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_meganrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
moonagedaydreamer's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
helhas3letters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Not a single one of these characters is likeable (perhaps maybe Georges LaForgue), so I just did not care one bit about what happened to them. And what on earth is with everyone
In terms of the plot, it’s incredibly repetitive and moves frustratingly slowly. Aside from the two or three main events that take place in this story, there is just far too much waiting around, moving back and forth between locations, and nothing happening for my liking. I honestly don’t understand the point of large chunks of this novel, nor certain characters who do not affect the story or world whatsoever.
I thought the ending was pretty bizarre too. Why did it become a
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Death of parent, Outing, and Classism
suerte_encantada's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexism, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Forced institutionalization
shellocopter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
anneroza's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
stratospheric's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
jcinf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First, it was so long. I would check to see how many pages I read, realize I had only read about 10 pages, and then just feel annoyed at the author for writing so much. (Though it is almost fitting that a pretentious book with pretentious characters be as long and self-absorbed as it was). I could have enjoyed this so much more if it has like 150 less pages.
Then, I didn’t like the characters. I either disliked them or felt neutral about them. So, I couldn’t empathize with any of them, which made it hard for me to enjoy the story.
And (not a spoiler, I promise) why did Richard keep saying he loved these people? I didn’t feel love between anyone. I just felt like they all used each other. Maybe that was the point, I suppose. To illuminate how selfish people can be and to demonstrate how they think they love someone when really their idea of the person is self-serving because it feeds their ego or identity in some way. Maybe I’m not allowing the characters to have depth with that interpretation, but with the nihilistic perspective used throughout the book, I feel like my take is pretty accurate. So it just annoyed me because it didn’t feel self aware.
What I did enjoy was the portrayal of specific people spiraling because of a set of circumstances that just wrecked their mental state. I thought that was psychologically interesting, sort of lol. But that too started to wear on me and I was getting tired of watching these people fall into
I also enjoyed the style of writing. Even though it dragged, the author’s writing was fantastic and engaging.
I noticed myself picking this book up to “get through it” rather than to actually enjoy reading it. I kept pushing because this book was so beloved, but in the end I don’t really think I was converted into loving it.
I think I like the idea of dark academia more than I actually like dark academia. Something about reading about academic snobs drives me crazy, no matter how cool the ‘vibes’ are.
List of spoilers with questions I had and/or general commentary:
2. Incest?! wtf. So strange that came up and then was like never mentioned again. I wondered if I actually read that right, bc it was mentioned so flippantly.
3. Was Henry really wanting to kill Charles, or was that just meant to demonstrate Charles’ unraveling?
4. Henry was a psychopath and we’re just gonna not acknowledge that any further than the one conversation? And then make Charles feel crazy for thinking Henry wanted to kill him? Okay then lol.
5. At least one review said “they all deserved what they got” and now I’m wondering what that reviewer meant. Only one of them actually died as a consequence of his actions. And that was by choice. AND romanticized as well. Not this sad death they made it out to be. I would’ve loved if this book punished the characters more, actually.
6. Oh, and that brief mention of wanting to r*pe Camilla. wtf was that? I know it was meant to illustrate how far gone Richard was to this weird power high. But I really wish the author didn’t include that part. To me, even though it was mentioned briefly, it was disturbing.
7. Did Henry really manipulate Richard into getting involved? Or was that another example of unreliable narration?
I guess I’m still glad I read it? Idk man.
Oh, and I’m not sure why all these reviews mention being deceived at the end. Either I missed something or I had something clocked the whole time. I’m just not sure what that is. Lol
Another thought: was “Bunny” by Mona Awad inspired by this? Brb gonna Google it.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
111rachel555's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Also, highly recommend the audiobook (uploaded for free on youtube).
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Medical content, and Death of parent
violet_viper'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest and Xenophobia