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vasingca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Body horror, Murder, and Suicide
willardfillmore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Mental illness
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide
reganriley's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Sexual content
taymarie6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Body horror, Vomit, Blood, Death, Excrement, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Suicide
rubydagger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Alcoholism
meanaleann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book really hooked me and never let me go. I really enjoyed and ached with Merry as our mc. It gave this book, and the story it wanted to tell, a clear nuanced and realistic tone, and made all the uncomfortable scenarios feel skin deep. The writing was fluid and hard to take your eyes off, I sped through it and couldn't stop bc I needed to know more. I hurt for Marjorie, a really likeable character who totally deserved better. Better parents. Better community. Better. I really loved the sisters relationship, it was so wholesome and full of love that makes everything that happens a deeper, soul crushing tragedy. A truly memorable, hard to put down book.
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, and Murder
the_escapist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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 loved the underlying tension throughout that builds and builds, loved how the author set up the story so you're not sure whether it's supposed to be an actual demonic possession, mental illness, or whether the sister is faking it. I think it was actually a very wise decision because, in a lot of ways, having a definite supernatural element made explicit from the start takes a lot of the scare factor out of the story because it stops feeling real and grounded (for me, anyway).
I've never really read/watched a possession story that felt so tense and messed up but believably so – that's what makes this work so well. Nothing feels too ridiculous. The characters feel like real people, the setting feels like a real setting, even the TV crew feels like a real crew. The POV was also really fun – it's written in the first person and during the flashbacks to her childhood, the author has a way of writing through the main character's eyes to really make her feel like a real child – all her wants and (mis)understandings and the things that she picks upon.
If it wasn't for the unique concept, I wouldn't have picked this up. I wouldn't have given it a go if it was just a straightforward possession story. But I really liked the idea of the uncertainty of it all and thought it was executed brilliantly. It's the first horror book I've read in ages. Ever since I finished it, every now and then I find my thoughts drifting back to it. Especially the ending. I really enjoyed how it ended.
Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Excrement
Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
aringofsalt's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
vmpyr's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Suicide, and Physical abuse
I don't remember very well so I marked them all as Graphic