horizonous's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Spoiler
is completely infatuated with Lev, wants to join and defend the Unity Project and doesn't question the fact that her sister isn't even in the Unity Project anymore. I understand that people can get sucked into cults really quickly, but with her it was a 180-degree change in what felt like daysI don't know, in comparision to Sadie this was such a letdown.
Graphic: Car accident, Emotional abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Infidelity
◦ Mental illness = Depressiondirectorpurry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Kidnapping, Torture, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
thebookpaiges's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Suicide, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual content and Blood
ashleycmms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Medical trauma, Medical content, Abandonment, and Body horror
Moderate: Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Grief
brookey8888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
violet123'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
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Car accident
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Abandonment
This book is very dark and contains detailed manipulation/indoctrination into a cult.kayewa's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Car accident, Torture, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Death
goblingirlreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
onemamareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Murder, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Violence, Torture, Medical content, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Blood, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction and Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and War
sarah2438's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Courtney Summers does an incredible job with her writing. Lev's charisma comes through even to the reader-- I felt Lo's skepticism of him going in, and I found myself getting won over at times. I even remember turning to my boyfriend, who buddy read this with me, and saying "he has to have done something sketchy, but honestly he doesn't seem too bad at this point." I was over halfway through the book when I said that! It's very uncomfortable to think about.
Just as disturbing as Lev's charisma is how realistic and twisted this book is. Lev preys upon those with trauma, grief, and pain. He offers them relief. A cause. And they flock to him, just like they would in real life.
Unfortunately, this book wasn't prefect. I think when it comes down to it, there are 3 big things that keep me from totally loving this book. These issues don't all carry the same weight for me, and I'm sure there's plenty of people who would disagree, but here are my 3:
1- I struggled to understand the religion The Unity Project was centered around. Lev's charisma, I totally fell for. But the actual religious tenants were a struggle. I think this is partially attributable to my own lack of faith; it may have required more of a suspension of belief for me than maybe someone who believes in God. I found myself parallel to Lo in this aspect.
2- Something happens about 75% of the way through that didn't feel right to me. It was like a shaky bridge-- it connected the two parts and got us where we needed to go, but I didn't feel sold on it.
3- I didn't love the ending. Summers usually does a good job of having just enough unanswered questions to be realistic, since we're not reading from an omniscient point of view, but still satisfying. In this one, I felt like there were too many questions left open, so the ending wasn't very satisfying for me. I wanted more detail, more information on what happened to everyone.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Child abuse, Blood, and Confinement