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solarel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I’m conflicted a bit. While I enjoyed the main two characters, Abitha and Samson, I found the plot as a whole to be very… typical?
Samson’s story was by far the most interesting plot line. I enjoyed watching him struggle to find who he really is. Is he the monster or the savior? Abitha however, her story felt not just predictable but inevitable. The last third of the book is pure torture porn, and she did not grow as a character. She is merely an instrument of a vengeance arc.
I saw a lot of reviewers say this story was very white. And I think I see what they mean. I don’t know what the author’s religious background is, but this read as a very Christian framed story. People said this was a horror novel. I didn’t find it scary, only sad. People were the villain. Puritan culture was the villain. And yet it still felt like it was still validating their beliefs in the end with what was supposed to be the “horror”.
I don’t know if that makes sense, but “pagan” aspects were not rooted in lore beyond that of Christianity. I guess that’s what made it feel like more of a fantasy masquerade of a pagan story of blurred good and evil.
Stars for ambiance and entertainment only.
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
jessie_cobb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
killmoore_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Good for her.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
audreyesp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Cultural appropriation
judassilver's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism and Child death
library_goth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexism, Torture, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery and Suicidal thoughts
attackrat's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
naereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
kumquats87'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
2.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Blood, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Slavery, Vomit, and Colonisation
swiveller's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail