smexy_smerf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Body horror, Bullying, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder
bexsur's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, Violence, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Abortion, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Dementia, Body horror, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship
meeshell89's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Bullying, Death, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Blood, Animal death, and Dementia
Minor: Car accident
suryaa'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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Body horror and Blood
seraphina2000's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Suicide, Child abuse, and Terminal illness
blouviere4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, Death, Blood, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Pregnancy, Animal death, Death of parent, Dementia, Abortion, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Car accident
schwi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Dementia, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Sexual assault, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Alcoholism
anisans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Body horror
Moderate: Suicide and Pregnancy
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Child abuse, Child death, Bullying, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abortion, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Body horror, Death of parent, Violence, Dementia, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Grief
tayahmarie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
However, I did enjoy the story for what it was. I thought the plot was unique, I was invested in the characters/their fate, and it was insanely gripping. Like I mentioned in previous posts, I love dual timelines and Tudor executed it well here. My interest in wanting to find out everything I could about what happened in the past and the present day was equal.
The idea of some crazed killer drawing Chalk Men symbols around your hometown (much less a crime scene) is terrifying. Tudor is phenomenal when it comes to imagery and documenting some of the most gnarly and gruesome scenes, as well as just downright CREEPY (the church scene/one of Eddie’s nightmares towards the end? WTF!) There were a few paragraphs I had to bypass because I could actually picture what was going on and wanted to jump out of my skin and throw the book across my room. It was disgusting! That’s how you know someone’s a good writer in that realm, lol. Also, I definitely recommend looking up trigger warnings prior to reading this because there are A LOT. I wish I would’ve because I was completely caught off guard.
Final Thoughts: Overall, this was good. Really good. It was very reminiscent of a Stephen King novel (as if I read more than one book of his 😅). Lastly, this story has me looking at EVERYONE suspect 👀 - it’s pretty crazy when you think about how you don’t REALLY know someone. That goes for your family, your friends, co-workers, the person you’re sitting next to on a train/plane, etc. We all keep secrets, yes, but some are more dangerous, deadly, and downright depraved than others. The quote I chose, in the beginning, is a true sentiment to this little novel, especially the ending 😶!
Graphic: Sexual violence, Gore, Body horror, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Animal death, and Adult/minor relationship