cinderrunner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The only reason it isn't 5☆ is that the flow and pacing does feel really confusing when you start and that makes it hard to get into the real flow things and understand the plot. I also take issue with the author choosing to make her sadistic and extremel sexually driven (and perverted) serial killer a gay man (when the stereotype has always been that they are predators). Especially given that this novel was written/published on close to the end of the aids epidemic when gay men were being treated even more vilified than normal. Even if Oates did not intentionally mean to create such a dangerous stereotype I cannot believe that she wasn't at least subconsciously biased by homophobia when writing.
Definitely worth checking trigger warnings.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Child death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Stalking, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Gore, and Sexual content
chibichaostan'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? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Medical content, Violence, Stalking, Gore, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape
bofadeez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Rape, Murder, Pedophilia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Gore
annihilatrix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Child abuse, Hate crime, Stalking, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Child death
Moderate: Addiction, Vomit, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Torture, and Cannibalism
Minor: Ableism, Vomit, Body shaming, Slavery, and Animal cruelty
lior34's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Murder, Stalking, and Torture
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Violence
_egg_wash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Torture
Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, and Blood