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sersi'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Suicide, Murder, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Rape
jodar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I found the characters were well portrayed, the MC relatable (despite getting pretty extreme psychologically), the dialogue flowed naturally and the plot moved along at a moderate pace without bogging down. There’s even some nicely pitched humour, particularly aimed against the foibles and excesses of Americans. The story is well-grounded, too, even though at various times the reader is confronted by a wide-sweeping, multiple-time-and-space viewpoint. I kept wanting to pick up the book again each time, which is a good sign.
Themes that for me lifted this novel above a simple “fun read”: the dark side of power, especially power over others’ welfare and lives; friendship and authentic love; true versus apparent strength; the search for meaning; the ultimate mystery of existence.
An impressive first novel by the author. I’d be keen to read any sequel, as the ending hinted there may be.
Graphic: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Physical abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Suicide, Cursing, and Sexual assault
Minor: Car accident and Vomit
epruta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Animal death, Physical abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Torture, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry
jkauffman503's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Body horror, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Cursing, and Death of parent
saroreen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Child death, War, Torture, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death
kelseymgorrell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Death, Animal death, Gun violence, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
dana_naylor's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it.
Trigger warnings galore. The gore and torment is intense.
I doubt I’ll reread it, but it was a wild journey. Definitely not for everyone.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Emotional abuse, Rape, Gore, Violence, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Murder, Death, Sexual assault, Animal death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Self harm, Child death, Car accident, Suicide, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
gondorgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Rape, Blood, Bullying, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Suicide, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicide attempt, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
nicole_night1092's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Animal death
nookandcrannyseattle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I will say that this was GORY. Some scenes were very hard to read (see CW - rape, child murder, animal death) and I'm glad I was reading it in print so I could do some strategic skimming. So probably won't read again, but it was a spectacular one-off!
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Excrement, Violence, Physical abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence