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hmatteson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Murder, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Violence, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Addiction, and Child death
constellation_library's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Here are my CAWPILE ratings:
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child death, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Child abuse, Animal death, Miscarriage, Blood, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Trafficking, and Torture
word_wandering's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, and Animal death
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
breeburkitt's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The novel follows a woman named Rob, who's married with two children. Her family is dysfunctional and crumbling as her relationship with her husband teeters on hostile and the behavior of her oldest child, Callie, becomes more concerning. Rob fears Callie is quickly becoming dangerous and soon takes her to her family's desert home, Sundial. Sundial holds a dark history for Rob, but she's forced to face it as she recounts her own childhood and how it impacts them today to Callie.
I hesitate to say too much more about the plot. The elusiveness is part of what makes this book so great as Ward slowly unravels the plot around the reader, immersing them in Rob's past and present. It's a slow, heavy build that's well worth it. I devoured this book and think it far succeeds "Needless Street."
Of note: There is quite a bit of dealing with dogs, the death of dogs and other animals. It's not overly gratuitous, but it's also not pleasant.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review.
4.25/5
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse