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annaavian's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
This short story is an excellent piece of writing that will captivate your attention from the very beginning. The author's masterful portrayal of disturbing events and vivid descriptions create a chilling atmosphere that is both mesmerizing and jarring. Despite the disturbing subject matter, I found myself unable to put it down until the very end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual violence, Rape, Incest, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
tobyyy's review
4.0
This was a dark and frightening short story/novelette. Since it does deal (rather graphically, at least in my estimation) with incest, childhood sexual abuse, and other unsavory topics, I was glad to see that on Tor.com this does come with what amounts to a trigger warning.
It was a bizarre story, though. That being said, I was able to follow it fairly well. Yes, there were jumps from past to present, and as other reviewers have said, there is an emotional distancing that occurs between the reader, the protagonist, and any of the other characters in the book (including the protagonist). However, I believe that this was done purposefully, because when dealing with topics such as these, if a person were relating the incidents that the story talks about, there would have to be that blank, impersonal "wall" up between the memories and the ability to talk about them.
I guess basically what I'm saying is - the numbness/emptiness that this detachment from emotional connection from any of the characters leaves the reader feeling is purposeful. Because in real life, there would have been a lot of dissociation going on were the events that took place real. Minus the shapeshifting, anyway...
Though I really did love that in a creepy-as-shit way. :)
Based on my enjoyment of the story as entertainment, it would have gotten a 3/5, because the incest was disgusting and the fact that it was an intergenerational pattern made it even worse.
But... based on my enjoyment of the story as being interesting and (as) true to life (as possible) - with the emotional detachment, the matter-of-fact retelling, etc - plus the cool element of I'm going to rate this a 4/5.
Do NOT recommend to anyone who is easily triggered by incest, child abuse, or violence.
(I do think, though, that this story would yield a lot regarding analysis and other more academic things that I'm not going to explore right now.)
It was a bizarre story, though. That being said, I was able to follow it fairly well. Yes, there were jumps from past to present, and as other reviewers have said, there is an emotional distancing that occurs between the reader, the protagonist, and any of the other characters in the book (including the protagonist). However, I believe that this was done purposefully, because when dealing with topics such as these, if a person were relating the incidents that the story talks about, there would have to be that blank, impersonal "wall" up between the memories and the ability to talk about them.
I guess basically what I'm saying is - the numbness/emptiness that this detachment from emotional connection from any of the characters leaves the reader feeling is purposeful. Because in real life, there would have been a lot of dissociation going on were the events that took place real. Minus the shapeshifting, anyway...
Though I really did love that in a creepy-as-shit way. :)
Based on my enjoyment of the story as entertainment, it would have gotten a 3/5, because the incest was disgusting and the fact that it was an intergenerational pattern made it even worse.
But... based on my enjoyment of the story as being interesting and (as) true to life (as possible) - with the emotional detachment, the matter-of-fact retelling, etc - plus the cool element of
Spoiler
snakes, shapeshifting, and the way those two were relatedDo NOT recommend to anyone who is easily triggered by incest, child abuse, or violence.
(I do think, though, that this story would yield a lot regarding analysis and other more academic things that I'm not going to explore right now.)
tobyreader94's review
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, Rape, and Child abuse
gabrielavmarques's review
2.0
Well, this was certainly different.
I think the incest was a little too much for me, though.
I think the incest was a little too much for me, though.
misssusan's review
3.0
a lovely, dark, twisted, strange story. i had to read it twice to catch all of what what was happening. 3.5 stars
zuly's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0