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missbreathing'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
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All the stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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I’ll try to summarize some thoughts, keeping in mind that I could never do my love for it justice:
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This starts off strong and stays that way the entire 400+ pages. Since we don’t really get the emotional aftermath of the big event at the end of “Chainsaw”, the first 30 or so pages served as a much needed catharsis. I cried lots (but this might just be a me thing 😂).
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In true SGJ fashion, the character work is spectacular. He’s able to get into the minds of even the most heinous of characters and paint them as realistic and dimensional people. The growth and arcs of the established characters was amazing, and I loved seeing them interact.
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The writing is superb. I dare say this is SGJ’s best. He has the subtlest way of cutting to the bone. Just one line has the power to take my breath away. There’s strong symbolism and memorable, cinematic imagery that fits perfectly into the horror/slasher tradition. This sequel also manages to keep the meta lens that makes “Chainsaw” so distinctive while still keeping it fresh and nuanced. This is one of those books that works so well on so many levels that it demands to be studied, not just read.
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And the ending! I’ll be getting over that for the rest of my life.
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Jade. Fucking. Daniels. What a character! She is one of the best characters the horror genre has seen in ages. I love her, I feel for her, and I will always root for her.
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I can’t wait to see how this trilogy ends! (But also, I totally can because I am not ready to say goodbye.)
Graphic: Gore
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
gladiolus17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book follows Jade after the events of the first books. Freshly out of jail, she returns to Proofrock only to find another slasher happening.
SGJ’s writing is kind of like a seesaw, or a rollercoaster, or something that goes back and forth really fast. You have to use your brain to read it. I read a lot of literary fiction so this was not a problem for me, but if you want easily accessible horror, this is not for you.
If you like slashers, this IS the book for you. (I actually don’t like slashers, but this did not hamper my enjoyment.) It’s chock full of slasher trivia and references. The story itself is a nod to the genre.
My two favorite characters, Letha and Hardy, appear once again. Idk, I just like badass girls and father-like figures? Handing in Hardy’s perspective really hit me in the feels at times.
Speaking of which, I really enjoyed the form of this book. We’re floating through the perspectives of many characters in Proofrock. Each one is like its own mini-story within the story. SGJ does an excellent job of making you feel for each character (whether affection or disgust).
I enjoyed the first book better, and I think it was because we had a lot of time in Jade’s head, so I had an emotional impact on ending with her dad etc., but this time the familial aspect was a little muted. I still had a good time though, and highly recommend!
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
annact'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
"It's Jade, sir," Jade says back
Jade Daniels, the woman that you are...
Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Child death, Torture, Death of parent, Blood, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Vomit, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Self harm, Sexual assault, Addiction, Gun violence, and Medical content
sdsmith80'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? No
5.0
I've been waiting for this book for what feels like forever. Its arrival wound up perfectly timed with a minor surgery, so I was able to spend part of my recovery in Proofrock, Idaho, with Jade Daniels.
This book starts off with a bang and just keeps rolling on an exhilarating ride through town. While there is some confusion as to who the killer(s) is/are, that isn't 100% cleared up in my mind at the end, it is such an exciting read. I literally couldn't stop myself from talking to my husband about this or that segment, even though I'm not supposed to be talking, haha.
I can't wait to see what comes next for Jade and the denizens of Proofrock. Especially after this killer ending. I can only wish that time goes faster so the final book in this trilogy will be in my hands a little sooner.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, Gore, Vomit, Cursing, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Child abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal death, and Mental illness
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
poetsofsweetpea'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: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual assault, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Murder
xennial_reader's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Happy Pub day!!
Thank you to netgalley & to Simon & Schuster for the eARC.
This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it did not disappoint! Although it did very much gross me out 😆 I’m not usually a fan of slashers, but if anyone’s going to get me to read one, it’s Stephen Graham Jones.
We’re back with our final girl Jade, 4 years down the road, freshly out of prison and most importantly, no longer going by Jade- she’s back to Jennifer. With no place left to go after being released, she has to abandon her dream of escaping her hometown and head back. And this time with a new (to us) serial killer on the loose and the whole town trapped in with him during a blizzard, of course.
This story goes off like a bullet and does not let up. SGJ is a master at weaving emotional depth with horror and social commentary. Jennifer/Jade is such a badass, flawed heroine you love to root for. She’s real, she’s angry, she’s sad and she’s just struggling to stay alive. Age, the forced time away and having been under trial for the past few years has made her much more toned down and self aware. With the escape of Dark Mill South (and possibly other killers in the mix??) it’s once again up to Jade to save her small town. She’s still insisting she’s not the final girl, yet again, even with all the signs she’s willfully ignoring. But, to save who she can, she has to tap into her old self which she’s been trying to forget and repress while she was away.
The growth of this character and the trauma processing (whether healthy or not) from everyone involved gave this story so much emotion and depth. I loved being back with my favorite final girl in Proofrock and being dragged along (honestly sometimes kicking and screaming it felt like) for this wild ride.
The only thing that didn’t make this a 5 star read for me was that, while I really liked the multi-POV, I absolute hated having to read the killers’ POV. The gore level was also well past my comfort zone, more so than the first book.
In any event, I’m simultaneously excited and terrified for the final installment of the Lake Witch trilogy. Stephen Graham Jones has become an auto-buy author for me and I can’t wait for the next one!!
Graphic: Gore, Car accident, Child death, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Child abuse, and Rape
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Animal death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Stalking, Body horror, Confinement, Medical content, and Gun violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Colonisation, Car accident, Genocide, Pedophilia, Self harm, Addiction, and Fire/Fire injury
enchantressreads'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
4.0
I gave Chainsaw a 4.5 star rating, and I’m going with a 4 star rating for Reaper. One of the biggest reasons for this is because I felt we didn’t get to see Jade as she truly was. She was (pardon the pun) quite jaded as she returned to town after her time in prison. However, Stephen Graham Jones is one of my favorite writers, and I loved everything about the story. I just wish we had more Jade.
I’m excited to read the third book and conclude the series. I think it’s possible my issues with the second will solve themselves in the third, as it tends to happen with middle books in a trilogy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Saga Press for the advanced review copy! Don’t Fear the Reaper releases on February 7th.
TW for blood, gore, injury, death, murder, grief, trauma, racism, animal cruelty, animal death, and an adult/minor relationship
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Violence, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Self harm, Animal cruelty, Racism, and Animal death
Minor: Grief, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide
ninjamuse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Vomit, and Animal death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Incest
edoherty'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
4.25
I have two main reasons for rating DFtR slightly lower than the first book:
1.
2.
Graphic: Death of parent, Animal death, Gore, Body horror, and Violence
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Child death, Drug use, and Adult/minor relationship