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alexashabit'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? No
4.5
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Rape
chris_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I enjoyed the plot and—while at times meandering—his prose was great. I liked the focus on classic vampire lore and how it connects to the characters' tenets of literature and religion in the modern world. But there were things that bogged it down as well.
To start, there were so many characters referenced it felt like I was expected to learn the names and personalities of the entire town. I liked the main players, and thankfully I got over the confusion once the plot got going and focused more on them. There were a couple relevant female characters, but I wish they had a larger role in the story overall. And of course the casual use of homophobic slurs/mentions of rape/slut shaming really date the book. And I honestly expected it to be scarier.
I'd heard about his lackluster endings more than once, but I quite enjoyed this one. I thought it worked for the story being told, if a bit simply. And I know horror endings are though to land.
Overall a good book with flaws. I'm definitely willing to try more of his work, so if anyone has suggestions of where to start, please feel free.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Homophobia, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Rape, and Blood
spoookycat'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
thestorydoer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Stephen King adding his trademark horror, and his other overlooked trademark of pretty gross mentions of things, as well as a small reference to something needlessly sexual, therefore adding a multitude of trigger warnings. he is a good writer when he sticks to the plot imo.
Overall, good book, just a little too long to live up to the hype.
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, and Gore
Moderate: Rape
helenope'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? No
3.75
Tip: when a character appears, write down the name and what they do, because you’ll need it. In the end I had a list of over 30 characters mentioned (mostly secondary but the book has chapters for each one of them).
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Rape
barrybj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, and Transphobia
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Terminal illness, and Transphobia
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and War
There's a dog deaty that some may find upsetting. A lot of people die but many are "off camera deaths" so overall this book isn't too explicit. There's a couple sex scenes but they aren't really graphic.itsheyfay'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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Stalking, and Alcohol
laurenkristine'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape
Minor: Homophobia
shieldbearer'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
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Transphobia, Vomit, Islamophobia, Medical content, and War
Minor: Addiction, Pedophilia, Rape, Excrement, and Abortion