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relyu39's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
It felt more like a long essay than a novel. The first half was boring to me, one of the reviews said it was comical but I did not find anything funny about it. The writing was more telling than showing and maybe I’m just not into the final revelation and the scenes that feel fake. Also I did not feel anything, there was not even a little bit of platonic friendship chemistry present. I felt like it was bland there was no shock or plot twist to me, the eerie vibes also felt nonexistent like a Pinterest aesthetic wallpaper, superficial…
Content Warnings
Minor: Cannibalism
emilywemily6's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I was underwhelmed by this book based on my expectations. In general I found a lot to like about it, but felt that it was neither comic nor a true horror novel, as this book was described. It felt much more like a literary fiction novel with a sprinkle of horror elements. There wasn’t much suspense throughout the story even though the truth was hinted at being mysterious the whole time. I wasn’t even phased when the truth came out. I didn’t like particularly like the main character and found that she became more hypocritical throughout the book, like she was trying so hard to appear woke but then failed to see her own classist/racist/etc. shortcomings. The narrative felt very intimate, but because my dislike increased throughout the book for the main character, that intimacy was not my favorite. I found the discussions on language/linguistics interesting, and also the basic premise of The Centre. I also like how the narrative showed that the main character was actually recording for The Centre. The novels she translated also sounded super interesting! The ending was anticlimactic though, and her decision in the end didn’t really fit with her character up until that point in the story. I think I was hoping for more suspense and horror throughout this book, and even the big reveal was lacking. If you love literary fiction and want to tread lightly into horror, this is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Classism, Cursing, Alcohol, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Hate crime
Minor: Medical content, Pedophilia, and Drug use
bookishbrenbren's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I think I enjoyed this book but it's not the type of book I prefer so I guess I'm stuck in between enjoying what I got and wishing I'd gotten more of what I wanted 🤔 if that makes sense.
The writing has no subtlety or subterfuge (and what is there is more like a tongue in cheek between her and the reader). There is this element of metafiction to it - the narrator constantly breaks the fourth wall to address the reader directly and you exist as a second level consumer of the story, always questioning what's real and what isn't. Which, idk, sometimes I thought it was brilliant but most times it was just too casual for me and kept calling attention away from the story, back to this idea of the book as metafiction, like 'don't forget!' - more like the princess bride movie than If An Egyptian.
The author also brought up lots of great little aside ideas but a lot of the times she throws a line out and then dismisses it as boring or banal or cliche or whatever and that started to irritate me. We get it, you're not writing about immigrants or race or class, you're just writing about immigrants and race and class. Allllso the main character is kind of unlikeable 😂 but her friendship with Naima was the sparkling star of the story (can you tell I like character-driven novels?) they support and disappoint each other like humans and I froth for that. But again with the meta, their conversation about there HAS to be a Desi wedding scene for "those guys" nudge nudge wink wink... it was cute ngl but did it add? Did it add?
Now that I've complained, lol, the plot is excellent, the pacing is excellent, the suspense is suspensing and the ending is a lovely little cherry on top. The author's humor is also sprinkled as a nice little bonus throughout the book.
CW one of the characters is mentioned as being from Israel and having learned "mind hacking" in the IOF. Um ok, who was he mind hacking on occupied land...
The writing has no subtlety or subterfuge (and what is there is more like a tongue in cheek between her and the reader). There is this element of metafiction to it - the narrator constantly breaks the fourth wall to address the reader directly and you exist as a second level consumer of the story, always questioning what's real and what isn't. Which, idk, sometimes I thought it was brilliant but most times it was just too casual for me and kept calling attention away from the story, back to this idea of the book as metafiction, like 'don't forget!' - more like the princess bride movie than If An Egyptian.
The author also brought up lots of great little aside ideas but a lot of the times she throws a line out and then dismisses it as boring or banal or cliche or whatever and that started to irritate me. We get it, you're not writing about immigrants or race or class, you're just writing about immigrants and race and class. Allllso the main character is kind of unlikeable 😂 but her friendship with Naima was the sparkling star of the story (can you tell I like character-driven novels?) they support and disappoint each other like humans and I froth for that. But again with the meta, their conversation about there HAS to be a Desi wedding scene for "those guys" nudge nudge wink wink... it was cute ngl but did it add? Did it add?
Now that I've complained, lol, the plot is excellent, the pacing is excellent, the suspense is suspensing and the ending is a lovely little cherry on top. The author's humor is also sprinkled as a nice little bonus throughout the book.
CW one of the characters is mentioned as being from Israel and having learned "mind hacking" in the IOF. Um ok, who was he mind hacking on occupied land...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Classism, Islamophobia, and Sexual harassment
lavaly_1's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Classism, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
sinisterbeard's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
I liked a lot of this but once the twist was revealed, I refuse to believe that Sheba was hot or charming enough for Anisa not to immediately run screaming as fast as she could all the way back to London.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Cannibalism
nautilus18's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cannibalism, Grief, Confinement, and Death
spess's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Islamophobia, Cannibalism, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal death and Hate crime
melchncookies's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I do like how the characters are explored both good and bad ways. I like how very different each character is and the bonds they form. It really felt like reading real life with a fictional spin. So, great story. I didn’t pick out the twist, but I can see how someone might be able to see it coming. It was fun to be on the receiving end of total shock. I audibly said my opening phrase. Don’t read the opening phrase if you want to keep the mystery alive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Death
indiagrace's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
I had to force myself to finish this book and I shouldn’t have bothered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism