scorpi07's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
I love the pacing, the wacky cast of characters, and the twisting plot.
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Gore, Torture, and Injury/injury detail
root'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
4.5
The majority of the "plot twists" are not plot twists so much as the product of an unreliable narrator jumping to conclusions about small things that, if you look at the actual evidence she is using, is utterly meaningless or at least is missing details. Because she is not just reacting to what's happening now--peppered in are comparisons of people who look like someone else, how she trusts them or wants to keep them safe because they remind her of people, how she distrusts others for the same reason.
I think that itself makes the book outstanding, to depict a variety of very real reactions to trauma in such an accurate way, including their flaws. It is a testimony to the fact that being hurt does not make you inherently better at surviving: it can also make you that much more vulnerable and unsafe. It is a very real look at the effects of trauma, and a good critique of how the true crime community and of the horror genre turn real events into mindless entertainment at the detriment and suffering of real, living people.
Criticisms of the book would be the following:
It is a very rudimentary, white feminist perspective of the world that goes exactly one layer deep in gender politics which is "man evil, violent inherently" and "girl (not woman) innocent, dainty, victim." Even the author's attempted subversion of it still ultimately played back into this rather elementary understanding of the sociopolitical effects of gender. It's very "girlhood is grief" in its angle.
The very few times race is brought up is...unfortunate. Listen, I just don't think that a white author can place a Single Black character in horror media without it being a bit weird. His choice was essentially to have the Black character die or have the Black character live but being chased down and tormented by a white man. Neither of which reflect very well. You either have to have multiple Black characters with different outcomes or it's just not good. Or I don't know, just as side characters that aren't involved. I would have taken that too. Anyway the way the author handled the race topic was...not great. It tried to be progressive about it but just failed spectacularly.
The last point is something I've seen others bring up. Although the author was presenting a criticism of how the true crime community and horror in general utilize real events and make references to external stories, he was also simultaneously doing the same thing. I understood what the author was trying to do with this. He was trying to show that the book itself is Also That, that the reader should be cognizant that THEY are being criticized and that their consumption of the book itself is participatory in this exact thing. But it wasn't done well so the message was lost on a lot of people and so it just felt flat. I appreciated the sentiment, though.
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Stalking, Death, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Mass/school shootings, and Gore
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Racism and Suicide
c_dmckinney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Torture, Gun violence, Police brutality, Stalking, Classism, Cursing, Death, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Injury/injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Blood, Cancer, Gore, and Emotional abuse
hannah_2005_95's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Gun violence, and Gore
ashliebysmashliereads'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
4.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Torture, Addiction, Cancer, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Gaslighting, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Violence
e_fensterle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Stalking, Gore, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Addiction
jkriding's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Torture, Violence, and Murder
chezler24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Violence, Torture, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Blood, Child death, Medical content, Car accident, and Grief
travelseatsreads's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
A great fun read which plays of many horror/slasher tropes but I felt the end got a little too Rambo-ish for my liking which distracted from my enjoyment of some great twists.
I really enjoyed Grady's writing style though so will be going back for more.
Full review to come.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Toxic friendship, Grief, and Stalking
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Animal death
dreamowl24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Body horror, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Violence, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Blood, Torture, Confinement, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
Moderate: Drug abuse, Addiction, and Drug use
Minor: Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, and Cannibalism