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rabidmerk's review
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Homophobia, Body horror, and Sexism
peregrinwho's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The first time I've seen a human genderfluid person portrayed away from fanfiction. It was difficult to get through the homophobia of some of the characters, but not all the antagonists act that way toward the mc and I was living for that variety. I understand its necessity for the purpose of setup, but this book really thrived when it was away from the Bear cabin boys, since those chapters were just hard and slow and mostly unrelated to the conclusion. But the cult aura? The reframing of femininity as a dance for survival cutting a continuum towards destruction helped by sisterhood??? I could eat that all day. I felt for Mars, I fell in love with Bria, I still fucking hate every man in this book (Wyatt's on the thinnest of ice). I wanted to hurl my book at the wall when the slut comments were brushed off as if there weren't already other signs of sexual assault happening to people at this fucking camp.
Ultimately, it was slow in the middle 50%, but the lyrical reminders of the themes of grief and sisterhood were nice and made the reading experience rather dreamy. Choosing to interpret the last two chapters so that's not undercut. Have fun floating in the middle.
Ultimately, it was slow in the middle 50%, but the lyrical reminders of the themes of grief and sisterhood were nice and made the reading experience rather dreamy. Choosing to interpret the last two chapters so that's not undercut. Have fun floating in the middle.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Body horror
Moderate: Misogyny and Grief
Minor: Deadnaming and Sexual assault
readingpicnic's review against another edition
3.75
This book kept me guessing the whole time, and I enjoyed being surprised by each new twist and turn that revealed itself as the story went on. I will say that this book was very slow for me to get through, which I think really slowed me down for the TRR unfortunately, and I considered DNFing it at certain points. It starts off really intense and then slows almost all the way down before picking back up around 70% through. However, I really enjoyed the ending of the book, so I'm glad I stuck through it ultimately. The bee horror in this book felt so creative and new, and I loved the drippy, rotten, and sweet imagery throughout. The depictions of grief were very real in this book and became all the more real after reading the author's acknowledgements section at the end. I appreciated how Caroline remained a presence throughout the whole story, even if just in the peripheral. I think that this book would make an excellent A24 horror movie honestly, going off of the trend on BookTok, as this book felt so cinematic and I could picture so much of it in my head. It reminded me a lot of both Wickerman movies, the original with its slow-paced disconcerting vibes and horror, and the remake with its bee horror. I was also reminded of Bunny a lot while reading this with the group of Honey girls, but I think this specific story hasn't been told before even though it reminded me of other horror. Overall, I enjoyed this and its explorations of gender, sexuality, and class. I think this story has so many layers to it and I wasn't necessarily patient at times with this slow method of storytelling, but I understand why it's well loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Deadnaming, Grief, Bullying, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Gore, Death, Transphobia, Homophobia, Blood, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and Classism
sp00ky_girl28's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Grief, Bullying, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Death
Moderate: Cancer and Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual assault
kleinekita's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.25
Bunnies meets The Wicker Man
The audiobook is excellent. There are background sounds, musical touches, and voice effects. Absolutely a must listen on audio!
The audiobook is excellent. There are background sounds, musical touches, and voice effects. Absolutely a must listen on audio!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Body horror, Grief, Death, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide, and Cancer
booksandcoffeewithlexi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Death
erica_reads_things's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Not a bad YA read at all! And especially for this authors first novel. I liked the weird spin on the summer camp horror trope, but I was so confused most of the way through at where exactly this was going. It took me out of it a bit, but not enough to not enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Grief, Child death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Sexism, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Transphobia, Cancer, Hate crime, and Violence
Minor: Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Deadnaming, and Sexual content
jjacobs1126's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Child death, Body horror, Deadnaming, and Homophobia
readingqueerly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Y'all this was so good and scary and I couldn't stop reading but I also kept going to bed wide eyed and breathing hard thinking something would get me in the night. It was so weird and every but it was so incredibly intriguing trying to understand what was going on and throughout the book the author does such a good job of luring you into a false sense of security along with the main character. But when you finally learn what's going on like AHHH dig its nasty little stinger in my and didn't let go (HA That will make sense if you read it).
In addition, the main character is non-binary and gender fluid and the way they were being treated was very relatable.
"I'm openly out and telling you I use all pronouns"
"ok cool I will only call you by your pronouns that fit your agab"
This was such a good book and I truly truly can recommend it. And the podcast of this author as well which is how I found them. Listen to Bad Author Book Club y'all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Body horror, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gore, Death, Violence, Transphobia, and Sexism
chellyfishing's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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: Transphobia
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Body horror, Cancer, and Violence