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heebymeg's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child abuse
br00k3a133n's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I want to love this more, but the detrators really were too strong.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
kitaface's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcoholism and Forced institutionalization
loveallthis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Mass/school shootings and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
ashcrash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
soooooo many thoughts about story and true crime and archetypes and the meanings we make from all of them. definitely not the horror i was expecting from the cover but so so good nonetheless, will definitely be eating my brain for the foreseeable future
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse
mzynda'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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
zw_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
cviii'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
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
dustghosts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As many reviewers have said, this is not a horror book and marketing it as such is a misstep! What it is, though, is a pretty impressive work of craft that digs its heels in as Darnielle plays with timelines, and interlocking stories, and points of view, and— and, and. Absolutely, some of these experiments are less successful than others, but thinking about the story as a work in fragments thrown into a cardboard box… Form and function are pretty beautifully combined here.
My primary critique is that there were sections in the middle that really did feel like they dragged, and the pacing was a bit meandering at times. In the end, it felt juuust a little too long, and I could see why others had trouble finishing. Still, really worth the engagement if you are a critic or an enjoyer of true crime, and maybe especially if you’re a nonfiction reader looking to sink your teeth into some fiction.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
geraeusch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Murder