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poppy_ascher's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I want to preface this by stating I work in social services, so my threshold for dark material is abnormally high. Many people recommended this book to me, claiming it was the darkest book they've read. So I read it, and I found that the protagonist's religious trauma is what carried the story. However, I found Evie to be very 2 dimensional and an over-reliance on said trauma. Yes, I know Evie's trauma is central to the story's plot, but there is very little character development for Evie outside that trauma. Who is Evie outside her trauma? We never really find out; beyond that, she uses sex as a vehicle to finding potential murder victims in the "name of God." Evie is also American.
Ezra (Evie's love interest) is also 2 dimensional and portrayed as a lowly English two-bit gangster. It should also be known that the authors are also American and British, and this book contains American and English grammar and spellings, and I found that disruptive to the flow of the story. The lack of consistency in that regard is just annoying.
However, I have to demand an explanation for using the British colloquialism "J@p's eye" when referring to Ezra's urethra. What the, and I cannot stress this enough, fuck?! Out of all the colloquialisms the authors could've used, why did they choose this particular phrase? For those wondering, it's in chapter 30, location 2361 (kindle unlimited [no page numbers?!]). Given its 2021 and the world, particularly the west, have had to have conversations regarding racism, especially anti-Black and Anti-Asian racism. I find this particularly egregious. The authors could have used any other word and chose not to. And it's rather odd that it was included, given that Ezra doesn't show any racist behaviour or rhetoric at any point.
Ezra (Evie's love interest) is also 2 dimensional and portrayed as a lowly English two-bit gangster. It should also be known that the authors are also American and British, and this book contains American and English grammar and spellings, and I found that disruptive to the flow of the story. The lack of consistency in that regard is just annoying.
However, I have to demand an explanation for using the British colloquialism "J@p's eye" when referring to Ezra's urethra. What the, and I cannot stress this enough, fuck?! Out of all the colloquialisms the authors could've used, why did they choose this particular phrase? For those wondering, it's in chapter 30, location 2361 (kindle unlimited [no page numbers?!]). Given its 2021 and the world, particularly the west, have had to have conversations regarding racism, especially anti-Black and Anti-Asian racism. I find this particularly egregious. The authors could have used any other word and chose not to. And it's rather odd that it was included, given that Ezra doesn't show any racist behaviour or rhetoric at any point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
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