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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So basically, there's this wall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Classism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia
i’m trying to leave actual thoughtful reviews on here more often, but my thoughts on this are very scattered!!!!
i think a lot of this went over my head, some of which i think was the intent of the author. i’m a simple bitch who loves a story that’s tied up in a neat little bow, and that’s definitely not something i got in this book. some of that openendedness contributes to the horror of it all and gives you the sense that thiago is going mad with grief, which i loved. however some of it frustrated me. it reminded me a lot of “i’m thinking of ending things” in that i think it deserves a lot of care and attention and multiple reads to fully appreciate, but some of it is just plain tedious.
i also see a lot of people describe this as technological horror, which is another gripe i had. itza seems to take up a lot of focus in the beginning but never really comes back after the first quarter or so. i don’t see how thiago’s story beyond part 1 relate to itza, but maybe that’s the point? maybe thiago became so fixated on the fact that itza didn’t wake vera up on the morning of her death that itza takes on a more sinister role in his mind. idk. thoughts????
what i will say is that the descriptions of grief punched me in the gut and i highlighted several passages. moreno is also fantastic at writing gore that wasn’t necessarily scary but got under my skin hours after i read it. i don’t know if i’ll pick up another one of his books but clearly this one got me thinkin!!!
i think a lot of this went over my head, some of which i think was the intent of the author. i’m a simple bitch who loves a story that’s tied up in a neat little bow, and that’s definitely not something i got in this book. some of that openendedness contributes to the horror of it all and gives you the sense that thiago is going mad with grief, which i loved. however some of it frustrated me. it reminded me a lot of “i’m thinking of ending things” in that i think it deserves a lot of care and attention and multiple reads to fully appreciate, but some of it is just plain tedious.
i also see a lot of people describe this as technological horror, which is another gripe i had. itza seems to take up a lot of focus in the beginning but never really comes back after the first quarter or so. i don’t see how thiago’s story beyond part 1 relate to itza, but maybe that’s the point? maybe thiago became so fixated on the fact that itza didn’t wake vera up on the morning of her death that itza takes on a more sinister role in his mind. idk. thoughts????
what i will say is that the descriptions of grief punched me in the gut and i highlighted several passages. moreno is also fantastic at writing gore that wasn’t necessarily scary but got under my skin hours after i read it. i don’t know if i’ll pick up another one of his books but clearly this one got me thinkin!!!
dark
mysterious
sad
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Very good writing. Interesting narration. However, towards the end it got really confusing and it ended kind of open-ended. It needed more lose ends tied up.
3.75 stars maybe? First 60% ish of this book was amazingly creepy and jolting but by the end it kind of fell apart for me.. still enjoyed!
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was promoted by an acquaintance who reviews books that I typically wouldn't read- they enjoy lots of horror, gore and campy stuff- but something about its description pulled me in. When I saw it on the recommendation wall of Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT while on vacation, I decided to pick it up.
This is a quick but intense read. I think what I appreciated most about it was Moreno's ability to write so accurately about grief. I've read lots of novels where grief is described with lots of longing and drama, but Moreno had such a blunt, truthful way of presenting it. It felt so real and seamlessly woven into his story telling.
I think this would be best described as psychological horror. It's dark, unsettling and twisted, but parts of it are really poetic and beautiful, too. While the book is always better, this could make for a really interesting film.
This is a quick but intense read. I think what I appreciated most about it was Moreno's ability to write so accurately about grief. I've read lots of novels where grief is described with lots of longing and drama, but Moreno had such a blunt, truthful way of presenting it. It felt so real and seamlessly woven into his story telling.
I think this would be best described as psychological horror. It's dark, unsettling and twisted, but parts of it are really poetic and beautiful, too. While the book is always better, this could make for a really interesting film.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Amazing. Just beautifully written and so effective. Sad and depressing while also being so creepy and horrifying. I will be thinking about this a lot.