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mari1532's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is one of those books when you start reading it you immediately want to know everything that is about to happen and also do not want to read/listen to it too quickly. The nail-biting aspects of this story that Henderson achieves in her writing made it nearly impossible for me to draw myself away from the story.
The mix of religious fervour in the town of Bethel and myth made the story feel a bit like it might have happened in real life at some point in history.
Synopsis: Immanuelle is a teenage girl, coming of age in a society dictated by religious doctrine. In a society where women are property and physically marked upon marriage, Immanuelle has no desire to give up her independence. To complicate matters more her parents broke all the rules of Bethel and she is marked with the stain of their sin. As Immanuelle tries to find herself she must come to terms with her familial legacy and to do that she might just end up breaking all the rules.
The way Henderson writes her characters is so good. I truly hated several people in this book because they were just so awful and there were others who switched from hating to loving. The complexity made the story even richer and more engrossing. I cannot wait for the second book.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault and Child abuse
jrharris'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
5.0
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
krozwat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Blood, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Rape
nieenkee'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Child abuse, Death, Racism, Child death, Misogyny, Murder, Body horror, Rape, and Blood
oesterzwamsnack's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Death, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
niamhyjay'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Blood, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
meowster18'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
4.75
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Gaslighting and Racism
Minor: Child abuse, Genocide, and Rape
sdsmith80's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I put this book on hold because it was a book club pick, although I didn't get it in time to participate. I'm always a fan of religious horror though, so was somewhat looking forward to this. My first thoughts with it were that Bethel has shades of the FLDS and other local sects that subjugate women. I was pretty sure that the author was going to make the point that women are oppressed to strip them of their power, and that the witches would ultimately be forces of good. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book has a level of nuance in its characters, and the battle between good and evil, that isn't normally seen. I'll let the author tell it in their own words:
"Some of them were innocent, others complicit; still more were caught in the gray between right and wrong. Few were wholly blameless, and none were free of sin."
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, and Xenophobia
erkietheturkey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, and Confinement
Minor: Medical content
chilivanilli28's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Death