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kingkiller99'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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, and Murder
elbauer002's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Blood, Murder, Animal death, Death, and Pregnancy
ehoustonmyatt's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, Addiction, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Animal death, Miscarriage, Blood, Confinement, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
shelbys_shelves's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The one thing I didn’t particularly like was the fact that one of the characters in the book is a writer and there were short excerpts of her story throughout the book. It was like reading a book within a book.
These excerpts were a bit confusing and I found myself wanting to skip them entirely the further I got into the book. I didn’t understand the purpose they served or if there was supposed to be some sort of connection to the plot.
Other than that, I enjoyed Sundial and found it both disturbing and heartbreaking. There were definitely times when I couldn’t put it down, so I’d recommend this to those who want a story about family drama, secrets, creepy kids, and a little sci-fi element.
Moderate: Animal death and Animal cruelty
hellokatya's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
beautiful tale of mother and daughter, of sisters, and escaping the path that’s been laid out for you. so gorgeous please read it
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Violence, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Blood, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Body horror, Pregnancy, and Child death
Minor: Kidnapping
tarfishy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
patriciadm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
jesssicawho'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
5.0
This story was particularly haunting and emotional for me. The theme of a mother's boundless love for her daughter resonated. But, you know, with horror and generational trauma because it's Catriona Ward.
Definitely read the TWs for this one.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, and Toxic relationship
lebishop13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
From the start, Rob's relationship with her husband, her family, and the world around her is bizarre and kind of skewed. You can't quite put your finger on what is so unsettling. Every time you find something else out, you have to just keep asking yourself, "but why?!"
And then the pieces start coming together. And you can't look away. But are they coming together? The two narrators are so at odds with each other, you really don't know who to trust.
I can picture this as movie with a really strong color palette that changes as the plot progresses or depending on whose POV you're in.
There's also some really great unspoken commentary on the ethics of science which was the cherry on top of this thriller.
Read this if you like thrillers with the house/setting as a character, along with unreliable narrators, and a dash of ethics thrown in.
TW: abuse - child, spouse, animal
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage, Death, Death of parent, Addiction, and Self harm
jet_nebula's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Infidelity, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Pregnancy and Self harm
Minor: Child death