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whatellisreadnext's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Violence
grasonwood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Violence
caidyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Religious bigotry, and Violence
annacaldwell333'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
2.5
I don’t mind a slow moving plot, but there better be a point to it. The creatures were built up to be more threatening than they really were. Honestly I think I would have enjoyed the story more if the supernatural was taken out of it and this was just about a village full of people turning against each other.
The main character had no personality. I’m told that characters are a certain way. “He tells me everything, she’s my best friend”, but I see no evidence of this at all? Kind of hard to believe Sam’s a good person and brother when he’s a dick right from the beginning.
The love interest. Sigh. I feel like I could replace him with Cassius from HoSaS and there would be absolutely no difference at all. And come on. He was one part of the mystery that wasn’t a mystery at all. No personality, insta love by the gallon, main character swooning over him literally from the first moment. In a book this slow, there was time to build a relationship between Ellerie and Whitaker. But no. We couldn’t possible have that.
The ending was anticlimactic and even more boring than the last novel. Craig’s writing style is beautiful and I was really hoping Small Favors would win me over after the disaster ending of HoSaS. But I think this will be the last book I read from her.
Graphic: Animal death, Murder, and Gore
betweentheshelves'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? Yes
3.0
Oh I wanted to like this more than I did. Review to come on Thursday!
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
allisonwonderlandreads'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Again, Erin A. Craig slays me with her immersive world-building and atmosphere-- homey and creepy by turn, veering steadily towards the latter as the story slinks onwards. As the bizarre, catastrophic events striking the town of Amity Falls multiply and worsen, hysteria creeps in, neighbor turning on neighbor, friend betraying friend. Everything is covered in a film of suspicion. There's that ominous teeling that you don't have all the puzzle pieces to understand the horrific events unfolding, and you're just as mystified and nervous as the characters. It's DARK on all kinds of fronts: psychological, gore, social critique. I found myself eating it up.
Our protagonist, Ellerie, is a stalwart guide through all the dark chaos. She's a dutiful, big-hearted, tough-as-nails heroine who cares for everyone around her, especially her family. She carries the weight of others' needs and wants on her back while holding their secrets safely locked away. Ellerie wants recognition from her father and her community, but she is in the awkward position of being a girl, leaving her with limited opportunity. On the flipside, I wasn't sure for most of the book if her twin brother was actually evil or just a terrible, obnoxious person, but he fueled my hate fire singlehandedly.
God, this book was good. It defies a single genre with historical homesteader elements, creepy thriller vibes, a dash of fairy tale inspiration, and lurking supernatural presence. It's a slow, consuming build and I highly recommend it.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Pregnancy
offictionandfantasy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Death, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit