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graceev's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug abuse, Miscarriage, and Rape
sydneythekydneybean'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? No
4.5
Samantha has always, will always be that final girl. Not only dealing with and battling physical danger at every turn but also dismantling the mental distress she has been forced to endure for over a decade. I loved piecing together her story and watching her becoming something new, not totally Samantha, not totally Mattie. I don't think that the creatures in the woods were as fleshed out as they could have been. I understand their necessity from the plot narratively, but other than as a plot point, I'm not totally sold as to why they are in the story. I always felt a true sense of fear and anxiety from William, always watching, stalking and waiting for the right time to strike, but I didn't feel that way from the creatures.
But, the creatures in the woods, are on the lowest tier of why this book worked for me. For me, the other characters in the story (besides William, but that should be obvious) were so endearing to me that even though they were only introduced halfway through the story and we didn't spend a ton of time with them, the time I did spend with them they dug their way so deep into my heart,
In another life, Griffin, Jen, C.P., and Samantha all escaped William and the monsters in the forest and lived happily ever after as the best of friends, Mattie finding a family in these strangers who showed up in her forest one day and refused to leave her behind.
Graphic: Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Body horror, Blood, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Infertility, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Death
Moderate: Confinement and Grief
Minor: Miscarriage and Sexual violence
sonygaystation'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
4.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Body horror, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Sexism, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage, Confinement, Grief, Death of parent, and Vomit
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Rape, Gaslighting, Drug use, Pregnancy, Cursing, and Alcohol
batcaves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Violence
wild_sazzy'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
4.0
Christina Henry addresses modern day issues in a horror context and I am here for it.
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Cursing, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
twogreenpenguins's review against another edition
1.5
Graphic: Rape, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
elskabee'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
4.5
For me this book was not a comfortable read, but most of the things that happen to the MC are left vaguely described (most, not all). William's monstrosity still is more than clear and the MC's mental journey of starting to deconstruct everything she'd been brainwashed to believe as her memories come back is beautifully done. Being in Matty's head is incredible, she's smart and compassionate and finds an inner strength that made this story feel powerful rather than depressing.
I won't say this is a perfect book. As terrifying as the actual cryptid monster is, those looking for a creature horror will likely leave feeling unsatisfied. Although Matty is smart and careful, the strangers she meets make some stupid decisions that are kind of frustrating. But imo it was fairly tolerable because at least we still had Matty and their motivations for the decisions were understandable (but still stupid). The abruptness of the ending was very jarring for me as I felt that some things were left unresolved and I also just wish I could have known more about events afterwards.
Highly recommend, but definitely consider the triggers before picking up
Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death, Animal death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, and Rape
Minor: Confinement
additionally: brainwashing, religious abuse rape is not on page/described, but it is referenced fairly frequentlye_gracereads'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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Miscarriage
joy_ong'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Body horror, Confinement, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Gun violence
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gore, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death, Religious bigotry, Violence, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage and Confinement
Minor: Infertility, Pedophilia, Torture, Cursing, and Rape
Rapes are not detailed.