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makenna_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book was strange because it feels like it would have been better as a movie. The way the author wrote many of the scenes included things that would be jump scares if it was on tv, but lacked the impact when reading the scene. Additionally I have no idea what genre this book is. There are horror elements but the book is largely from the perspective of a ghost so the lack of mystery around her character removes all the spookiness.
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Fire/Fire injury
peppers_books's review
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Bullying and Pedophilia
the_books_music_life's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The way the story is narrated by a spirit is so fascinating and different. Okiku as a narrator makes the story feel as if you’re watching a movie. I was not expecting the book to be so fast paced I was on chapter 7 and a major thing happened. Even though the plot moves kinda fast it’s done in a way that you’re not left behind or lost.
You follow, see and experience everything the way Okiku does and that lends a different lens to the story itself. We only get Okiku’s point of view and the writing jumps and skips to follows Okiku’s moods and what she is experiencing. It honestly felt like I was watching a movie instead of listening to an audiobook, the only time the spell broke-so to speak- was when Okiku started counting things.
I kept getting/seeing similarities between this book and two of my all time favorite Japanese horror movies, The Ring and The Grudge. When I got that validation from the book itself I was so excited because I’ve never seen those movies done in a book like this before.
You can’t help but feel so badly for Okiku. The more you learn about who she was and what happened to her, the more you feel for her and understand her. I want to wrap her in a blanket and just cuddle her. Which, you might find weird since she’s a murdered vengeful ghost.
The big climax was a little juvenile in my opinion, I think it could have been done better but that small thing doesn’t take away how much I enjoyed this book. This is now on my all time favorite book list. There was something that happened near the end of the book that had me so worried.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book, any lover of scary books and horror movies will love this book. I wouldn’t recommend it as a starter into horror cause this book had some scenes that freaked even me out.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Stalking and Death of parent
amytalksbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, and Murder
lau_ro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis