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anomieus's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
Decent although somewhat predictable story of a horrifyingly traumatic assault on a naively innocent 17 year old girl and the vengeance wrought upon the perpetrators for their deeds.
First, a mention about the violence. Yes, it's horrifying and somewhat extreme but I didn't find it overtly so (compared with other extreme horror or splatter stories.) Obviously if you have 'triggers' don't bother with this. I didn't find the violence particularly gory but it did pack a visceral and emotional punch, as was intended.
The story begins with the budding romance between Lisa and her apparent 'knight in shining armour', Sean, just starting. Obviously every reader will react differently to how these kinds of stories land with them, but although I was interested to see how the story would unfold I was not particularly drawn to any of the characters in the book at all. My personal reaction to how Lisa and her friends interacted with each other just didn't ring true for me. And Sean's interactions with Lisa and her parents seemed such an obvious ploy that I was wondering how so many people could be so plainly stupid. It's been a very, very long time since I was a teenager, and clearly I'm a suspicious cynic at heart, but I found it difficult to believe that in this modern time all these people would be so oblivious (as a teenager in the eighties we had FAR less media screaming at us about the horrible predators and evil in the world and I was still very much more aware of the dangers that existed.) But ok (shrugs), what do I know about current teenage behaviours anyhow? So I just go with it (and think the world is truly doomed if they really are all that shallow and horrible to their supposed best friends.)
Turns out the assault on Lisa was very specifically motivated and targeted but this is where I not only figured out right away who/what was behind it, but also where my credulity was truly tested as that eventual plot 'twist' seemed like the easiest, most low hanging fruit that surely that's not the way the story would go. I hoped I was wrong and was really anticipating that it would surprise me and not take the expected route, but alas... The 'reason' for this horrific assault was just too much for me to believe and I think that's where I really had to downgrade this (I was at about a 4 out of 5 up to this point because hey, I was still reading it, and quickly at that.)
The 'vengeance' part of the story kicks in and that helped a bit as it was interesting to read how that played out. But overall, by the end, I was just too preoccupied with questions about (most of) the motivations (not Lisa's and not her vigilante's - those I got) of the characters and my inability to believe that they would be that stupid/ignorant/dense to have 'planned' such an abominable act for the most preposterous and nebulous of reasons. Despite all that, the overall conclusion was reasonably satisfying so not bad, just... average.
First, a mention about the violence. Yes, it's horrifying and somewhat extreme but I didn't find it overtly so (compared with other extreme horror or splatter stories.) Obviously if you have 'triggers' don't bother with this. I didn't find the violence particularly gory but it did pack a visceral and emotional punch, as was intended.
The story begins with the budding romance between Lisa and her apparent 'knight in shining armour', Sean, just starting. Obviously every reader will react differently to how these kinds of stories land with them, but although I was interested to see how the story would unfold I was not particularly drawn to any of the characters in the book at all. My personal reaction to how Lisa and her friends interacted with each other just didn't ring true for me. And Sean's interactions with Lisa and her parents seemed such an obvious ploy that I was wondering how so many people could be so plainly stupid. It's been a very, very long time since I was a teenager, and clearly I'm a suspicious cynic at heart, but I found it difficult to believe that in this modern time all these people would be so oblivious (as a teenager in the eighties we had FAR less media screaming at us about the horrible predators and evil in the world and I was still very much more aware of the dangers that existed.) But ok (shrugs), what do I know about current teenage behaviours anyhow? So I just go with it (and think the world is truly doomed if they really are all that shallow and horrible to their supposed best friends.)
Turns out the assault on Lisa was very specifically motivated and targeted but this is where I not only figured out right away who/what was behind it, but also where my credulity was truly tested as that eventual plot 'twist' seemed like the easiest, most low hanging fruit that surely that's not the way the story would go. I hoped I was wrong and was really anticipating that it would surprise me and not take the expected route, but alas... The 'reason' for this horrific assault was just too much for me to believe and I think that's where I really had to downgrade this (I was at about a 4 out of 5 up to this point because hey, I was still reading it, and quickly at that.)
The 'vengeance' part of the story kicks in and that helped a bit as it was interesting to read how that played out. But overall, by the end, I was just too preoccupied with questions about (most of) the motivations (not Lisa's and not her vigilante's - those I got) of the characters and my inability to believe that they would be that stupid/ignorant/dense to have 'planned' such an abominable act for the most preposterous and nebulous of reasons. Despite all that, the overall conclusion was reasonably satisfying so not bad, just... average.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Torture
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, and Murder