't spoil who or what the River Man is but I will say it makes it so I don't think this book would have been as good had Lori been a good person. Also, before reading do check the trigger warnings because this book does have graphic descriptions of gore, murder, SA.
I think the horror genre might be the only one where you can get away with making a character so unlikable like Lori your protagonist. By the end, I hated her guts but due to the way, this is written that doesn't work against the book, and actually having her be so unlikeable, in my opinion, works in its favor. Because she's not unlikeable from the beginning she becomes unlikeable as the book progresses and she gets closer to the River Man and we discover what a horrible person she is and see more of her ego and victim complex.
I won't spoil who or what the River Man is but I will say it makes it so I don't think this book would have been as good had Lori been a good person. Also, before reading do check the trigger warnings because this book does have graphic descriptions of gore, murder, SA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Incest