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shrikebait's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Felker-Martin explores so many diverse, distinct, and developed characters while maintaining an easy-to-follow central narrative. I especially loved the unflinching examination of gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia as these kids battle both internal and external demons.
There is so much packed into these pages that I thought the book was longer than it actually is...in a good way. I found the details immersive and delighted when they pay off.
I'm grateful to Tor Nightfire for the chance to check this ARC out for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Mass/school shootings, Outing, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death, Excrement, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cannibalism, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Biphobia, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Cursing, Eating disorder, Incest, Racial slurs, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Transphobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Car accident, Confinement, and Rape
Minor: Islamophobia and Terminal illness
bloomandgloomco's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The horror was done exceptionally well, I am not often grossed out by books but this one got me more than a few times.
On that note- I wasn’t always grossed out in a good way.
The following knocked my review down to 3 stars:
- Rampant fatphobia. At first I assumed this was intentional and would serve some kind of purpose, but ultimately I think it was unnecessarily cruel for really no reason.
- Way too horny. There is so. much. sex. happening all of the time in this book.
I actually laughed out loud a couple of times because it was so ridiculous. If the characters weren’t boning eachother, they were thinking about it in unnecessarily graphic detail. Remember- the characters are all teenage kids and are literally fighting to survive. Love finds a way I guess? I was just a lil grossed out…if you don’t want to read about a bunch of kids getting freaky (also always when they’re on their periods, for some reason?!) maybe skip this one.
I also found the large cast of characters difficult to keep up with; jumping between POV’s and past/future timelines I was often confused who’s who and what was going on.
The horror is horroring here, but I think a bit more editing and a lot less boinking would’ve helped make it a more enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC!
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Transphobia, Gore, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Religious bigotry
clarke'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
3.75
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Bullying, Animal death, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Death, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Murder, Sexual harassment, Outing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Transphobia
sydnec's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Confinement, Death, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Body shaming, Excrement, Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, Torture, Blood, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Child death, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Mass/school shootings, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Gun violence, and Sexual assault
lexloro's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Biphobia, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, and Vomit
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Car accident and Suicide attempt
magpiereading's review
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Body horror, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Gore, Bullying, Torture, Child death, Transphobia, and Self harm