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wynplus1's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
I love the novel's tone, i love the style in which it's written. Thiago is a really sympathetic character and I found myself rooting for him early on. I like the novel's exploration of grief and the "weird" horror vibes. It felt like watching a really tense horror movie, something artsy and "elevated".
It really started to lose me
Graphic: Gore, Animal death, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
greavuem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Animal death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
cheyanndow'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Gore, Murder, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Death of parent, Police brutality, Self harm, and Death
caroisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is written from the perspective of Thiago writing to his wife, the love of his life who lost her life to a random accident, only a few months prior. He is still processing his grief and anger, and we sort through his memories together. Then the creepy elements start to appear, like the Alexa-inspired speaker that seems to be haunted. Only Thiago, his wife, and his mother-in-law seem to witness these strange events. As he makes the move away from Chicago and this mysterious darkness, he realizes he's being followed. Layered within this is his in-between identity, being Mexican and American, feeling like he carries the ancestral curse of any family wrongdoings -- racism and the polarizing discourse on immigrants as background themes.
For me, this story was bleak (rightfully so?) and unraveled in a messy way, continuously confirming there's only darkness in the end, "life is life." I think any comedic undertone got lost on me.
I was so excited to read a Chicagoan author's work, and really appreciated Gus Moreno's writing style -- sparse enough to read with ease, but decorative and meandering where it needed to be.
You'll like this if you're into horror and supernatural concepts, bicultural perspectives, stories that reflect grief and loss of loved ones.
Graphic: Suicide, Gore, Self harm, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
sabrinalexis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Violence, Death, Body horror, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death
slimygf'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: Body horror, Death, Grief, and Animal death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
hannaheinhorn'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? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Gore, Car accident, Body horror, Death, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death of parent, Racism, Classism, and Gun violence
grrrcait'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Gore, Animal cruelty, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
abyjo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Vomit and Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
robert_bugeja'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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, and Suicide