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mxbadger's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Infidelity
thatswhatshanread's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
1. From BOTM’s description and the book’s general marketing, I fully expected this to be a horror/thriller. It was not. It was more just a family drama with a supernatural sort-of twist with half of the book’s POV set in literal Hell.
2. Every time I picked this book up to read it over the last several months, I was bored. The first half of the book seems like it’s going NOWHERE and nothing stuck. The storyline that follows Peyote in Hell seems completely irrelevant to the storyline in present day that follows The Harrison family.
3. But then, it finally picks up. Once I finally pushed myself to get more into it (after almost DNFing many times), something shifted. The stakes changed. Suddenly the Harrison family story is dysfunctional and mysterious and gripping. The Peyote storyline shows potential of intersecting with the other, some interesting twists come about.
4. Still, it’s confusing. I still have no idea how they will connect, just that now Peyote is actually referencing the Harrison family members and their dilemmas.
5. Peyote and Cal’s plot becomes even more confusing and drawn out. But I’m very intrigued with the POVs from the Harrisons’ side.
6. I finish the last 250 pages within a couple days. The pacing finally hit a sweet spot for me. The imminent ending seemed promising; everything would finally make sense.
7. Except… it wasn’t? And it didn’t?
This really felt like two different books in one. In the end, I was still confused, and disappointed in all of that buildup to… what, exactly? I would have rather read about only The Harrisons. But I guess it was entertaining, nonetheless. Something different. Just maybe not the different I wanted it to be.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Pedophilia, Sexism, Stalking, and Abortion
aformeracceleratedreader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
I liked following the inhabitants of hell in the form of office workers and learning how to make it through/climb the ladder through hell. The human side of the story was interesting at some parts but not my favorite perspective/parts of the book. I preferred following the Pey and Cal side much more than the Harrison's side of the story.
The ending was a bit of a letdown for me though. It wasn't a bad ending per se, but it just wasn't super fulfilling to me.
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
maggieparedesauthor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
loy127's review
- 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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
abookandaspotoftea's review
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Murder, and Alcohol
tiffanne11's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Vomit, Trafficking, and Pregnancy
krisalexcole's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Grief
Moderate: Drug use, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Blood, Abortion, and Abandonment
wai's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia and Pregnancy
jennyvickery's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Violence