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A review by slimepuppy
The Return by Rachel Harrison
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Oh, this one was a gut punch, simultaneously scary and so, so sad. The definitive "sometimes dead is better" book.
The body horror is genuinely disgusting and disturbing, and I'm not someone who is usually fazed by it. The beginning of the book builds such an oppressive atmosphere, you can't help but start to feel like Elise's growing paranoia is spreading to you, too.
The characters are complex, multidimensional and flawed while still retaining enough of a charm that shows why they're friends.
My only complaint really is the very ending of the book - I wish we got more of an exploration of everyone's feelings and a real conversation between the characters instead of them simply acknowledging that they do, in fact, have feelings - it doesn't really seem like things changed between the girls, even if they say it did.
Also wtf did the authorities do about the hotel L O L ??????
The body horror is genuinely disgusting and disturbing, and I'm not someone who is usually fazed by it. The beginning of the book builds such an oppressive atmosphere, you can't help but start to feel like Elise's growing paranoia is spreading to you, too.
The characters are complex, multidimensional and flawed while still retaining enough of a charm that shows why they're friends.
My only complaint really is the very ending of the book - I wish we got more of an exploration of everyone's feelings and a real conversation between the characters instead of them simply acknowledging that they do, in fact, have feelings - it doesn't really seem like things changed between the girls, even if they say it did.
Also wtf did the authorities do about the hotel L O L ??????
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Grief, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Vomit, Eating disorder, Cancer, Gore, and Death of parent