A review by thevillainschronicles
My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

2.25

trigger warning: child rape/ pregnency

First and foremost, let me acknowledge my misstep in opting for the audiobook rendition of this novel. Unaware of the author's penchant for a disjointed and perplexing writing style, my choice significantly marred what could have been an optimal reading experience. My review is undeniably influenced by this regrettable decision, as the intricacies of the narrative were lost in translation, compounded by the unavailability of a Kindle or physical copy.

Moving on to the substance, I found the characters to be disappointingly one-dimensional. Despite the protagonist exuding individuality and strength notably because of her trauma, the lack of a substantial backstory left her feeling more like a sketch than a fully fleshed-out character. Peripheral figures seemed relegated to obscurity, their names fading into the background and making it an arduous task to keep track.

While the plot held a kernel of interest, my dissatisfaction with the character development leaves me contemplating future works from this author with a degree of skepticism. Though the story intrigues, the absence of depth in characters and the challenge of connecting with them leave me hesitant to venture further into this series.

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