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venusmage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
An additional nitpick is regarding the book’s art. This is coming from someone with a degree in the fine arts, so this may not bother the average reader, but it’s still worth mentioning. A big gimmick with this book is that it features many illustrations at the heart of the story’s mystery. Some childlike, others more mature and artistic. I think the childlike drawings serve their purpose fine enough while also being a little forgettable. The “better” drawings, though, took me out of the book’s world several times. In the book’s afterward the author interviewed the two artists. The more complex drawings are supposed to evoke a mixed media collage kind of feel - almost abstract (they specifically reference the astoundingly talented illustrator Dave McKean as inspiration) - but ultimately they look like amateur photoshop paint overs. They come off cheap and rushed rather than having an intentional artistic direction. From what little I read it seems the second artist is usually more of a designer and cover artist than an illustrator, and it unfortunately showed through here. His work on the cover looks great, but the interior art was so low quality I first mistook it as being done by a non-professional.
In the end, I’m sad to say the additional art in the book is a fun idea that really doesn’t add anything. The story isn’t enough to make the pictures feel like anything more than padding. I almost wonder if it would’ve been better if the author was forced to describe the artwork instead of showing it, to let the audience conjure something in their minds; but the book doesn’t have a lot of descriptive language that stands out enough for me to believe it would have worked, either.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Racism
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
annahamburger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
ejsimpson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Racism, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood, Car accident, Alcohol, and Classism
alisonfaith426'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
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racism, Transphobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Dementia
lovelydeadgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Kidnapping, Murder, and Classism
spooderman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Stalking, and Outing
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Chronic illness, Infertility, Infidelity, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism
maggiefaerie's review against another edition
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Fatphobia, Racism, Transphobia, and Xenophobia
tiana_king's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Racism, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Dementia
honeywine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Racism, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity and Alcohol