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comfy_anna'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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Abortion and Abandonment
jordyfrombookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Vomit and Cannibalism
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
njrebecca'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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
ceebee86'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
3.75
I am not fully convinced of its "horror" label. There were moments where I thought it was disturbing and gross for sure--just like The Juniper Tree fairy tale. But this was more sad than anything.
I found Marlinchen to be a bit aggravating at first but it really does just take some getting used to. She's not so much aggravating as she is sad. The profound effects of abuse permeate her very mentally ill mind.
On this subject I thought the novel really hit. It was very real. The parental and sexual abuse, the honeymoon reconciliation and the rest of the stages in the cycle of abuse, the way siblings grow to use each other for their own survival, and the trauma bonding, were all just so so real.
My one major gripe is that it did slip into a repetitive or redundant style. The book mentions breasts and nipples a lot. And yeah maybe there was an intent to it thematically, but at some point it just became too much. I was tired of it.
And also the constant "I am ugly and my two sisters are beautiful" schtick. I get it. Characterizing women only by their one most defining physical feature is very much a fairytale trope, but it's so tiresome in the context of a contemporary novel.
I believe Reid said this book thematically revolved around the advancement of society under capitalism. That was an undercurrent across the book as a whole. And I thought it established the atmosphere and setting really well.
Overall, a decent read but not for the impatient or those with weak stomachs.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Antisemitism
courtzab's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
The writing was beautiful! I'm just not certain that gothic horror is for me.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Cannibalism
multiplyoctopi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Vomit
Moderate: Animal death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
tayo2000's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This book is no exception. This was…messy. The plot moved incredibly slowly, with nothing really happening until the last 1/4 of the book. It was overall just too much trying to be accomplished in a 300 page book in terms of theme, and the plot suffered due to this. The character development wasn’t great either. It was definitely a let down. Although you can certainly see Ava’s writing shining in some spots while tackling some of these intense themes, I overall just think it was too convoluted in the end.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Cannibalism
ktame001'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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
mal_speaks_profanities's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
startjpw23'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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent