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aparker89's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
katndrsn's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
minimicropup's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Unassuming, righteous, unsettling.
Our MC is nothing like their father. They grew up under the shadow of their father’s conviction for killing their mother and the flimsy excuse given for it. Nonetheless, they follow certain rules just in case... When a love interest inadvertently breaks the ‘rules’ with disastrous consequences, our MC is left reconsidering the past.
🛏️⛓️ Set in an apartment and in prison.
🐺🐕 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags:
🤕 The writing style is my least favourite…”I did this. Then I did that. Then I went there. Then I said that.”… Except for the rare instance it works, and it works here. Marcus is telling us about his day and night as if everything happening is totally logical, even expected. And we are like “wait…what?” and “uh, you know that’s not normal right? How are you okay with this?!”.
😳 The plot captures how we all have those things we consider “normal” that aren’t and are just from growing up with it. And some of our things are worse than others. The answers to the mystery are given almost right away, it’s the suspense that kept me engaged. Playing with that inherent fear we had as kids about something grabbing our ankles in the dark was effective. My adult self was thinking about that at night… you know it’s impossible but it feels SO instinctively certain.
🤔 Later in the story it was a satirical but thoughtful play on the “I didn’t do it, I swear!” proclamations of convicted felons. My only gripe is that the character development fell flat for me around this point. Marcus seems well adjusted and caring, if naive, and he is so willing to believe himself deserving of what happens to him and is so chill about spending a significant portion of his life that way. Why? Maybe self-punishment? Maybe he is in denial and thinks he did do it? Maybe I’m over-thinking it? 😛
Mood Reading Match Up:
- ‘Things that go bump in the night’ creature feature
- Inherited horrors with themes around father-son relationships and family legacy
- Prison suspense
Content Heads-Up: Forced institutionalization. Possible false accusation. Loss of a parent. Grief.
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Grief
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