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softasapanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
My first audio book, because I'd caught up to all my podcasts and needed something to listen to while doing the dishes. It felt extremely slow with not much actually happening, and then the big event wasn't really resolved satisfactorily. I noticed there's a sequel but don't care enough to find out what happens next. If I'd been reading the physical book I probably wouldn't have finished it.
Also, why was nobody bothered about a 20 year old lurking around a school and then dating a 16 year old student??
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
celine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, and Gore
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Blood, and Cannibalism
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
mollyv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I would like to forget I ever read this book.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Torture, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, and Gaslighting
kaleidoscope_heart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
wardenred'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
4.0
We’re so close to nature here. Lots of hidden life. And hidden death.
Wow. This book turned out to be way creepier than I expected.
For the first 2/3 to 3/4 of the book, the story mostly stays rooted in the regular confusing teenage experience, with some mystery/witchy stuff added in for flavor, and it does the job rather well. Maddie's struggles are relatable. Lon, the older guy, is clearly a creepy abuser whether there's anything supernatural about him or not. The twins' family relationships are compelling.
Then, in the final part, the author decides to deliver on all those dark and disturbing promises, and my, does she go all out. There were several scenes there, in rapid succession, that made me physically cringe. I wish I was more thorough about checking the trigger warnings going in.
I mostly like the conclusion everything worked up to, but that last part was honestly jarring. It didn't come out of nowhere; it did flow quite logically out of all the earlier foreshadowing. But I felt like some of it was sort of too much for a young adult book somehow.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Cannibalism
Minor: Homophobia