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A review by _chrstnlvly
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I had high hopes for this book, but it didn't live up to my expectations. It had a dark and twisty plot, which I usually enjoy, but the twists were quite mediocre. Although there were multiple twists, they felt overused and unoriginal, making the story predictable.
Despite being marketed as an adult novel, the characters' behaviors and thoughts seemed more suited to a young adult audience. This discrepancy, combined with the lack of depth and relatability in the characters, made it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. The protagonist, Jessica, came across as extremely self-centered and unlikable.
While I did speed through the book because it was easy to read and had some entertaining moments (there's nothing more entertaining than reading about other people's drama), I can't say that I would recommend it. It's often described as a dark academia book, but it's more of a mystery/thriller. In my opinion, there are much better mystery/thriller novels out there that are worth reading.
Despite being marketed as an adult novel, the characters' behaviors and thoughts seemed more suited to a young adult audience. This discrepancy, combined with the lack of depth and relatability in the characters, made it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. The protagonist, Jessica, came across as extremely self-centered and unlikable.
While I did speed through the book because it was easy to read and had some entertaining moments (there's nothing more entertaining than reading about other people's drama), I can't say that I would recommend it. It's often described as a dark academia book, but it's more of a mystery/thriller. In my opinion, there are much better mystery/thriller novels out there that are worth reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Stalking