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anastasia1373's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aislinn_mac2's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
bleicole's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
ifollowedthatrabbit's review
5.0
Wooooow! This book has blown my mind, seriously. Disturbing and twisted. I couldn't stop reading. After finishing it I needed some time to process and I kept thinking over and over about ... everything!
It took me by surprise, because at first I thought the story was more like a thriller, but no, not at all.
This is definitely the most dark-disturbing-twisted book I've read this 2019. I loved it!
I won't try to explain the plot, because I don't want to give any spoilers. I can only say that if you enjoyed reading Gillian Flynn's novels, you should definitely give it a try.
Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
idle_reader's review against another edition
3.0
This is probably closer to a 2.5 for me. This was 100% not what I was expecting from this book so it was hard to get into it. I was expecting a thriller and instead got a dark fantasy that fell very short.
I think I would have abandoned this book had it not been one of my book club choices for the month. The character development of everyone, including Cassie was lacking. The way the story was told made it so hard to get a feel for any of the characters. I felt that there was never any answers for whether or not what was happening was in Cassie’s head as a result of trying to deal with trauma or if it was all true? It’s hard to get a read on that because the only POV you get is Cassie and she never even questions her sanity for one second despite everyone around her telling her she’s batshit crazy.
I will also say that whatever Pepper-Man was, fake or real, the grooming of Cassie from a young age was pretty messed up. Not sure I liked that at all.
I need to read another book before October is over to finish on a good note.
I think I would have abandoned this book had it not been one of my book club choices for the month. The character development of everyone, including Cassie was lacking. The way the story was told made it so hard to get a feel for any of the characters. I felt that there was never any answers for whether or not what was happening was in Cassie’s head as a result of trying to deal with trauma or if it was all true? It’s hard to get a read on that because the only POV you get is Cassie and she never even questions her sanity for one second despite everyone around her telling her she’s batshit crazy.
I will also say that whatever Pepper-Man was, fake or real, the grooming of Cassie from a young age was pretty messed up. Not sure I liked that at all.
I need to read another book before October is over to finish on a good note.
daniellesshelves12's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
humblebee20's review
4.0
I came into this expecting a murder thriller and got a dark fairytale romance. While I'm not disappointed at all with what I read, I will say this book made me lose interest a couple times with its pacing and had I not been speeding through it, I probably wouldn't have been as happy with it. The romance feels real and raw, with layers of abuse wrapped in mental delusions, that left me fully aligned with he narrator. The book lets you draw you own conclusions, even with overwhelming evidence for the main character's side, and I found it fun to pretend to be the devil's advocate as I read.
The story deals with verbal and sexual abuse, as well as self harm, violence and suicide, and the first page will warn you of some of it. But I also completely forgot about the newspaper clipping at the beginning and man, that will punch you in the gut later.
While not all of this book was for me, I can see what the author was going for, and I have to give credit where credit is due. The book is dripping with wet language, the nature she describes seeping from the pages. A great book for those who feel like they're the only sane one in a room full of idiots.
The story deals with verbal and sexual abuse, as well as self harm, violence and suicide, and the first page will warn you of some of it. But I also completely forgot about the newspaper clipping at the beginning and man, that will punch you in the gut later.
While not all of this book was for me, I can see what the author was going for, and I have to give credit where credit is due. The book is dripping with wet language, the nature she describes seeping from the pages. A great book for those who feel like they're the only sane one in a room full of idiots.