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gelsey's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
R E V I E W
Bloodline by Jess Lourey
S U M M A R Y
After being passed over for promotion, being mugged and injured, and a surprise pregnancy, Joan Harkin thinks it's an easy decision to follow her fiance Dec back to his small hometown to create a life together. It immediately becomes apparent, however, that Lilydale's perfect facade covers something more sinister than Joan could ever have guessed.
W A R N I N G S
Kidnapping, murder, incest, cult vibes
C H A R A C T E R S
I have mixed feelings about the characters in this. I feel like they by and large require a certain amount of suspension of belief in order to enjoy fully. I can do this but I know a lot of people have issues, and even I raised my eyebrows a bit at a few things that happened. Joan is mostly a good character, but I really disliked the trope of pregnancy making her wonder if she's going crazy. I feel like it's a very overused trope and yeah.
P L O T
Again a bit with suspension of belief, but this was more fun than the character part. I love a good sinister plot with broad reaching implications. It ended up giving me major cultish vibes, which I did not expect! Especially since I read two cult type thrillers earlier this month.
N A R R A T I O N
Whitney Dykhouse did a really good job, especially with squeezing emotion into her voice.
O V E R A L L
A good, suspenseful thriller that I couldn't really have predicted. Definitely not predictable on thr whole, and I recommend if you don't mind suspending your belief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Incest, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, and Death of parent
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