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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was recommended this book by one of my favorite/comfort YouTube channels, Dead Meat. When I first got back into reading in 2023 I remember wanting to read this book but it was always out at my library and I had kind of forgotten about it until James recommended it.
I’ve always been wanting to read Stephen Graham Jones works for a while as well.
This book started out with a bang, I loved how we got into some gore and suspense and set up the killings right away.
After that I was enjoying it, getting to learn the character of Jade and everyone else we meet but after a while, 150 pages in, I was bored. I was wondering when we were going to get some more gore and get to some slashing. I considered DNFing it but I really wanted to like it and finish it. I looked at some non spoiler reviews and the good one outweighed the bad.
They said that people go into this book with the wrong expectations and that’s why the end up disappointed.
You can’t go into the book expecting a slasher movie. People aren’t going to get killed left and right in this.
This book is a character study. This story is about Jade and it’s about her love for slashers and the things she’s been through.
Once you understand that and can get into the groove of this story, you will start to love it. If you continue on reading, it pays off when you do finally get to the good bits. You fall in love with Jade and the rest of the characters and the genius behind this whole series.
I’m so glad I continued on with this
I’ve always been wanting to read Stephen Graham Jones works for a while as well.
This book started out with a bang, I loved how we got into some gore and suspense and set up the killings right away.
After that I was enjoying it, getting to learn the character of Jade and everyone else we meet but after a while, 150 pages in, I was bored. I was wondering when we were going to get some more gore and get to some slashing. I considered DNFing it but I really wanted to like it and finish it. I looked at some non spoiler reviews and the good one outweighed the bad.
They said that people go into this book with the wrong expectations and that’s why the end up disappointed.
You can’t go into the book expecting a slasher movie. People aren’t going to get killed left and right in this.
This book is a character study. This story is about Jade and it’s about her love for slashers and the things she’s been through.
Once you understand that and can get into the groove of this story, you will start to love it. If you continue on reading, it pays off when you do finally get to the good bits. You fall in love with Jade and the rest of the characters and the genius behind this whole series.
I’m so glad I continued on with this
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to like this but it just… fell flat. I also could not picture most of what was happening in my mind while reading it because some of the sections with actual action went so fast. And the constant references of slashers got old and grew to being insufferable. I almost did not finish this book countless times but kept going in hopes it would get better. It did for a chapter or two, but ultimately was still sloppily written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For me this was maybe 6/10 for the first 75%. I’m not a big slasher fan so most of those elements didn’t resonate with me, but I loved the prose and liked the characters. The absolute madness of the final chapters pushed it over the edge into something unforgettable. Stephen Graham Jones has earned a new fan from me.
As a slasher fan, I wanted to love this so bad, but I found the story boring and had to force myself to read it.
the last 50 or so pages were so good but the majority kind of dragged for me. however jade is such a compelling character i would defend her with my life final girl-style <3
Honestly, the only likely reason that this isn't at least a 4.5 or higher is because I was a bit emotionally checked out through the first 2/3 or so, through no fault of the book's own. But once I got really invested, boy, was I ever, and that ending packs a gutpunch that I'm coming to expect from SGJ but hit hard regardless.
I was really impressed by SGJ's ability to write a teenage girl that actually felt real and genuine. Usually, I feel like middle-aged men struggle with that and fall into stereotypes, but Jade was such a refreshing character in that regard. Her internal monologue is also so entertaining and really lets Jones flex his strength with the more stream-of-consciousness style of writing. I'm very excited to see where her story goes next!
I think this definitively cements SGJ as a favorite author of mine!!
I was really impressed by SGJ's ability to write a teenage girl that actually felt real and genuine. Usually, I feel like middle-aged men struggle with that and fall into stereotypes, but Jade was such a refreshing character in that regard. Her internal monologue is also so entertaining and really lets Jones flex his strength with the more stream-of-consciousness style of writing. I'm very excited to see where her story goes next!
I think this definitively cements SGJ as a favorite author of mine!!
a convoluted plot that wasn’t executed well. paragraphs and paragraphs of inner monologue that held no benefit to the story.
ending was Not a pay off and very disappointing. i hate hate hate when horror books take the turn this one did.
how is your book pitched as a ‘homage to slashers’ with a fmc who’s obsessed with slashers just to have the slashing be so overwhelming awful???
ending was Not a pay off and very disappointing. i hate hate hate when horror books take the turn this one did.
how is your book pitched as a ‘homage to slashers’ with a fmc who’s obsessed with slashers just to have the slashing be so overwhelming awful???