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bri_fabiano's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
jcstokes95'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love to watch these true crime videos on youtube where people break down a killer's behavior in the police interview. And when I watch them, I always think the same thing, is this person a psychopath, are they ill, or did they just end up like this and nothing in them is broken. It's this hazy feeling I get, where it's impossible to tear apart what evil is and what mental illness is and what consequence of trauma is. And THAT is how Merricat Blackwood makes me feel. Jackson is the genius of creating confusion and uncanny ambience.
This story starts years after the real inciting incident and Jackson won't give you the full story until much later. The end result is the same, mom and dad are dead, and only the strong survived. And because we're in the Southern Gothic tradition, that means the children and the ill. The remaining Blackwoods have become an endangered species, both because of the violent, mysterious death of their family members but also because the villagers have turned against those of their status in society. Constance and Merricat decide they can block out the oncoming dangers of their world crumbling through their domestic power (in Constance's case) or magical ones (in Merricat's case). They are wrong, of course. The only thing that can survive the changes around them is the two sisters love for one another, even if it's totally twisted and weird.
I knew I would love this, because I love the Southern Gothic tradition. Highly recommend as a fall read for most folks, and for creeps like me, I recommend reading at any time and as quickly as possible.
[2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge #21 - A genre hybrid]
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Murder
ceilidhwilliams's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
mollykat3b621's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
aegireads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
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