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ska1224's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Gore, Racism, Sexual violence, War, Murder, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Body horror, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
mkumar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Gore, and Toxic relationship
booksandcatsand'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
5.0
That being said, the writing was beautiful and rich and creepy, and I want to read it again someday.
Moderate: Cannibalism, Body horror, Physical abuse, Self harm, Vomit, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
nikenacs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, Xenophobia, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Violence, Antisemitism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Self harm
msrae89'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
Graphic: Bullying, Self harm, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Murder, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Vomit
jeslo's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Vomit, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Self harm, Gore, Pedophilia, Violence, Misogyny, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Trafficking, and Body horror
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Please please please please read with caresurrealstardust's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual violence, and Self harm
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: Bullying, Gore, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, Cannibalism, Body horror, Murder, Body shaming, Vomit, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Addiction, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Outing, Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Death, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, and Terminal illness
Minor: Abandonment and Abortion
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: Animal death, Death of parent, Body horror, Bullying, Cannibalism, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Death, Self harm, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Cannibalism and Vomit
Minor: Sexual assault and Child abuse
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: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Child abuse, Classism, Eating disorder, Gore, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Cannibalism, Confinement, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism and Antisemitism