Scan barcode
connorjdaley's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I listened to this on my way home to see my parents. Highland Mills, Central Valley, and Harriman we’re mentioned by name more than once, and all three are directly connected to my home town of 22 years, Monroe. West Point Military Academy, as well as 9W through Cornwall, Bear Mountain, and the novel’s featured hospital, St. Luke’s in Newburgh, are all places I’ve frequented as well. It was super cool and kind of eerie to read a novel like this about where I’m from.
The town of Black Spring has a problem, what kind of old town doesn’t? This town’s problem just happens to be a 17th century immortal witch named Katherine. Since they were able to sew her eyes and mouth shut she hasn’t been too much of a problem, just creepy. And luckily she never breaks from her current schedule…
So because I always listen to an audio and read a physical book at the same time, I had this really unique experience of reading these two very similar scenes in two drastically different novels within like an hour of each other. Both this novel and C.V. Hunt’s ‘Halloween Fiend’ feature a fall festival that isn’t really dedicated to their town’s (I’ll say) affliction, but at the same time kind of is. It was cool to see how each framed how their town responded to what they had been forced to accept as normal over time.
The climax of this novel does some really interesting things in its depiction of the degradation of humanity. Is it the witch causing it, or the town itself? Either way, they so easily are lead to depravity. Brothers, sisters, mothers, husbands…no one is safe and everyone is guilty.
Personally a 4/5*. Spooky, atmospheric, dark. It looks like there’s a sequel to this but it’s only available in Dutch? I’m confused.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Suicide, and Violence
ashdroid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child death, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Bullying
hannaib's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Body horror, Animal death, Suicide, Child death, and Suicidal thoughts
ambzillius's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Rape, Racial slurs, and Domestic abuse
yatestx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, Misogyny, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape
entityj's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Vomit, Islamophobia, and Alcohol
enderbug's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm, Gore, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Islamophobia, Rape, and Homophobia
mlemzor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual violence, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Child death, Confinement, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Torture, and Vomit
becah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Violence, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Gun violence, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Death, Child death, Blood, and Animal death
coleyglasses's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Additionally
Made for an uncomfortable read at times and not in the good way
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Vomit