Reviews

Apparitions by Adam Pottle

reaperreads's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

kitten_nuisance's review

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

• 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

3.0

I found the concept of this book irresistible, and there is a lot to love about it. The characters are vivid and interesting. Unfortunately, I felt as though things that are ultimately unimportant were over-explained, while some of the most interesting parts of the plot and world were under-explained or never explained. I stuck through scenes like minute detail about getting up in the morning, walking down the hall, etc. because I thought there would be more closure about other ideas, but tbh, leaving those things with no clear answer is more realistic. Just not really what I consume fiction for!

ninegladiolus's review

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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

mcdonaldsprites's review

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• 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? Yes

3.5

bibliophyle's review

dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

enj19002's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

As a CODA, this book jumped to the top of my TRL when I heard about it. I had to take breaks when reading it just to fully process and digest the story. With that being said, this is the best book I’ve ever read. The emotion and heart that flows through the main character is what makes this book so emotionally devastating. Even if you don’t have knowledge or ties to Deaf culture, this is a must read and serves as a fantastic representation to the dangers of language deprivation. The gaps and unanswered questions feel intentional and part of the whole messaging of the book, which I thought was a brilliant way to connect with the deprivation and the theme of missing information/misunderstanding that the main character often experiences. This book is an emotionally intense read, especially due to my personal ties. It will stick with me for life, and I cannot recommend it enough. (Please check your trigger warnings, though. There are many)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Ableism, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Homophobia

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

my_reading_life's review

dark emotional sad

3.0

traa's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, War, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Ableism, Child abuse, Torture, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Physical abuse, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Death

Moderate: Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Bullying

lindsbian's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

Absolutely amazingly written, I couldn’t put it down. The story is incredibly dark (heed the warnings!) but masterfully crafted and presented to the readers. I had multiple moments of visceral realization where I had to just close my eyes and process.

For instance, the first mention of dogs  and his injury I assumed to be vivid imagery, like so many other descriptions the narration used. Then I realized, and it felt like a gut punch and heartbreak. 

 
I’m left wanting more of this story, in the best way. Questions that were left unanswered aren’t the kind that leave me feeling unsatisfied or like the story is incomplete, but instead I appreciate so much the story the author has told and want to continue having this amazing reading journey.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Ableism, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Violence, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Physical abuse, Confinement, Torture, Murder, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

Moderate: Homophobia, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Vomit, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

ankteckningar's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Apparitions is a harrowing and beautiful book. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it before.
Imagine having language denied to you, violence the only thing you know. Imagine then meeting someone that can give you language. Would you not cling to that person for dear life? This is in part what this book is about.
I'd say it is not for the faint of heart, it has so many different forms of violence. I read this book in two chunks of time. I couldn't put it down and and it was an smooth read. I used the word easy read first but that is far from the truth, there is nothing easy about this book. But the authors story flows so effortlessly that the story happens before your eyes and you can't stop. You need to know more, get to know the boy more. I didn't want it to end, I needed to follow this person, to know that he was gonna be okay, get closure. But that's not how life is. I'm a different person after this book.



I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.