throwback682 's review for:

Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

3.25

dark mysterious slow-paced

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Usually if I finish a book and don’t know how I feel about it, scrolling through other people’s reviews helps me process and solidify my feelings. Not this time. I’m still really on the fence. It definitely seems like a love it or hate it book but somehow I just don’t feel either. I didn’t find it horribly predictable nor breathtakingly shocking. Some twists I guessed, some I didn’t. It did have some of my least favorite horror tropes -

bad guy with a facial difference,

mentally ill murderer,

random sexual assault thrown in.

But it kept me very interested, that’s for sure. I don’t know. Very mixed feelings. Sometimes I thought it was going to be a five star, but then… it wasn’t. I liked the epilogue better than the final chapter. Should you read it? Solid maybe. Shrug. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Sexual violence, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Pregnancy

Casual usage of a slur for Romani people, as a synonym for “shortchanged”