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sheaisaliterarywreck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I did not.
Trigger warnings: depictions of violence, gore, gun violence, emotional and psychological abuse, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, discussion and implication of sexual trauma and assault, instances of negative/derogatory language about mental health issues.
Trope-y Summary: Unreliable Narrator sees a major danger coming, but no one believes her—the girl who cried wolf and all that. Now UN must embark on a dangerous quest to both save her friends and convince them they need to save themselves.
Hendrix's writing is fast-paced and easy-to-read. I actually quite liked the odd glimpses of reddit threads and newspaper clippings that were interspersed between chapters, as well. My good things to say about the book might end there.
I'm a sucker for an unreliable narrator, but I'm not certain I've ever encountered one quite as unreliable as Lynne. I found her distorted reality actually quite difficult to try to co-exist in with her (I found reading from her perspective quite anxiety-inducing—as was the point, I'm sure). I think Lynne is supposed to have OCD—(view spoiler)—, but the portrayal was lacklustre. Granted, as someone who has OCD, I am overly bored of OCD only being depicted through pushed-to-the-brink recluses and what I like to call one-hit-wonders (characters who miraculously have their OCD show up in only one "theme" or tiny area of their life that never evolves as their values shift like the chronic ego-dystonic illness actually does). Lynne is somehow both of these tropes I dislike.
Also, MAJOR ENDING SPOILER:
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Gore, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual violence, Abandonment, Cancer, Terminal illness, Body horror, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts
atisha27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence and Gun violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Confinement
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
jenny_librarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's a thriller (there's little gore apart from details of mutilated bodies here and then) and it feels too easy and not thought out enough to really hit the mark. It's enjoyable, but nothing amazing.
I also kept wondering if this kind of story really should be written by a man. The commentary on slasher movies and the violence done to women didn't feel as genuine knowing they came from someone who isn't subjected to this kind of things.
Not completely devoid of interest, but stick to slasher movies if you like the genre.
Graphic: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Gaslighting, Gore, and Gun violence
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Vomit
davidrb'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
4.5
Points deducted for
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Cancer, Cannibalism, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Violence
chelseydenney'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? It's complicated
4.0
The only gripe I have is that I personally realised the perpetrator very early on. It was also a little confusing to try and work out which last girl some of the additional information was about between chapters but that could have been intentional. All in all a very solid read and I’d definitely recommend… but only if you have a strong stomach because it’s DARK. No graphic sexual violence but there is a lot of very gory moments. Particularly in the flashbacks.
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Excrement, Death of parent, and Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Vomit, and Stalking