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discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow ok, I signed up to be scared, not HEARTBROKEN. Rude, lol. I was not expecting to be left crying at the end of a horror book, but here we are!
But in all seriousness this was really good. Despite the “Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies” description, I didn’t find it necessarily frightening as much as I just found it really… upsetting? Tragic? The relationship between Father Andrew and Peter was so endearing, but I also appreciated how Andrew’s character—objectively the best of the priests—is not perfect (I mean, he’s complicit in child abuse).
Peter’s internal struggle the entire book with whether or not to become a priest himself serves as such a good sort-of backdrop to the rest of the story and his role in it as well. I just really liked Peter’s character, and even though I’m not a person of faith, I found his story really moving.
If you like horror that explores religious themes, this is right up your alley.
But in all seriousness this was really good. Despite the “Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies” description, I didn’t find it necessarily frightening as much as I just found it really… upsetting? Tragic? The relationship between Father Andrew and Peter was so endearing, but I also appreciated how Andrew’s character—objectively the best of the priests—is not perfect (I mean, he’s complicit in child abuse).
Peter’s internal struggle the entire book with whether or not to become a priest himself serves as such a good sort-of backdrop to the rest of the story and his role in it as well. I just really liked Peter’s character, and even though I’m not a person of faith, I found his story really moving.
If you like horror that explores religious themes, this is right up your alley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Murder, Blood, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, and Chronic illness
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