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rosesofthespring's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
I wish it had wrapped up a few more plot threads, but overall an excellent novel. I'm not surprised that this one is so popular.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Excrement, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury
There is a description of a previous ex-relationship with a huge power imbalance and considerable age gap. The younger party is 18.leeghlee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
maxierosalee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
3.5/5
______________
I'm not a horror person, so I wouldn't say this is the kind of book I usually read. I was intrigued by Grady Hendrix, though. I had heard copious amounts of praise for his books, and the premise of his books sounded interesting to me, even though I am not really into the genre. Even as someone who doesn't watch horror, however, I am familiar with the tropes and really famous movies, which grabbed my attention.
So, how do I feel about the book after finally reading?
It was...a decent book. Between "okay" and "good." Here's a breakdown of what I think, no spoilers:
What I Liked
+ Really cool premise. The setup is really neat: a group of final girls based on famous real-world horror slashers have to deal with the aftermath of the slayings, surviving and witnessing horrible atrocities done to their loved ones. But what happens after the credits roll? How would a "final girl" from all of those famous movies go on throughout the rest of their life being a "final girl"? All while the story acts as a deconstruction and commentary on the final girl trope in general? That sounds amazing to me.
+ I enjoyed the brisk writing. Maybe it helped that I was reading [book:Galilee|52639] by Clive Barker at the same time as this book (yes, I'm one of those weirdos who reads multiple books at the same time), and it was nice to read something where the prose was more casual and interpersonal, but not in a way that felt juvenile to me. It was short, snappy, and full of personality.
+ This is sort of a double-edged sword, but the fast pace made this a vigorous read. And despite my issues with it, it was gripping in its own way, and I found myself reading on to see what would happen next.
+ Lynette, the main character, does genuinely feel like a flawed person struggling with trauma. I appreciate how Hendrix explores the ways that her trauma affected her while still making her make genuine mistakes and bad calls. It makes for an interesting character.
+ The fake-out for the plot twist was pretty good, I totally fell for it.
+ While this book didn't scare me, there were actual parts that were pretty tense and had me on edge. These are probably my favorite parts of the book and the ones that had me gripped the most.
+ If you're interested in horror but don't want to read anything too hardcore or upsetting, this is a great book to read. There are moments of violence and descriptions of gore, but they did not push me into the "discomfort and want to put this down" zone. It wasn't overly detailed or made me sick. And I really appreciate that there are books like that!
Now, onto the cons...
- This book felt like a case of "really cool premise, lackluster execution."
- The characters all dealing with their trauma in different ways is something that probably needed more time to flesh out because, in the end, it didn't feel very immersive.
- The meta-commentary for the book, as cool of a concept as it was, very much felt a little too on-the-nose. It broke the immersion. In a deconstruction, we're supposed to believe that these things actually happened to these girls, because the whole point of deconstruction is to analyze the workings of a commonly accepted trope and analyze how it would actually be played out in real life. But when the commentary is too obvious and too trite, it lessens the impact of it and we're left with a bunch of characters talking about the obvious without us being invested in it. There's an extended scene with a character called Chrissy that illustrates this perfectly, in my opinion. I can't take your "analysis" seriously when I'm rolling my eyes at the poorly written dialogue.
- Adding to the last point, the commentary of the books should have been better integrated into the story itself. It's too often an occurrence where the prose stops in the middle of the story to have a tangent talking about the final girl trope, or a whole scene with ridiculous, unrealistic dialogue that felt like a teenager wrote it because they don't have enough knowledge to write dialogue that would actually sounds like it would theoretically come from an actual person.
- The in-betweens of the chapters, with the essay blurbs and interviews with the victims, ultimately don't add much. It should have been focused more on the phenomena in-universe of over-zealous horror fans. It's just another example of the meta-commentary not blending well with the story.
- While I did appreciate the fake-out of the plot twist (see the pros above), the actual plot twist itself made little sense and the setup was not convincing. We don't spend enough on the motivation that when it does come out, I was just mostly thinking "Huh?" and "Who would through <i>this</i> to do <i>that</i>?"
- There are other plot points that I feel like were poorly fleshed out (that I can't really go into because of spoilers) or were glossed over. I feel like the book would have really benefitted from either cutting down the focus to just Lynette and fleshing her out more, or adding an extra 200 pages to flesh out all of the final girls.
All in all, even though I don't think this is a great book, I still got some enjoyment from reading it. And for what it's worth, I'm more interested in Grady Hendrix's other novels after partaking in this one.
______________
I'm not a horror person, so I wouldn't say this is the kind of book I usually read. I was intrigued by Grady Hendrix, though. I had heard copious amounts of praise for his books, and the premise of his books sounded interesting to me, even though I am not really into the genre. Even as someone who doesn't watch horror, however, I am familiar with the tropes and really famous movies, which grabbed my attention.
So, how do I feel about the book after finally reading?
It was...a decent book. Between "okay" and "good." Here's a breakdown of what I think, no spoilers:
What I Liked
+ Really cool premise. The setup is really neat: a group of final girls based on famous real-world horror slashers have to deal with the aftermath of the slayings, surviving and witnessing horrible atrocities done to their loved ones. But what happens after the credits roll? How would a "final girl" from all of those famous movies go on throughout the rest of their life being a "final girl"? All while the story acts as a deconstruction and commentary on the final girl trope in general? That sounds amazing to me.
+ I enjoyed the brisk writing. Maybe it helped that I was reading [book:Galilee|52639] by Clive Barker at the same time as this book (yes, I'm one of those weirdos who reads multiple books at the same time), and it was nice to read something where the prose was more casual and interpersonal, but not in a way that felt juvenile to me. It was short, snappy, and full of personality.
+ This is sort of a double-edged sword, but the fast pace made this a vigorous read. And despite my issues with it, it was gripping in its own way, and I found myself reading on to see what would happen next.
+ Lynette, the main character, does genuinely feel like a flawed person struggling with trauma. I appreciate how Hendrix explores the ways that her trauma affected her while still making her make genuine mistakes and bad calls. It makes for an interesting character.
+ The fake-out for the plot twist was pretty good, I totally fell for it.
+ While this book didn't scare me, there were actual parts that were pretty tense and had me on edge. These are probably my favorite parts of the book and the ones that had me gripped the most.
+ If you're interested in horror but don't want to read anything too hardcore or upsetting, this is a great book to read. There are moments of violence and descriptions of gore, but they did not push me into the "discomfort and want to put this down" zone. It wasn't overly detailed or made me sick. And I really appreciate that there are books like that!
Now, onto the cons...
- This book felt like a case of "really cool premise, lackluster execution."
- The characters all dealing with their trauma in different ways is something that probably needed more time to flesh out because, in the end, it didn't feel very immersive.
- The meta-commentary for the book, as cool of a concept as it was, very much felt a little too on-the-nose. It broke the immersion. In a deconstruction, we're supposed to believe that these things actually happened to these girls, because the whole point of deconstruction is to analyze the workings of a commonly accepted trope and analyze how it would actually be played out in real life. But when the commentary is too obvious and too trite, it lessens the impact of it and we're left with a bunch of characters talking about the obvious without us being invested in it. There's an extended scene with a character called Chrissy that illustrates this perfectly, in my opinion. I can't take your "analysis" seriously when I'm rolling my eyes at the poorly written dialogue.
- Adding to the last point, the commentary of the books should have been better integrated into the story itself. It's too often an occurrence where the prose stops in the middle of the story to have a tangent talking about the final girl trope, or a whole scene with ridiculous, unrealistic dialogue that felt like a teenager wrote it because they don't have enough knowledge to write dialogue that would actually sounds like it would theoretically come from an actual person.
- The in-betweens of the chapters, with the essay blurbs and interviews with the victims, ultimately don't add much. It should have been focused more on the phenomena in-universe of over-zealous horror fans. It's just another example of the meta-commentary not blending well with the story.
- While I did appreciate the fake-out of the plot twist (see the pros above), the actual plot twist itself made little sense and the setup was not convincing. We don't spend enough on the motivation that when it does come out, I was just mostly thinking "Huh?" and "Who would through <i>this</i> to do <i>that</i>?"
- There are other plot points that I feel like were poorly fleshed out (that I can't really go into because of spoilers) or were glossed over. I feel like the book would have really benefitted from either cutting down the focus to just Lynette and fleshing her out more, or adding an extra 200 pages to flesh out all of the final girls.
All in all, even though I don't think this is a great book, I still got some enjoyment from reading it. And for what it's worth, I'm more interested in Grady Hendrix's other novels after partaking in this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, and Violence
glutenfreemaggie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
joscelynhe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had a lot of time on my hands today, so I did read most of this all in one sitting. It was an easy, thrilling story that was very fun and entertaining. I did have a bit of a hard time getting attached to the group of main characters at first, but otherwise this book was a breeze (fast-paced, not light and airy). Some of the details were more graphic than some of his other books. Hendrix nails the tone in the head like always, though. He has a way of writing that sucks you in almost immediately. “Horrorstor”is up next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, and Toxic friendship
katyfayyyx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The problem with this book is that I love the idea of this book I just wished another author has wrote this book because it is just such a good idea but it has been executed so poorly . I am going to be honest I really don't know I feel about this book because I loved the beginning and the ending but I fucking hated the middle and I mean hated it... to the point when I wanted to rip my own eyes out and never read a book again because girl I was in physical pain. So where the fuck does this leave me because I can't give it 3 stars because in my mind that means I have liked and enjoyed this whole book which has not been the case because I fucking hate the middle of this book. Like I think this book would fucking slay as a film and it would make a really good film but I supposed it is supposed to feel like a film so I guess that was done quite well because I feel like anything in this book just take way too long. I am going to say this about how the author has written the women in this book I understand that he is trying to show that trauma makes people deal/act with that in different way but why are they just so mean and some uncalled for and they are just constantly bitching about each other it is like they are out to get each other until the very end but I did think a couple of times this is a reason why man just shouldn't write female because it was kinda painful. It just felt really off. Another problem I have with this book was that this book was just all over the place, it is just chaotic but not in a fun and entertaining way just in a confusing way to the point when at times I generally have no fucking clue what is going on in this book. I am not really a fan of how the women interact and it doesn't just make sense sometimes like they are just so mean and malicious to each other when out of everyone they should understand, care and look after each other because they understand what they have all been through but they are just so mean and I hate when I am reading a book and all the women seem to just hate each other and it not in that fun playful way in which you can see that they love each other really but they are just mean and at most times for no reason at all and then they do really nice and loving this that just don't make sense with what we know about them as a character such as taking Michelle home to die so Dani can keep that promise to her because that just so lovely and caring but then Heather is so horrible about not wanting to touch or help Michelle like it just doesn't add up and the one we have been told is horrible which is Marlyin is the one taking control and looking after everyone maybe I am overthinking this because I do really like this book and the overall story but the way these characters are written just isn't sitting right with me. But I think is really nice that they gave Michelle the death she would have wanted but it is just so cruel that Dani wasn't there for her wife all because all this shit is going on.
Like I did really like beginning of this book as a huge horror fan with a love for final girls it was just hitting in all the right spots however there are just some things that are just throwing me off like the whole weird flirting bit with the Dr's son when showing him her scars or when she walks into him 'looking' after himself and I don't think if this is a failed attempt at humour what is just not it but it is just so fucking weird. Like, I do like Skye but that was just so fucking strange and off-putting why does every Conversation have this weird sexual overtone-women written by men I guess.
Like the middle of this book is possibly the worst thing I have ever read like why did this book keep doing dumb shit which means that I didn't like it, like you are telling me that the police believed a serial killer in prison that he killed this girl's whole family because they were fucking and they are going to drag her in and picked on her and take the piss off all her trauma just because they were fucking why was this even a plot point and why the does it matter if they did fuck because it happened 22 years ago, girl shut the fuck up, please for my mental wellbeing. Like has this author ever actually watched a horror film like I would say 95% of final girls boyfriends are the killer (like scream) so why would this matter it was 22 years late and when all her friends were being murder or set up. I was getting so pissed like please use your fucking brain police please just please I just can't do that. I just fell like there are bigger things to worry about at that moment in time. Also I am the only one that thinks that it is not that deep if she did or didn't fuck the killer. I just think this plot point was really fucking dumb, it's make no sense why she was in jail all because she wrote this guy some letter and had nothing to do with the plan and didn't know anything about it But maybe I am just overthink this book and it just not that deep because I did really like this idea of this book but I just don't understand why the author decided to take this book in that directions. Maybe I am just really fucking dumb be her is Lynne only 38 years old like what the fuck I thought she was like 50-60 because the way Lynne acts is not the way a 38 year women would act surely but maybe I am wrong because I am only 19 but I am sure this is not how a nearly 40 year old women would act, shout out to the whole weird side plot about fine the plant because that is just so fucking weird and sad. What was it with the whole thing about Lynne not even been a real final girl like I am not being funny I don't know a lot of people would have survived being impaled for that long but what do I know. I would say in general the things that these characters do just don't make sense. I would also say that the whole Dr being the killer was just such a waste of time she's been helping them for 15 years she would have just killed them it just felt like a waste of time but I did feel kinda sorry for her like she has spend her whole life telling to help her and also female victims of violence just for her sons to be the things that she been helping all these women heal form but she must be a little bit of a shit doctor if she couldn't see the signs in her own son.
I am sorry but what the fuck is going on with Dani like clam the fuck down like why was she just beating the shit out Lynne like she's trying to save everyone and you are beating the shit out her, like you can be pissed at her when you are all safe. I did like that Lynne finally figuring out that she needs other people in her life and that life is not just about being by herself because the times when she actually more safe and happy is with her girls. But girl why did it take you so long. I liked how all the final girls in this book have the story of a classic horror films but then at the same time I think it kinda lazy like get some new and original idea but then I kinda lived for it as well.
I would say that the ending was kinda obvious because I guessed it when the introduce Stephanie as a character I just thought I bet it her like she wants to be the final girl of the final girl and I will the say the ending of this book felt very much like Scream Four and I live for Scream 4 it's the best Scream argue with the wall and Jill is the best ghost face because is just so iconic and I would say that Stephanie gives me Scream 4 vibes but without the iconic part of Jill's character and let's be Skye was just such a cheap shot and it was so obvious like come him wanting to get revenge of his mum for spending all her time with the girls instead of him like that has been done 1000s of times but it was okay, I just didn't really care about him being the second killer and I get why they didn't killed the killers but I kinda wanted to them too but it was not the end of the world to me. The ending just screamed that bit in Scream 4 when Sidney says 'You forgot the first rule of remakes, Jill. Don't fuck with the original' and girl I lived for that okay. Also is no one going to question the fact that no matter now fucked Lynne was she just kept going like is was shot and hit in the head with a sledgehammer passed out for like twenty minutes and got up and fought bitches I have nothing but respect for that. I can't lie. But also how the fuck was she even alive never mind moving, running and fighting. I also did like the fact that the final battle was at the camp because that were the first final girl was born and it will be where the last final girl is killed. I also kinda loved Julia in the end she kinda iconic and I think her love/hate friendship with Lynne was really cute. Also thought it was really cute that Julia stayed at Lynne bedside and they all came a visited her when she was in hospital. Also loved that are final girls were final girling and I love that they are all fighting and helping each other. I just loved that no matter how angry or upset they were each other they still care and fought and came through for each other when it counted and you know what no matter how old and irrelevant they are (which they were not) never count a final girl out and just don't fuck with them because they are bad bitches only. I also loved that at the end you know they are going to be okay and that are happy and they are all living and healing together and I just thought that was really cute.
So in summary there is one rule for this book just don't fuck with final girls because you can never beat the originals also that was such a power move at the ending visiting Stephanie in prison just so they can have a final girl support club meeting
The Final Girl Support Group XXIV:A New Beginning
Like I did really like beginning of this book as a huge horror fan with a love for final girls it was just hitting in all the right spots however there are just some things that are just throwing me off like the whole weird flirting bit with the Dr's son when showing him her scars or when she walks into him 'looking' after himself and I don't think if this is a failed attempt at humour what is just not it but it is just so fucking weird. Like, I do like Skye but that was just so fucking strange and off-putting why does every Conversation have this weird sexual overtone-women written by men I guess.
Like the middle of this book is possibly the worst thing I have ever read like why did this book keep doing dumb shit which means that I didn't like it, like you are telling me that the police believed a serial killer in prison that he killed this girl's whole family because they were fucking and they are going to drag her in and picked on her and take the piss off all her trauma just because they were fucking why was this even a plot point and why the does it matter if they did fuck because it happened 22 years ago, girl shut the fuck up, please for my mental wellbeing. Like has this author ever actually watched a horror film like I would say 95% of final girls boyfriends are the killer (like scream) so why would this matter it was 22 years late and when all her friends were being murder or set up. I was getting so pissed like please use your fucking brain police please just please I just can't do that. I just fell like there are bigger things to worry about at that moment in time. Also I am the only one that thinks that it is not that deep if she did or didn't fuck the killer. I just think this plot point was really fucking dumb, it's make no sense why she was in jail all because she wrote this guy some letter and had nothing to do with the plan and didn't know anything about it But maybe I am just overthink this book and it just not that deep because I did really like this idea of this book but I just don't understand why the author decided to take this book in that directions. Maybe I am just really fucking dumb be her is Lynne only 38 years old like what the fuck I thought she was like 50-60 because the way Lynne acts is not the way a 38 year women would act surely but maybe I am wrong because I am only 19 but I am sure this is not how a nearly 40 year old women would act, shout out to the whole weird side plot about fine the plant because that is just so fucking weird and sad. What was it with the whole thing about Lynne not even been a real final girl like I am not being funny I don't know a lot of people would have survived being impaled for that long but what do I know. I would say in general the things that these characters do just don't make sense. I would also say that the whole Dr being the killer was just such a waste of time she's been helping them for 15 years she would have just killed them it just felt like a waste of time but I did feel kinda sorry for her like she has spend her whole life telling to help her and also female victims of violence just for her sons to be the things that she been helping all these women heal form but she must be a little bit of a shit doctor if she couldn't see the signs in her own son.
I am sorry but what the fuck is going on with Dani like clam the fuck down like why was she just beating the shit out Lynne like she's trying to save everyone and you are beating the shit out her, like you can be pissed at her when you are all safe. I did like that Lynne finally figuring out that she needs other people in her life and that life is not just about being by herself because the times when she actually more safe and happy is with her girls. But girl why did it take you so long. I liked how all the final girls in this book have the story of a classic horror films but then at the same time I think it kinda lazy like get some new and original idea but then I kinda lived for it as well.
I would say that the ending was kinda obvious because I guessed it when the introduce Stephanie as a character I just thought I bet it her like she wants to be the final girl of the final girl and I will the say the ending of this book felt very much like Scream Four and I live for Scream 4 it's the best Scream argue with the wall and Jill is the best ghost face because is just so iconic and I would say that Stephanie gives me Scream 4 vibes but without the iconic part of Jill's character and let's be Skye was just such a cheap shot and it was so obvious like come him wanting to get revenge of his mum for spending all her time with the girls instead of him like that has been done 1000s of times but it was okay, I just didn't really care about him being the second killer and I get why they didn't killed the killers but I kinda wanted to them too but it was not the end of the world to me. The ending just screamed that bit in Scream 4 when Sidney says 'You forgot the first rule of remakes, Jill. Don't fuck with the original' and girl I lived for that okay. Also is no one going to question the fact that no matter now fucked Lynne was she just kept going like is was shot and hit in the head with a sledgehammer passed out for like twenty minutes and got up and fought bitches I have nothing but respect for that. I can't lie. But also how the fuck was she even alive never mind moving, running and fighting. I also did like the fact that the final battle was at the camp because that were the first final girl was born and it will be where the last final girl is killed. I also kinda loved Julia in the end she kinda iconic and I think her love/hate friendship with Lynne was really cute. Also thought it was really cute that Julia stayed at Lynne bedside and they all came a visited her when she was in hospital. Also loved that are final girls were final girling and I love that they are all fighting and helping each other. I just loved that no matter how angry or upset they were each other they still care and fought and came through for each other when it counted and you know what no matter how old and irrelevant they are (which they were not) never count a final girl out and just don't fuck with them because they are bad bitches only. I also loved that at the end you know they are going to be okay and that are happy and they are all living and healing together and I just thought that was really cute.
So in summary there is one rule for this book just don't fuck with final girls because you can never beat the originals also that was such a power move at the ending visiting Stephanie in prison just so they can have a final girl support club meeting
The Final Girl Support Group XXIV:A New Beginning
"I know what happened to those girls. They turn into women. And they live."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
cursed_sapphire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun, gripping, and action-packed, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I was never sure what was going to happen next, and the themes of breaking a cycle of violence were compelling. Very much a blink-and-you'll-miss-it book, but that also meant certain details didn't add up to me- perhaps I wasn't paying close enough attention to certain details, but certain plot points and character motivations slightly confused me. Also disappointed that, for a horror book, this wasn't the least bit scary- I recommend going in expecting an action thriller, you'll have a better time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Gun violence, Mental illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
sar_letsread's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Honestly, this book was…a lot to handle. I couldn’t believe the ending and how much the plot moved from one place to another. I was definitely not expecting anything like this and quite frankly this book gave me a headache with the amount of twist the plot has. I believe if you like books that have great writing and crazy, crazy plots, this book is for you. But in my opinion, it was a lot to process and I will probably never read this again (THANK GOD!!) Overall, I actually look forward to reading other book made by Grady Hendrix, because this was definitely an experience I would like to have again with his other literary works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
mblanke's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Mass/school shootings, and Car accident
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
overall, i enjoyed reading this. the writing was so digestible and the characters were all so different and distinct. i think my biggest issue was the ending. i did not think it was realistic or well flushed out. it felt kinda cheap imo. also nobody ever talks about how graphic this. i was kinda caught off guard to be honest. please keep that in mind before reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail