Scan barcode
alexisgarcia'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
postmortem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
lizardgod's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, and Vomit
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, and War
lovelydeadgirl's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
ashlyreadsevrythg'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
bxtskr's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
erinamazing'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
0.25
Content Warning for this book:
SA, Incest, Cruelty to Animals, Cannibalism, necrophilia, Violence, Murder (the last two are kind of expected, I guess given the book’s description)
I… don’t even know where to begin. The writing was somehow unimaginative and predictable while being about the most grotesque of subjects. None of the major plot points were thoroughly explored or sussed out. I mean, we’re dropped into a bizarre backwoods family of serial killer cannibals and yet we know very little about how this came to be and how all of these people have seemed resigned to participate in it? There’s mention that “Mama” is brutal and we know that her husband, Wade, is complicit and seems afraid of her… but WHY?
We know that Michael was abducted as a child and told his family abandoned him and that the Morrows saved him… but we don’t explore his birth family at all other than to provide shock value when Michael learns about Rebel’s elaborate plan to destroy Michael and everything/everyone he might ever care about as retribution for something Michael did as a child that resulted in the death (unknown to Michael) of the elder sister that Rebel fixated on in a very unhealthy way. And we know almost NOTHING else about this birth family except what we learn from the brief mention of Alice’s family— because that’s right folks, Michael’s love interest is his biological sister. Which Rebel also orchestrated. But also his adoptive sister tried repeatedly to seduce him as well so there’s really just quite a variety of incest in this book.
And how, in a semi-modern time period, did you Morrows get away with never enrolling their kids in school or working outside of the home?
And why do we accept that because “Mama” had a shit childhood she’s a casual serial killer?
I just have… so many questions. I predicted every single twist and yet still feel I have no answers here. I’m honestly just completely disgusted by both the subject matter/plot and the quality of the writing itself. Like, if you’re going to explore taboo subjects and lean into the morally depraved and grotesque then at least do it well.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
abbeyhuffine94'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
3.0
Reb was one of the most evil characters I've ever read about. Michael was one of the most infuriating. I understand he was living in horribly abusive circumstances but his cowardice irritated me throughout.
I do think this novel was extremely far fetched. I also think that horror has to have some reaches at times to make for a truly scary story. I guess if everyone was reasonable, horrible things would happen less.
One more observation: this book was way tamer in terms of graphic violence than I anticipated. On a horror scale of, say Haunting of Hill House to American Psycho (non-graphic horror to very graphic horror), it's about a 5-6.
The vibes were very cool though.
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Gore, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
mold's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Michael will always be in my heart. Reb will always be around the corner.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
dragonbloom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Misogyny
Minor: War
Abuse: Lots of abuse. The mother emotionally and physically abuses the family, especially the daughters. The father is less abusive, but still abusive, and certainly doesn't stop the mother. The brother abuses the main character. Alcoholism/alcohol: The main character's brother is an alcoholic. Animal Death/cruelty: Several animals are killed throughout the plot. Hunting and pets.