Scan barcode
dixiecarroll's review
- 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? No
4.75
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Gore, Blood, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Self harm
moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Dysphoria, Grief, Blood, Death, Bullying, Sexism, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Transphobia, Cancer, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual assault and Cannibalism
earofthedog's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Transphobia, and Bullying
bookishmillennial's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
This was wild. Absolutely WILD. The last 20% is where all the meat of the story really is unpacked, but the first 80% had me guessing and wondering who to trust. This book felt like it could've existed in the world of Riverdale x Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, like a nefarious camp horror!! This elite summer camp setting in the Catskills Mountains was eerie and screamed "bad things will happen!" I loved the representation of Mars as genderfluid, but I was confused as to why no one else ever used pronouns besides he/him, when she made it clear that they use he/they/she? Maybe that was intentional to show that everyone around Mars was an "ally" but still fumbling and getting it wrong? They also constantly deadname him, which frustrated me. However, again, I'm guessing it was a deliberate choice to possibly evoke unease and tension from the readers? I'm totally projecting here lol!
Anyway, I appreciated the fact that I had no idea who to trust in this novel. Maybe that's obvious in a horror/thriller, that you shouldn't count anyone out. However, I could not for the life of me (!!!) tell if the Honeys were supposed to be the villains or in solidarity with Mars! It was exhausting to be me, and I think that just shows how talented Ryan La Sala is in their fleshing out of these characters, and how every single moment the Honeys shared with Mars left me guessing how I felt about the interaction. Was that meant to be helpful? Was that threatening? Do they know something? Are they just as scared? This was masterfully done!!!
I'm excited to read more from Ryan La Sala, and this was the perfect book for me to let go of summer (like truly, fuck summer after reading this book. I want no part of it hahaha), and to welcome autumn and Halloween season!
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Deadnaming, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Child death, Murder, Sexism, Transphobia, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content
queerreaderchaos's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Transphobia, Murder, Misogyny, Bullying, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Death
Minor: Classism, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Cancer
wyabook234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Kidnapping, Body shaming, and Child death
crystalleighwrites's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Transphobia, Homophobia, Death, Blood, Violence, Body horror, Cancer, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Cannibalism, Confinement, Deadnaming, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
hschlecht's review
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Torture, Transphobia, Murder, Child death, Death, Body shaming, Bullying, Kidnapping, Outing, Terminal illness, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
tinytrashqueen's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gore, Kidnapping, and Terminal illness
bashsbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Cannibalism, Classism, and Transphobia
Minor: Death of parent and Gore
BEES. Explicit descriptions of them around people, the sounds of their buzzing, them crawling on skin/into ears, and lots of bee stings.