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arthur_ant18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Self harm, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Pedophilia, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Violence, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Rape
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Suicide attempt
jessicaludden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I didn’t have very many expectations going into this. I was expecting a murder mystery psychological thriller with a little bit of Greek tragedy sprinkled in and while I did get that, it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. I was confused for a majority of this book and not in the “you’re supposed to be confused” murder mystery kind of way. There were way too many red herrings for my taste. It felt like every part in this book introduced a new character I was supposed to be suspicious of. Every time I turned a page some guy was hitting on Mariana, saying something weird or acting suspiciously when the culprit ended up being someone who was barely in the story. I guess that’s due to the point of view of the book and getting into the main character’s perspective. We were tricked the same way she was, but this book left me wondering what the point of so many characters and so many “coincidences” was. What was the point of Henry besides a few jump scares here and there? Also, why does Mariana walk alone at night so much? There were so many things she did that made alarm bells go off in my head. Genuinely was the point of Fred? I was convinced he was the person who wrote the letter. I was even convinced he was somehow Sebastian reincarnated or Sebastian from an alternate universe because of how many connections there were between the two of them. Maybe it’s supposed to be symbolic? Maybe Mariana’s idea of who Sebastian was is meant to be paralleled with Fred and that’s how she’s supposed to move on? The plot twist was good, definitely didn’t see that coming. Almost to the point where it was kind of ridiculous and only used for shock value. Edward sure did a good job of acting guilty of a murder he didn’t commit. I thought there was no way he wasn’t involved in it. I did enjoy Mariana’s background as a therapist and how her perspective played into each of her interactions with other people. Overall, I enjoyed trying to solve this mystery, but there were just too many parts of the puzzle that didn’t even belong in the box.
Favorite Quotes:
“We are born being watched—our parents’ expressions, what we see reflected in the mirror of their eyes, determines how we see ourselves.”
“…a kind of miracle would occur within this circle—the birth of a separate entity: a group spirit, a group mind; a ‘big mind,’ it was often called, more than the sun of its parts…”
“‘It was written’ is the Greek expression. Meaning, quite simply, from that moment on, their destinies were sealed.”
“In many ways, Mariana’s and Sebastian’s lives began when they found each other—in that instant they first saw each other by the river.”
“‘It doesn’t take much to save a childhood.’”
“The liminal is between two worlds—on the very edge of what it means to be human—where everything is stripped away from you; where you transcend this life, and experience something beyond it. And when the tragedies are working, they give us a glimpse of what that feels like.”
“‘If you’re not aware of the transcendent, if you’re not awake to the glorious mystery of life and death that you’re lucky enough to be part of—if that doesn’t fill you with joy and strike you with awe… you might as well not be alive. That’s the message of tragedies. Participate in the wonder.’”
“‘I’m not a damsel in distress, a… maiden waiting to be rescued.’”
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Murder, Gore, Sexual assault, and Rape
mykes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Incest, Alcohol, Body horror, Stalking, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
sbkennedy's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Rape
jessiebertram's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Alcohol, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
colwellcat'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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Murder
Moderate: Death and Stalking
Minor: Rape
madroche's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Suicide, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Murder, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, Blood, and Body horror
kristie_deaver's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Gaslighting
naomibender's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Minor: Murder, Rape, and Torture
artsydarcy0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Rape