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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
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
dark
emotional
tense
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
TW: Transphobia, misogyny, child abuse, violence, death, mentions of self-harm and suicide
4.7/5
This was a good but heavy read. The social horrors that Max and Erin experienced really tugged at the heart. I felt some of the horror tropes was a little clichéd but once it got going, I couldn’t put it down. A fantastic debut novel and I can’t wait to see what they bring out next.
4.7/5
This was a good but heavy read. The social horrors that Max and Erin experienced really tugged at the heart. I felt some of the horror tropes was a little clichéd but once it got going, I couldn’t put it down. A fantastic debut novel and I can’t wait to see what they bring out next.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
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
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
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
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
~~Thank you to NetGalley, Random Children's House, and Usborne Publishing for the ARC!~~
Damn. Just - damn.
I had no idea what to expect going into this, but it had everything I'd hope going into it - fantastic sharp writing, complex main characters, a creepy cryptid that may or may not be what it seems - and so much more. I feel like I can't gush like I can without going too in depth in the story. It very much feels like a book I would love to talk about with friends who've also read it.
I saw some reviews going on about how the monster wasn't that scary or didn't play a bigger part in the story than they thought it would, but I think they're missing the point. The monster in horror stories typically represent the overall real fear behind it, and in this book it's the very horrible reality of transphobia, the lengths it would go to in order to erase trans people from existence. The monster is never the thing with glowing eyes and sharp teeth; the worst ones are those who wear human faces.
That's all I really have to say about the story. What I really recommend is for everyone to go into this only have read the synopsis. Trust me - it's so much better this way.
Damn. Just - damn.
I had no idea what to expect going into this, but it had everything I'd hope going into it - fantastic sharp writing, complex main characters, a creepy cryptid that may or may not be what it seems - and so much more. I feel like I can't gush like I can without going too in depth in the story. It very much feels like a book I would love to talk about with friends who've also read it.
I saw some reviews going on about how the monster wasn't that scary or didn't play a bigger part in the story than they thought it would, but I think they're missing the point. The monster in horror stories typically represent the overall real fear behind it, and in this book it's the very horrible reality of transphobia, the lengths it would go to in order to erase trans people from existence. The monster is never the thing with glowing eyes and sharp teeth; the worst ones are those who wear human faces.
That's all I really have to say about the story. What I really recommend is for everyone to go into this only have read the synopsis. Trust me - it's so much better this way.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An amazing read! Blew through it on a flight, Max and Erin are wonderfully written characters.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such a good horror with all of the typical horror tropes, but adding a trans perspective that is both missing in horror but also just literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia