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deolariyo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A solid 3.5 stars 🌟. My favour character was Constance Wright, Vesper's mysterious and dark mother (I imagined her to look like Cher). I wish we knew more about her and her true thoughts on Hell's Gate. I also enjoyed Vesper’s sense of humor.
Overall, a solid read with some humor and engaging story. And PS, I didn’t think Vesper was rude at all, just me?
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, and Animal death
cait_reads_and_drinks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Gaslighting and Animal death
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Cannibalism
mamawantsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Toxic relationship
rhiannonafternoon'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Gore, Violence, and Animal death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
chloebrown13's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
katiemack's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I like my horror with a comedic twist, so Rachel Harrison's quickly becoming my go-to author during Spooky Season. This is the second book of hers that I've read, and I've grown to love her dark, twisted, sarcastic sense of humor; she reminds me of Grady Hendrix in that way. She also creates jaded, snarky, smart heroines that are easy to root for as they get themselves into increasingly weird, terrifying situations.
I'm also a big fan of how Harrison makes a familiar trope feel original and fresh; this is the case with this trope of going back home to one's estranged, extremely religious family only to have something creepy happen. (Don't read any synopses before you start this book--I've had issues with marketing blurbs before, but the publisher did a solid job being informative yet cryptic with this one.) Also, don't be put off by the slower pacing in the beginning--it REALLY picks up later, especially in the last quarter of the novel.
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Body horror, Cursing, and Gaslighting
slimepuppy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really don't get Rachel Harrison. I absolutely loved The Return, steered clear of Cackle (it sounds like it has every single trope that I despise) and found Such Sharp Teeth funny, if a little boring - but this book is just an enigma to me. To have an interesting topic and do nothing with it?
Every character is a different shade of bland. Vesper desperately wants to be loved for who she is, instead of being loved for what she is, but that would be pretty hard, considering that her personality consists of being dumb and insufferable.
This book wasn't even as funny or quick as her other books!!! The body horror (which Harrison is admittedl masterful at) was barely there!!! I was so disappointed. I probably will check out her next book, because she is a talented writer, but wow. What a snooze.
The only part that was enjoyable was the epilogue, because Vesper was a little less of a miserable POV by then.
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Animal death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror
lexhayz's review against another edition
- 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
1.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Cannibalism and Animal death
nonfictionfeminist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Animal death
katfrenn_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Violence