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cryptofauna'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
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
shadowykittenwizard's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
fragilelunar's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
ariatari's review
- 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
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
luckylulureads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Minor: Rape, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
dogearedqueer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, and Abandonment
Moderate: Gore, Rape, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
hollyk's review
- 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
2.0
I wanted to love this book. I truly did. I love a creepy small town vibe with paranormal elements. But this book had so many flaws and inconsistencies that it wasn't enjoyable.
There's a fair amount of diversity--a Latina main character, lesbian MC, two sapphic LIs, and diverse side characters/townspeople. I also enjoyed the girls' friendships, although we don't see how exactly these bonds were forged beyond living together, and the strife within their friend group doesn't make sense at the beginning.
All four girls' POVs read the same way, and the only way to differentiate them was to remember the chapter number (the book cycled through the four in the same order, no complaint there) or the general plotline of each girl. Personality-wise, they all seemed the same because their personalities felt underdeveloped.
In terms of plot, the underlying plot of a curse in a small town was really interesting, but all of the moving parts solely created confusion and did not enhance the plot. A list of examples:
-Timeline: When everything happened is confusing--That Night seems to refer to several nights which defeats the purpose of there being "That Night." Unless I'm missing something, which is fully possible because of the lack of clarity.
-Lack of exposition. Normally this isn't a huge problem, in media res is a thing, but since the plot goes from 0 to 60 at the 60% mark, at that point, the reader still doesn't have a baseline or enough information to piece together the underlying story before being thrown into the action despite ample time to do so.
-Inconsistencies: When Whitney and Eleanor started dating is very confusing--it sounds like they met the night of the bonfire, but Whitney's mom was aware of Eleanor and wanted to meet her?
-Psychic powers?? Suddenly the girls seem to have psychic powers?
-Mother Abandonment:
-Medical inconsistencies:
-Deeper subjects relegated to surface-level: SA and police brutality as plot points.
-Police brutality: Alma is taken by the police for Whitney resisting arrest? And Whitney is concerned about Alma being beaten and harmed because she's Black, but then when Whitney goes to bust her out, Alma is just sitting in a chair perfectly fine? This felt completely unnecessary--while it's important to acknowledge police brutality, Whitney does nothing to try to help her crush and just says that she's worried because of police brutality. It seemed very performative and was brought up for no real reason other than to bring it up?
-The curse
I don't think this is the worst book ever, I will reiterate that I enjoyed the underlying plot, but there were a lot of moving parts that took away from the potential of this book.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review:)
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Police brutality and Colonisation
calaqua's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this. The book follows the story of 4 girls, and each voice was unique and distinct. The pacing was good and I wanted to keep going to find out what happened next.
The story had a creepy atmosphere but enough to keep the story thrilling and not overdone or tipping into horror.
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Rape