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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: Animal death and Gaslighting
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: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
chloebrown13's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
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: Body horror, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
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 contains every single trope that I despise) and found Such Sharp Teeth funny, despite it being kind of boring. But this book is just... nothing. It's not funny, it's not witty, it's not inventive nor gripping.
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, admittedly, 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: Animal death, Child abuse, Blood, 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: Gore, Blood, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death and Cannibalism
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: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
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: Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Violence
runlaurarun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Animal death and Cursing