parasolcrafter's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Death, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Rape, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Alcohol, Bullying, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Kidnapping
antimony's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
i liked sam j miller's writing, and the characters were good as well! the setting was also ...cool is the wrong word, and i don't want to repeat good again, but it was ..maybe strong is the right word? immersive?
the story was sometimes rather confusing — im not really sure what anyone's plan ever was, and im not sure what was ever up with the ghosts either, like how did they work? and for this being in the horror section at the bookstore it was disappointingly not very Horror. i thought. but i enjoyed it enough anyway! i like blackfish city better but this was still good
Graphic: Suicide and Death
Moderate: Homophobia
amandalynnnb's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence
flying_monkey's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Quite a few reviews have praised this work, and its fusion of literary novel with elements of SF and horror, but I found that not only were the politics of the novel unclear and sometimes pretty nasty, even when it comes to queer issues (and I believe Miller is gay himself), but that the novel seemed constantly on the verge of spiraling out of control. There is just too much that Miller tries to cram into the work; it's like the book has ADHD.
Graphic: Animal death and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia and Suicide