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alexisgarcia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Toxic friendship, Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Gaslighting, Murder, Torture, and Gore
kathrynok's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Torture, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Violence
alissamargaret's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Murder, Confinement, and Torture
meaghanelizabook's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Vomit, Murder, and Excrement
markieh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
Before I start this, I want to say, if you have the chance to get the physical copy, do, because the design of the book alone is worth it. I grabbed the Kindle version from the Libby App, and it still had the elements, but I think it would have been better in print.
Overall Book Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
This book is like if Saw had a baby and then graphically delivered that baby on a bed display in an Ikea. It's gross. I'm not usually bothered by gore and all that, but there were a few times I had to take a break from this one because it was 🤢. That's probably the main reason I didn't rate it higher.
The story itself is a masterclass in horror trope. You get the five stereotype personalities. The no man left behind attitude. A reluctant hero. A terrifying villain. Eldritch Location style building layout (Nothing is where it should be, and the paths change. The building also disappears from maps and view to the outside). And so much darkness. I mean, literal, the lights are out, our flashlights are dead, darkness. If jump scares while reading are a thing for you, I'd skip this.
All in all, I loved it once I got past the gore. I mean, I can only read about swimming in oily filth so many times. Also. There are a lot of 🐀. It got a little heavy handed in its "We are just cogs in a machine" narrative, but I think that was intentional.
The ending and epilogue made me feel like I was reading R.L. Stine all over again. It spoke to me. And bonus points for the chapter titles and beginning pages.
Graphic: Suicide, Torture, Blood, Gore, Death, and Murder
Minor: Addiction
cottagecoregrandma's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Minor: Vomit
devowynn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Suicide, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Physical abuse, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
chaoticnostalgia's review
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Body horror, Death, Torture, Excrement, Self harm, Suicide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
literarylily's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Excrement, Confinement, Body horror, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Gore, Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
kristiemarie12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Violence, Murder, Grief, Death, Body horror, and Blood