Scan barcode
mishareilly's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- 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? No
3.0
It was a fine book. I liked the authors first book much better. There were some parts that did keep me going because I wanted to understand why the fire and such. I really wish there had been more time spent on why and how the family has pretty much clones of themselves. I thought it being a growth inducing chemical was unquie. However I felt there was too much time spent on family drama when I would have loved more details of the clones and what not some parts I was kinda bored when listening. I do feel the narrator did a great job though! Lots of well down voice acting from her.
jimothyj's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Drug use, Grief, Child death, Gun violence, Death, Abortion, Pregnancy, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Cursing
jenhurst's review against another edition
2.0
I’ve become convinced that Rory power is a one hit wonder.
vmillswood's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
maddsmann's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
I listened to the audiobook expecting a mystery thriller that was much more suspenseful, but was quite boring until the climax in the last half of the book. There were a few spots throughout that I enjoyed finding the mysteries out with the main character, but the character repeated things so much and honestly got a bit annoying. After the climax, the book got very repetitive and boring again.
dowryofbooks's review against another edition
2.0
2/5 stars
If you were also disappointed in this & wanted this concept except a little darker go read [b:The Murders of Molly Southbourne|34417038|The Murders of Molly Southbourne (Molly Southbourne, #1)|Tade Thompson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495129861l/34417038._SY75_.jpg|55520132] (so good!)
I just wanna say that this cover is one of my favorite book covers of all time. And Rory Power's writing is just as beautiful as this cover. However, this story wasn't for me.
I didn't hate it, I just got pretty bored. I was expecting more horror vibes and imagery similar to Wilder Girls and less family drama with a little mystery that gets very slowly dragged out until the last few chapters. I just wasn't connected enough to any of these characters to care about them or the family dynamics going on.
Also, the twist/explanation is weird. But not an ambiguous weird if that makes sense without spoiling the ending right here. We were given enough of the details to need a little bit more of a logical explanation. I feel like the author just threw out an impossible scenario and didn't elaborate further. I don't know I honestly would have preferred an open ending over what happened.
If you were also disappointed in this & wanted this concept except a little darker go read [b:The Murders of Molly Southbourne|34417038|The Murders of Molly Southbourne (Molly Southbourne, #1)|Tade Thompson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495129861l/34417038._SY75_.jpg|55520132] (so good!)
I just wanna say that this cover is one of my favorite book covers of all time. And Rory Power's writing is just as beautiful as this cover. However, this story wasn't for me.
I didn't hate it, I just got pretty bored. I was expecting more horror vibes and imagery similar to Wilder Girls and less family drama with a little mystery that gets very slowly dragged out until the last few chapters. I just wasn't connected enough to any of these characters to care about them or the family dynamics going on.
Also, the twist/explanation is weird. But not an ambiguous weird if that makes sense without spoiling the ending right here. We were given enough of the details to need a little bit more of a logical explanation. I feel like the author just threw out an impossible scenario and didn't elaborate further. I don't know I honestly would have preferred an open ending over what happened.
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
Beautiful cover and I liked setting and atmosphere but as for characters they all got two character traits. I liked Wilder Girls more.
jilliand19's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
fallonheartss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
fangslibris's review against another edition
3.0
After how much I loved her debut, I couldn't wait to read Burn Our Bodies Down. And now I'm having a hard time deciding how I feel about this book because the whole thing was frustrating.
I expected a strong mystery/horror based on the premise of maternal relationships. What I ended up reading was a book about maternal trauma with splashes of "scares." It's definitely not what I expected, and all of the gaslighting made it very, very hard to read personally. All of it just touched too close to home and without the payoff of true horror, it ended up being not the book for me.
I think the point where I fully gave up on enjoying came near the end with a scene intended to be scary, but it just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Heartbreaking and horrifying aren't the same, and this was definitely the former.
Again, I don't really know how to review this because it very well could be a good book if you go in with the right expectations. And probably even better if you don't have to reckon with your own trauma on every page.
Glad I read it, probably won't be reaching for it again soon. Bummed.
I expected a strong mystery/horror based on the premise of maternal relationships. What I ended up reading was a book about maternal trauma with splashes of "scares." It's definitely not what I expected, and all of the gaslighting made it very, very hard to read personally. All of it just touched too close to home and without the payoff of true horror, it ended up being not the book for me.
I think the point where I fully gave up on enjoying came near the end with a scene intended to be scary, but it just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Heartbreaking and horrifying aren't the same, and this was definitely the former.
Again, I don't really know how to review this because it very well could be a good book if you go in with the right expectations. And probably even better if you don't have to reckon with your own trauma on every page.
Glad I read it, probably won't be reaching for it again soon. Bummed.