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nrogers_1030's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Murder, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism
sabrinz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.25
I really could not put this one down. Despite it being a bigger book the pages flew by.
The story is told from the point of view of different characters, but the different chapters all fit seamlessly together and provide a cohesive and continuous story.
The story mainly follows 14-year-old Lauren (typical teenager - and I mean this in a very convincing way that she is contrary, emotional and not as wise as she would like to be, but it's not in a way that would make reading her chapters annoying).
We are in the 90s and 1 year has passed since Lauren's father has been killed - allegedly by a drifter. While Lauren navigates teenage life and realized that she and her best friend are slowly drifting apart in their friendship and what they find important, there are strange things going on in this small town. When two young girls are found murdered in a backyard, it is only the beginning; and Lauren is determined to figure out what happened to them and why no one seems to care about their death - or her father's.
The story is told from the point of view of different characters, but the different chapters all fit seamlessly together and provide a cohesive and continuous story.
The story mainly follows 14-year-old Lauren (typical teenager - and I mean this in a very convincing way that she is contrary, emotional and not as wise as she would like to be, but it's not in a way that would make reading her chapters annoying).
We are in the 90s and 1 year has passed since Lauren's father has been killed - allegedly by a drifter. While Lauren navigates teenage life and realized that she and her best friend are slowly drifting apart in their friendship and what they find important, there are strange things going on in this small town. When two young girls are found murdered in a backyard, it is only the beginning; and Lauren is determined to figure out what happened to them and why no one seems to care about their death - or her father's.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Racism, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Eating disorder, Vomit, Death of parent, and Child death
cscharfway's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book was a bit slow to start, but the author’s writing really builds the tension and sparks intrigue over this murder mystery in a small town that really pulls you in. I don’t generally find books ‘scary’, but this had strong horror elements that were just chilling to read. Some of the character tropes I found a bit eye-rolling, such as the bigoted old lady, and sl*t shaming, but it did set the scene for a decades long cover-up and the ways in which people turn a blind eye to things happening right in front of them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
sorrel29's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
sonygaystation's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Cool concept but muddy execution. Especially towards the end. Plus i felt the slurs and vitriol to express racism was so unnecessarily too much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Child death, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Racism, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Murder, Gun violence, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Body shaming, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Deportation, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
thekissballad's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
The idea was good, but poorly executed, in my opinion. As much as it pains me, 2.5, and that .5 is a gift because of the potential. The rest of my review may contain spoilers so it's hidden just in case.
First and foremost, Mrs. Schneider deserved a lot worse than a shot in the foot and being slapped / punched. Her POV also felt pointless. The only time her BS mattered was right at the end, and that scene could have easily been rewritten or removed all together.
Second, Miranda's POV was completely unnecessary. Her "slutty" thoughts and behaviors had no real purpose. She was so vapid and shallow that when she died, I wasn't moved. I was actually kind of glad. Sorry, not sorry.
Third, the witchy aspects were completely wasted and not thought out very well. Hell, Lauren ignored it and refused to believe it until the very end. Then David, the one character who even did anything truly witchy, was a side character.
Not to mention the "end the curse" moment was so anti-climactic, and the ending itself left much to be desired.
Fourth, the whole dynamic between Lauren and her mom, Karen, is ridiculous. There's so much hate between them over the most pointless of shit, and then Lauren finally gets her first period and suddenly things are better? How tf does that make any sense? If this were a day or two thing, sure, I could see it, but the fact that Lauren alludes to their discourse having started shortly after (if not before) her father died, makes it such a cop out.
Additionally, Lauren suddenly switching personalities all because Jake expressed his feelings? Ugh.
Fifth, the repetition and abundance of minute details was the real killer of this book. I feel like you could have cut out all of this, plus Miranda's POV and a few others, and reworked Mrs. Schneider's existance, and you'd have a much better story. Possibly novella. And I'd probably have enjoyed it then. This just felt like an attempt to write a full novel, without having enough content to actually write the length needed.
Second, Miranda's POV was completely unnecessary. Her "slutty" thoughts and behaviors had no real purpose. She was so vapid and shallow that when she died, I wasn't moved. I was actually kind of glad. Sorry, not sorry.
Third, the witchy aspects were completely wasted and not thought out very well. Hell, Lauren ignored it and refused to believe it until the very end. Then David, the one character who even did anything truly witchy, was a side character.
Not to mention the "end the curse" moment was so anti-climactic, and the ending itself left much to be desired.
Fourth, the whole dynamic between Lauren and her mom, Karen, is ridiculous. There's so much hate between them over the most pointless of shit, and then Lauren finally gets her first period and suddenly things are better? How tf does that make any sense? If this were a day or two thing, sure, I could see it, but the fact that Lauren alludes to their discourse having started shortly after (if not before) her father died, makes it such a cop out.
Additionally, Lauren suddenly switching personalities all because Jake expressed his feelings? Ugh.
Fifth, the repetition and abundance of minute details was the real killer of this book. I feel like you could have cut out all of this, plus Miranda's POV and a few others, and reworked Mrs. Schneider's existance, and you'd have a much better story. Possibly novella. And I'd probably have enjoyed it then. This just felt like an attempt to write a full novel, without having enough content to actually write the length needed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Toxic friendship, Violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Vomit, Child death, Death of parent, Death, and Racial slurs
kagehime's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Death of parent, Murder, and Child death
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A small town is haunted by curse where they must sacrifice a girl to monster every year to a monster hidden in the Ghost Tree. Lauren's dad "ruined" everything when he refused to sacrifice his daughter Lauren, messed up the curse. The monster is free and the rules go out the window.
The atmosphere of this horror is creepy and unsettling with a small town slowly reveals that something is not about it. People of this town will have no memory of sacrificing their daughters and there's this underlying seething emotions underneath the surface of these people. Lauren as a main character is relatable with her crazy emotions and her insecurities. She is grieving the lost of her father and blames her mom. She has a hostile relationship with mom that is familiar, though not everyone is so hateful towards their mom. I'm not a mom, but I can understand the mom's frustration and pain. She struggles being a good parent, being angry at her husband, and trying to provide for them. Lauren's relationship with her best friend is also relatable. They are growing apart and maturing at different rates. Lauren is still innocent while her friend Miranda is interested in guys and has bad examples for how to behaves with guys. I enjoyed the supernatural aspect with the curse and witches, though there wasn't enough magic in the story. I like how we didn't see the monster we just got hints of the monster but we never fully see it until the climax. The creepy forest added to the atmosphere and the Ghost Tree itself made me think of the Tree of the Dead in Sleepy Hollow. There is also a subplot of racism. A Mexican family moves and bigot old lady thinks they are to blame. This adds to the madness the town is slowing experience as the curse falls apart from the curse be altered. I had a good time reading this chilling narrative.
The atmosphere of this horror is creepy and unsettling with a small town slowly reveals that something is not about it. People of this town will have no memory of sacrificing their daughters and there's this underlying seething emotions underneath the surface of these people. Lauren as a main character is relatable with her crazy emotions and her insecurities. She is grieving the lost of her father and blames her mom. She has a hostile relationship with mom that is familiar, though not everyone is so hateful towards their mom. I'm not a mom, but I can understand the mom's frustration and pain. She struggles being a good parent, being angry at her husband, and trying to provide for them. Lauren's relationship with her best friend is also relatable. They are growing apart and maturing at different rates. Lauren is still innocent while her friend Miranda is interested in guys and has bad examples for how to behaves with guys. I enjoyed the supernatural aspect with the curse and witches, though there wasn't enough magic in the story. I like how we didn't see the monster we just got hints of the monster but we never fully see it until the climax. The creepy forest added to the atmosphere and the Ghost Tree itself made me think of the Tree of the Dead in Sleepy Hollow. There is also a subplot of racism. A Mexican family moves and bigot old lady thinks they are to blame. This adds to the madness the town is slowing experience as the curse falls apart from the curse be altered. I had a good time reading this chilling narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, and Murder
bastieboi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia, Pedophilia, Death, Child death, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Vomit, Sexism, Alcoholism, and Eating disorder
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Eating disorder, Xenophobia, Vomit, Racism, Racial slurs, and Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual content