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our_bookish_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
What an amazing debut novel! Bravo Kit Mayquist, bravo! ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ
The events that transpire are so well written that they're believable. Even the characters were believable! My favorite character was Jonathan, I just felt for him and he seemed the most real in this. I was so sucked into this book that I had to force myself to peel it away from my eyes! I was shocked by some of the twists in here and did NOT expect the last few bombshells! I can kind of get how this is compared to The Great Gatsby in that it compares the filthy rich to the absolute poor.... it also had a slight mysterious ambience while still staying in the Psychological Thriller genre.
I could go on and on about this book all night, I really could, but I don't want to give away the whole story!
Drug abuse, alcohol, suicide ideation and attempt are very heavy in this, so if that is a trigger, I'd advise you to skip this one.
The events that transpire are so well written that they're believable. Even the characters were believable! My favorite character was Jonathan, I just felt for him and he seemed the most real in this. I was so sucked into this book that I had to force myself to peel it away from my eyes! I was shocked by some of the twists in here and did NOT expect the last few bombshells! I can kind of get how this is compared to The Great Gatsby in that it compares the filthy rich to the absolute poor.... it also had a slight mysterious ambience while still staying in the Psychological Thriller genre.
I could go on and on about this book all night, I really could, but I don't want to give away the whole story!
Drug abuse, alcohol, suicide ideation and attempt are very heavy in this, so if that is a trigger, I'd advise you to skip this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Medical content, Alcoholism, Addiction, Murder, Vomit, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Abandonment
caseythereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Thanks to Dutton Books for the free copy of this book.
- TRIPPING ARCADIA is quite the ride! Blending gothic horror with modern nightmares and a heavy dash of queerness, it's visceral and gripping at every turn.
- I found myself quite invested in the Verdeaus in an unexplainable way just as Lena was.
- Some of the plot machinations were a bit tidy and predictable, but I still quite enjoyed the trip. I'll be interested to see what Mayquist does next.
- TRIPPING ARCADIA is quite the ride! Blending gothic horror with modern nightmares and a heavy dash of queerness, it's visceral and gripping at every turn.
- I found myself quite invested in the Verdeaus in an unexplainable way just as Lena was.
- Some of the plot machinations were a bit tidy and predictable, but I still quite enjoyed the trip. I'll be interested to see what Mayquist does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, and Death
alliechase's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist grabbed me and didnโt let go! This modern-day gothic novel kept me on the edge of my seat and up well past my bedtime. Though flawed and not always good people, I cared about the three main characters and rooted for them throughout the book. Mayquistโs writing was engaging, raw, and poetic. It beautifully captured the flawed characters, the debauched Gatsby-esque parties, the anger and compassion of our protagonist, and the gothic decay and beauty of the settings. The book gave a similar feel as The Secret History by Donna Tartt (one of my favorite books!) and had a hint of dark academia within the gothic tale. You will not want to miss this book! I highly recommend pre-ordering Tripping Arcadia, especially with some attractive pre-order incentives available!
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Penguin Publishing Group for an eARC of this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit
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