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hschorr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book was fantastically creepy. A story of grief painted through the lens of speculative and cosmic horror, it’ll leave you not quite sure of what you’re reading and a little (or a lot) uneasy and looking over your shoulder. There is, however, some body horror, which I don’t tend to appreciate, but for some reason it didn’t bother me much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Animal death
loupend's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Gore, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Deportation, Death, Death of parent, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Drug use
apollo0325's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
First, I'd like to say the length of this novel saved this from being a DNF for me. I almost DNF'd midway through part one, but I said fuck it, it's only a 6 hour audiobook and I decided to keep going. I'm glad I did. This book encompasses such a specific angle of grief that isn't explored enough in literature especially under the lens of psychological horror/body horror/cosmic horror (of sorts).
I won't lie, the beginning is VERY slow because it's setting up Thiago's relationship with Vera, his mental state at her loss, and what life was like with her. However, after part one, we really get a grasp of what this novel is going to be in a way. I kept seeing people online pitch this book as one about grief and a "haunted Alexa" but babes, the haunted Alexa part is maybe 10% of the novel within part one and mentioned later on. I'd pitch this book as a psychological horror examining grief and how one deals with loss as someone basically loses their grip on reality (psychosis). Thiago is someone who is absolutely stricken with bad luck 100% of the time, and you learn this very quickly in part one. It makes this book all the more tragic.
If you're sensitive to animal death/violence especially with dogs, please cautiously read this book. It doesn't occur until part two, but everything snowballs very quickly after that point.
The ending was simultaneously confusing and tragic. I knew Thiago was succumbing to his grief, but it was really unclear as to what was actually happening to him. That's more of a me problem + listening through the audiobook. NGL, I also kind of hate the idea that people's tragedies/fates are inescapable, especially when it is based on generational trauma. It makes it feel like there is no hope at all and instead you should just die to save the people around you. It's a very hopeless ending, but that's also my interpretation. Others may feel differently! I think the open ending allows the reader to draw their own conclusions on what was going on with Thiago.
This book was brutal, unsettling, and tragic. The audiobook narrator was also FANTASTIC. I loved his narration. I'd read another book with him narrating it for sure.
I won't lie, the beginning is VERY slow because it's setting up Thiago's relationship with Vera, his mental state at her loss, and what life was like with her. However, after part one, we really get a grasp of what this novel is going to be in a way. I kept seeing people online pitch this book as one about grief and a "haunted Alexa" but babes, the haunted Alexa part is maybe 10% of the novel within part one and mentioned later on. I'd pitch this book as a psychological horror examining grief and how one deals with loss as someone basically loses their grip on reality (psychosis). Thiago is someone who is absolutely stricken with bad luck 100% of the time, and you learn this very quickly in part one. It makes this book all the more tragic.
If you're sensitive to animal death/violence especially with dogs, please cautiously read this book. It doesn't occur until part two, but everything snowballs very quickly after that point.
This book was brutal, unsettling, and tragic. The audiobook narrator was also FANTASTIC. I loved his narration. I'd read another book with him narrating it for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abandonment and Classism
If you are sensitive to animal death / viscera, I would not recommend this book unless you feel okay going in knowing it WILL be descriptive and detailed. The body horror in this one is also very well described.mlewis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Grief, Suicide attempt, Violence, Xenophobia, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicide, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Medical content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Miscarriage
thedreaminghare's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I read a moderate amount of horror, but this book was one of the only ones that I found genuinely frightening. It sent a thrill of fear up my spine and my arm hairs stood on end at several points during the story.
I thought the author crafted a fantastic and believable horror by melding elements of folklore and 'just nope' scenarios with elements of modernity and everyday life along with the emotional turmoil that comes with grieving someone important to you.
If you're looking for a good spook, this may be the read for you.
Mind the CW's if there are things you're trying to avoid.
I thought the author crafted a fantastic and believable horror by melding elements of folklore and 'just nope' scenarios with elements of modernity and everyday life along with the emotional turmoil that comes with grieving someone important to you.
If you're looking for a good spook, this may be the read for you.
Mind the CW's if there are things you're trying to avoid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Animal death, and Death
kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I liked this! The ending was predictably unsatisfying but I think that’s what makes it good horror!
Thiago was in turns pathetic and frightening and saddening and my god does that cook give me the willies.
In the best of ways, this reminded me of SGJ, and Neil Gaiman specifically in OATEOTL and American Gods
Thiago was in turns pathetic and frightening and saddening and my god does that cook give me the willies.
In the best of ways, this reminded me of SGJ, and Neil Gaiman specifically in OATEOTL and American Gods
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Alcohol, Murder, Violence, Medical content, Death, Car accident, Racism, Xenophobia, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, and Deportation
magicalrealem's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Animal cruelty
bitchigo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Body horror, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
bxnnny's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
2.0
i wanted to like this book but it honestly fell flat for me. the beginning started off decently - i found the representation of grief to be well done and it hit me hard. but as the story progressed and we're seeing more of the supernatural bits coming out, i was feeling a bit lost. there's no explanation as to what is really going on beyond some very minor speculation and things became somewhat confusing for me towards the end with the dreams and the quick jumps back to reality(?). i felt like there should have been more of a bigger build up to a crescendo ending but it really just fell flat for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Animal cruelty, Death, Body horror, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts
garinatorsch55's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.75
This book was my first step into the horror genre in books, and I really wasn't disappointed. I'm not the biggest horror fan, but that is only for horror stories with little to no connection to the humanity of the characters. This book does not fall under this trope.
The fact that this was written in 2nd-person made it all the more creepier and really made the main character's grief seep into your soul. I had so much sympathy for Thiago in how lost and depressed he became. Ultimately, this book supernaturally amplifies the feeling of grief after an unexpected loss of a loved one, the feeling that you should have saved them if only you had made one other, miniscule decision that would have changed your course for the better. Like I said, the humanity behind these characters makes me want to recommend this book.
The fact that this was written in 2nd-person made it all the more creepier and really made the main character's grief seep into your soul. I had so much sympathy for Thiago in how lost and depressed he became. Ultimately, this book supernaturally amplifies the feeling of grief after an unexpected loss of a loved one, the feeling that you should have saved them if only you had made one other, miniscule decision that would have changed your course for the better. Like I said, the humanity behind these characters makes me want to recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Animal death, Body horror, Grief, and Murder