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elitheradguy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
All in all, I feel like this was a beautifully done story. I've never suffered abuse myself, but it seemed like a liberating story to me about an abuse victim who finally manages to break free of her situation and find something better. I would hope that, if an abuse victim read this story, they would have the same hope for something better that I finished the story with. Fair warning that the emotional and physical abuse in this story is explicit, and I'd imagine that this would be an incredibly hard read for somebody who's been through abuse like this before. Take care if you intend on reading this story.
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death
sonygaystation'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
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Miscarriage, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
batcaves'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
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
wild_sazzy'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
4.0
Christina Henry addresses modern day issues in a horror context and I am here for it.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
jet_nebula's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual violence
hannahstromauthor9's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Regardless, I did enjoy the book. It was empowering, thrilling and hopefu. I was really rooting for Maddie as a character and felt the book really made the reader have a tight connection with her.
I also felt like the book left us with some unanswered questions about a particular character. I just needed another chapter or so for closure.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, and Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Miscarriage and Kidnapping
jasminechocklettslee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death and Murder
Minor: Gore
elskabee's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
For me this book was not a comfortable read, but most of the things that happen to the MC are left vaguely described (most, not all). William's monstrosity still is more than clear and the MC's mental journey of starting to deconstruct everything she'd been brainwashed to believe as her memories come back is beautifully done. Being in Matty's head is incredible, she's smart and compassionate and finds an inner strength that made this story feel powerful rather than depressing.
I won't say this is a perfect book. As terrifying as the actual cryptid monster is, those looking for a creature horror will likely leave feeling unsatisfied. Although Matty is smart and careful, the strangers she meets make some stupid decisions that are kind of frustrating. But imo it was fairly tolerable because at least we still had Matty and their motivations for the decisions were understandable (but still stupid). The abruptness of the ending was very jarring for me as I felt that some things were left unresolved and I also just wish I could have known more about events afterwards.
Highly recommend, but definitely consider the triggers before picking up
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Sexism, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, and Murder
Minor: Confinement
additionally: brainwashing, religious abuse rape is not on page/described, but it is referenced fairly frequentlynicole_cob_reads's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
e_gracereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail