Take a photo of a barcode or cover
nosferatofu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
No words. No notes. This is a MUST-read for queer folks. For ANYONE. I am so deeply and implausibly upset that it’s over. I am truly inconsolable after this one. Mientus tackles plenty of heavy and important topics that are still prevalent today in the pages of this book, while also managing to keep your attention and make the reading experience charming and fun following the cult-like, dark academia setting and storyline. Immaculate. Moving. Eldritch-esque. Easily earns a place in my top 5 favourite books of all time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, and Deadnaming
pkc's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
I thought this might be a spooky witchy occult book, which it was in lots of ways, but it was also a gorgeous found family queer story set at a time when such found families were looked up derisively. The book is set in 1991, while America and the world still reels from the impact of AIDS at Blackfriars School for boys in the fictional town of Adders Lair in Massachusetts. It was a book that was shocking, scary, joyful, funny, sexy. Any superlative you can think of probably applies here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Deadnaming, Death, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol