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simplyammee's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Homophobia
gothikry's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Self harm, Murder, and Mental illness
manda2512's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Child death, Murder, Suicide, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
calamity_jane01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was a surprise. Just when I thought I had figured it out, it took a turn. The story centres on Ted a loner, the disappearance of a child many years earlier, a cat and a dark, boarded up house. I won't provide more detail than that, because the story is best read going in with little knowledge. The book is a horror/murder mystery and can be very dark. The writing is incredible; despite the unlikeable characters the writing is able to provide the complexity of the reasoning as to why the characters are the way they are. The style of the book is quite unusual with different narratives, and again the writing shines through with providing authenticity to the different voices and perspectives. Overall, quite a unique novel, and a very good exploration of mental health, trauma and crime and how it impacts people differently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment
amessina3399's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
I'm not someone who likes to throw around 5-star ratings for books, but this book was certainly the exception. This book is most certainly my favorite to date. I laughed, I cried, I'm about to go to the store and purchase a copy to have forever.
It took me about 25% of the book before I really got into it, and the only thing that kept me was the other reviews saying how great it was, so I trusted. And I am SO glad I did.
There are tons of twists and turns in this book, and it navigates these shifts with a nail-biting grace. It's horrific, it's bittersweet, and the characters are INCREDIBLY lovable. I usually don't re-read books, but I am excited to go back and read this one again to catch all the juicy little details I missed the first time around. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy!
It took me about 25% of the book before I really got into it, and the only thing that kept me was the other reviews saying how great it was, so I trusted. And I am SO glad I did.
There are tons of twists and turns in this book, and it navigates these shifts with a nail-biting grace. It's horrific, it's bittersweet, and the characters are INCREDIBLY lovable. I usually don't re-read books, but I am excited to go back and read this one again to catch all the juicy little details I missed the first time around. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Child abuse
Moderate: Vomit, Blood, and Murder
xkwright's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Medical trauma, Child death, Alcohol, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
bookishlysophie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I liked the book in theory but I found that the depiction of DID was not a particularly positive one and was only saved by the final plot twist. I’d somewhat recommend.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Kidnapping
pagesofpemberley's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
ink_fiction's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
A re-read of this book as I wanted to listen to the audiobook after reading it physically a couple of years ago.
I have no description of the plot for this one because as many others have said, you really should just go in completely blind. I will say experiencing this book for a second time was truly amazing, knowing the ending and being able to pick up on the exquisite detail placed throughout is something that I really enjoyed. I have to to give the biggest praise as well to Christopher Ragland for the performance of the audio book - he truly brings this story to life as it’s hard to remember that all narration is by just one person.
This book is not really a horror, it’s a story that subverts the tropes you expect, and at its core it’s about survival. A truly beautiful piece of work that will always be one of my favourite books.
I have no description of the plot for this one because as many others have said, you really should just go in completely blind. I will say experiencing this book for a second time was truly amazing, knowing the ending and being able to pick up on the exquisite detail placed throughout is something that I really enjoyed. I have to to give the biggest praise as well to Christopher Ragland for the performance of the audio book - he truly brings this story to life as it’s hard to remember that all narration is by just one person.
This book is not really a horror, it’s a story that subverts the tropes you expect, and at its core it’s about survival. A truly beautiful piece of work that will always be one of my favourite books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Animal cruelty
evesbooknook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse