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sarahweyand's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book reminds me a lot of the THE DUMB HOUSE. An interesting but disturbing premise, adequate execution, but no discernable themes? Sometimes I think a book exists just to make you feel kind of gross, and this is one of those books.
I will say, the narrator really kills it here. He get into character and he has a great accent and he really makes the whole story come to life. There were some story elements that I found interesting, but for the most part I just kind of felt overstimulated for the sake of shock. I can understand why some people might like that, but it's not really for me. The more I think back on it, the more I dislike it.
I think it you like books like THE DUMB HOUSE, or EXQUITISTE CORPSE (haven't read but a gut feeling), then maybe pick this one up at it seems to be in a similar vein. Otherwise, steer clear.
I will say, the narrator really kills it here. He get into character and he has a great accent and he really makes the whole story come to life. There were some story elements that I found interesting, but for the most part I just kind of felt overstimulated for the sake of shock. I can understand why some people might like that, but it's not really for me. The more I think back on it, the more I dislike it.
I think it you like books like THE DUMB HOUSE, or EXQUITISTE CORPSE (haven't read but a gut feeling), then maybe pick this one up at it seems to be in a similar vein. Otherwise, steer clear.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Murder
rylee_the_captain_krane's review
Very pedantic and I just couldn't get into the story with the way the author writes. I also couldn't find a reason to care about the outcome of the characters; I just wasn't invested. I stopped sooner rather than later because it's such a short book that if I'm already a third of the way in and I don't care, I likely won't start caring by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, and Blood
Heavy animal cruelty, so be cautious if that is something that affects you.gawdz0rz's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
unsettling and dark. unfortunately, the wasp factory had me feeling left behind on a few things for a while, and even now i’m still a little confused on their relevance, but maybe that’s my fault. the plot twists were interesting, and i think the book overall is an interesting critique of gender and toxic masculinity. it’ll be interesting to read this again in the future knowing how the book ends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, and Murder
autarch's review
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
leanneymu's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
What the hell did I just read?! This book is gruesome, dark, and in some places genuinely pretty upsetting. That being said, I read it in two days and I found it a compelling story. I feel like the author might be trying to say something deeply profound about generational trauma, but the visceral violence in the book is so acute in places that I found it a bit difficult to stomach. Content notes for a lot of animal cruelty, animal death, and child death, amongst many many other things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, and Vomit
darcey_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Frankenstein is a major intertext for this novel, and as someone who loves Frankenstein, I loved the way this book raises similar questions and shares many of the themes. I know many people do not like the animal abuse which is present in this book (not my favourite thing to read about either) and say that it is unnecessary and did not need to be included, but I disagree. I mean without it half the book - and half the point of the book - is missing. To me, the animal cruelty is not pointless and included just for the sake of it/to add shock value as I’ve seen suggested in some reviews, but it is included for a reason and does have a purpose. While I did not particularly enjoy reading those parts of the book, I think they are important to the story and overall message being portrayed. That being said, while I think this is a great book, I know that some people will not be able to enjoy it due to the animal cruelty, so if you know that is something you cannot read in a book then I’d avoid this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
petepilgrim's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This has been on my radar for years, and finally it up has been such a disappointment.
Perhaps it would have been shocking once, but the writing around the child murders is not strong enough to support the lack of characterisation or plot.
A book like this shouldn't be boring, and my god it's a drag.
Perhaps it would have been shocking once, but the writing around the child murders is not strong enough to support the lack of characterisation or plot.
A book like this shouldn't be boring, and my god it's a drag.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, and Murder
leiaslizzy's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Medical content, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Misogyny
This book is utterly insane from start to finish.luli_maria's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Gore
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Mental illness, and Sexism