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joonjxne's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Self harm
Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Incest, Stalking, and Violence
scottsland_yard's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The plot line is convoluted and difficult to follow, the characters come across as a bit try-hard edgy (though they do have their moments), and the world building is lacking in substance and clear rules, especially around the use of magic.
It reads like a Sweeney Todd fan adapted a fanfiction, which is unfortunate.
That being said, it's definitely not the worst thing I've read, and I'm sure some would find it quite enjoyable. It's fantastical and gory, and it's a huge bonus that the main two characters are gay. Or at least, into each other.
Graphic: Body horror, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Child death, Murder, Physical abuse, Excrement, Gore, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Cursing
jems_'s review
3.5
I do love dark sceneries and myths which I think this book did perfectly. It had a dark and gritty atmosphere, one you wouldn’t want to be in yourself. A glum industrial town would not be the place I‘d like to spend any amount of time in. Such is Elendhaven.
I also liked the myths in this book and the tad bit of the supernatural making them real.
The characters however felt a bit inconsequential at some points. With how I imagined them, some of the things they did and said felt somewhat out of character.
I would’ve also liked for the book to be a bit longer to explore the characters, especially the „monster-ization“ a bit longer and maybe over the course of that the author could’ve slowly introduced this behavior that seemed odd to me now and make it more believable.
Also beware of the trigger warnings if you read this!
One other thing: As a German reading this, it was funny because it uses some German terms. I mean „Elend“ alone is German and roughly translates to „misery“ which makes sense for the town.
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Blood, Stalking, and Death
Minor: Drug use, Death of parent, and Incest
tey_lynn'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
2.75
Minor: Child abuse, Gore, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Child death
onemamareads'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
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Blood, Gore, Rape, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Murder, Death, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Sexual violence
thescenery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It was fun, it had everything that I liked: gay people, gore and a bit of sadness. The first half got me obsessed and I wanted to devour the book in one sitting. The characters were fun put together, even if completely horrible to each other.
However, I think I got more and more confused by the second half. Once I thought I finally understood it, the book ended. I knew from the start it would be an unsatisfying ending, and I was right (not that this is a bad thing), but it felt almost too underwhelming.. Almost.
I think I'm still trying to figure out what quite happened on its last chapter, and I'm not sure we are meant to. But I guess I'll have to think about it for a while.
Read this for the Halloween Challenge, and it sure was a good start!
Graphic: Body horror, Excrement, Gore, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Genocide
snackattackisback69's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement and Rape
Minor: Stalking and Incest
shadowspinner's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Gun violence and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Death of parent
alienor's review
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Child death, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Death
cathgotaknife's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
Moderate: Rape, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Vomit, Stalking, Gore, Animal death, Blood, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Death of parent, Child death, and Death