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cantfindmybookmark's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Body horror, Vomit, Blood, and Violence
caitlin_bookchats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Might bump the rating up or down with more time. I think the real target market for this book enjoys reading/listening/learning about serial killers much more than I do. The 1982 setting allowed me to accept the premise of the Killer Interview program and the participation of 18 year-olds in it a little more, and truly what shone for me was Emma and Mr. Bell.
ALSO, I don't read a lot of thrillers and YA thrillers especially are typically not my jam but this had a LOT of tension. I actually had to put it down for two days about 50 pages from the end because I was so afraid or what could happen on the next page.
ALSO, I don't read a lot of thrillers and YA thrillers especially are typically not my jam but this had a LOT of tension. I actually had to put it down for two days about 50 pages from the end because I was so afraid or what could happen on the next page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism, Forced institutionalization, and Torture
Minor: Racism
caidyn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First thing I'm going to say about this is that this book is, in essence, a Hannibal copy. That's how the book is, plain and simple. It borrows a lot of elements both from Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs. Is that a bad thing? Nope. It's just that if you've read the books or watched the movies and/or TV shows, you know exactly where this book is leading. Which is the case for me. I'm a Hannibal super fan, so I know the various stories inside and out. And that made me enjoy the book for using elements and making the story its own, I also felt that the book was too close at times. I enjoyed the characters in this, the setting of the early 80s, and the twist of this being with teens rather than adults, but it wasn't amazing. A really good book and I do hope that it doesn't force itself into a series, but didn't blow me away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, and Violence
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