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2.76 AVERAGE
2.76 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Based on the description, this sounded like a story I’d find fascinating. There’s lots to be said about small towns, bigotry, the way humans behave when they feel trapped or a cult is influencing their thinking. And, in general, I’m a sucker for stories with supernatural elements.
But there was far too much left out to justify vivid use of bigotry and its resulting violence—especially the graphic rape of Malik. What point did that traumatic scene serve? Why did that get such attention to detail, of all things? No part of this book helps clarify what the author is hoping to contribute as a storyteller who is wielding highly sensitive topics like homophobia, ableism, sexual assault, etc. All that, plus the dialogue and internal monologues were clunky as hell, and the characters flat.
It felt like a very early draft to pitch a concept, though I’m still not sure what it hoped to achieve. God saves, was that the message? If a god (or something like it) that never asks your consent to change your life but does anyway, you can finally forget all your troubles and be protected from harm? I don't even know. Truly can't recommend it.
But there was far too much left out to justify vivid use of bigotry and its resulting violence—especially the graphic rape of Malik. What point did that traumatic scene serve? Why did that get such attention to detail, of all things? No part of this book helps clarify what the author is hoping to contribute as a storyteller who is wielding highly sensitive topics like homophobia, ableism, sexual assault, etc. All that, plus the dialogue and internal monologues were clunky as hell, and the characters flat.
It felt like a very early draft to pitch a concept, though I’m still not sure what it hoped to achieve. God saves, was that the message? If a god (or something like it) that never asks your consent to change your life but does anyway, you can finally forget all your troubles and be protected from harm? I don't even know. Truly can't recommend it.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
- Major trigger warning for sever homophobia and violence against gays
- The homophobia storyline and the occult storyline feel completely disjointed and like they were forced to be part of the same book meaning that neither feels well developed as a story
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I finished this book and literally said out loud, “what did I just read?” But not in a fun “oh haha, that was a lot and I enjoyed it but I need to think about it for a while” what did I just read.
I have read a few Eric LaRocca’s works. I even have to signed editions! I know some people don’t like how he titles his works but I love it. That paired with the cover art instantly drew me to his books when I finally got back into reading.
I came upon this copy in a local bookstore near my old place of work. There weren’t many horror books in their inventory but I stumbled upon this beautiful copy and just had to have it.
I finally decided to read this once I realized that Eric LaRocca is apart of the LGBTQ+ community and that’s relevant because I’m trying to only read LGBTQ+ books for pride month. This was a win win situation, I get to read horror and support the community.
This was a quick read but only after reading the reviews did I finally feel validated in what I was feeling towards this book.
I have read a few Eric LaRocca’s works. I even have to signed editions! I know some people don’t like how he titles his works but I love it. That paired with the cover art instantly drew me to his books when I finally got back into reading.
I came upon this copy in a local bookstore near my old place of work. There weren’t many horror books in their inventory but I stumbled upon this beautiful copy and just had to have it.
I finally decided to read this once I realized that Eric LaRocca is apart of the LGBTQ+ community and that’s relevant because I’m trying to only read LGBTQ+ books for pride month. This was a win win situation, I get to read horror and support the community.
This was a quick read but only after reading the reviews did I finally feel validated in what I was feeling towards this book.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
You can be bad, or you can be boring. But you can’t be both.
If only it the rest of it had been as good as the prologue. Instead, the writing gets bogged down in some of the weakest, most distracting metaphors and similes I’ve read as well as a strangely diverging plot line that involves poorly handled sexual themes and doesn’t mesh whatsoever. And the ending is pretty brutal. Re-read it a few times and I’m still not sure what happened. How unfortunate, as it really did grab me initially.
If only it the rest of it had been as good as the prologue. Instead, the writing gets bogged down in some of the weakest, most distracting metaphors and similes I’ve read as well as a strangely diverging plot line that involves poorly handled sexual themes and doesn’t mesh whatsoever. And the ending is pretty brutal. Re-read it a few times and I’m still not sure what happened. How unfortunate, as it really did grab me initially.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not even sure what the “thesis” of this work was, seemingly disjointed and introducing characters and storylines that expanded the plot out in a way that didn’t fit the tightness of the narration. Lengthy in some places but short in others. Conflict was supposed to be about the darkness that lies in the simple small towns but it felt flat, felt empty as did some of the characters and their internal logic . The violence ( multiple hate crimes) felt detached and ungrounded, shocking but not terrifying or suspenseful in a way that serves a purpose or increases any more coherent drive in the traditional sense. Maybe im missing something. I may also just be at odds with the writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Torture, Excrement, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Car accident
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes